Jessica Learmonth finished third in the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Rotterdam today as the Great Britain triathlon team sealed a successful weekend in the Netherlands. Jonathan Brownlee was fifth and there was success for the juniors and U23 athletes as well.
2017 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Rotterdam RESULTS:
Elite Men
| 1. | Vincent Luis | FRA | 01:51:26 |
| 2. | Kristian Blummenfelt | NOR | 01:51:28 |
| 3. | Mario Mola | ESP | 01:51:36 |
| 5. | Jonathan Brownlee | GBR | 01:51:52 |
| 10. | Thomas Bishop | GBR | 01:52:34 |
| 22. | Marc Austin | GBR | 01:54:56 |
| 24. | Adam Bowden | GBR | 01:55:00 |
Elite Women
| 1. | Flora Duffy | BER | 01:58:39 |
| 2. | Katie Zaferes | USA | 01:59:34 |
| 3. | Jessica Learmonth | GBR | 02:00:57 |
| 8. | Jodie Stimpson | GBR | 02:02:20 |
| DNF. | Lucy Hall | GBR | DNF |
For full results, please visit here
Learmonth has become well known for her superb swimming and cycling, and once again her ability in the first two disciplines were matched with an improving run that saw her reach the podium behind Flora Duffy (BER) and Katie Zaferes (USA).
Learmonth was second in Stockholm last month in similar circumstances of breaking away with Duffy after the swim, although Zaferes crashed out on the bike on that occasion. With a rapidly closing field in Rotterdam she held on in the final kilometer to claim another podium place and sixth overall in the ITU World Triathlon Series overall standings.
She said: “After Stockholm I didn’t think I could top it. It couldn’t have gone better with getting in the break and away with Katie Zaferes and Flora Duffy, and then I’ve got to mention Jodie because it was team tactics, and she didn’t work on the bike, which helped us get a gap.”
Despite holding back, Stimpson secured eighth place, an outstanding result following a lengthy period of injury. She said: “There’s a progression from Stockholm. It’s getting there, I’m just going to run out of time this year. I’m lucky to be able to be here and be healthy.”
Duffy claimed the ITU world title as expected having won five rounds of the Series this year as well as the Grand Final. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) was second and Zaferes third.
In the men’s race, Brownlee hoped to end the season on a high by winning the Grand Final. However, it wasn’t to be and he finished fifth. He said: “It was just one of those bad luck days. I didn’t have the legs today, I felt terrible.”
Vincent Luis (FRA) was a surprise race winner and Mario Mola (ESP) won the ITU world title, securing the crown for the second year in a row by finishing third in the race today. Tom Bishop finished tenth to round off a breakthrough season.
Earlier today Ben Dijkstra won junior bronze and Sophie Coldwell won U23 bronze. These results added to yesterday’s junior silver by Kate Waugh and eight medals, including two golds, in the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships.
British Triathlon Performance Director, Brendan Purcell, summed up a successful two days of racing: “What an outstanding weekend. We had some great performances in the Paratriathlon. We medaled in each category from juniors, under 23s and seniors, and we had some great top ten performances.”
He added: “It shows some of the depth that we are trying to achieve. We have some excellent coaches all the way through the pathway, and what we’re seeing now is a product of that, and that’s something we really need to recognise.”
ITU World Triathlon Series overall standings:
MEN
1. Mario Mola, ESP
2. Javier Gomez, ESP
3. Kristian Blummenfelt, NOR
6. Jonathan Brownlee, GBR
7. Tom Bishop, GBR
WOMEN
1. Flora Duffy, BER
2. Ashleigh Gentle, AUS
3. Katie Zaferes, USA
6. Jessica Learmonth, GBR
