Gwen Jorgensen (USA) takes title at 2016 Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds
Making its debut on the World Triathlon Series stage, the 2016 Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds event proved beyond successful as USA's Gwen Jorgensen claimed her 17th career WTS victory and Alistair Brownlee became a hometown hero, capturing a win in his native city.
The debut of the 2016 Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds on the WTS circuit did not disappoint as yet again Gwen Jorgensen succeeded at executing a come-from-behind run to seize the first-ever Leeds title. The victory was the second consecutive win for the American and her 17th WTS gold of her career.
After being down 1:40 at the second transition, Jorgensen was able to overcome the largest deficit in the history of the WTS to secure her win.
Earning the silver medal was Bermuda’s Flora Duffy, who executed a massive attack early on the bike to gain a lead that was insurmountable to anyone but Jorgensen. She was followed over the finish line by Great Britain’s own Vicky Holland.
Starting the Leeds swim course with a podium start, a small field of just 33 women lined up for the fifth stop of the 2016 World Triathlon Series season.
Great Britain’s Jessica Learmonth and Lucy Hall quickly became the leading duo, impressing their home nation crowds just off the start. Duffy was also aggressive in the water and remained right on the feet of the two Brits. After the first lap, the three led a group of about nine women including Jorgensen, Sarah True (USA) and Holland to create a reasonable gap in the field that carried them into the first transition zone.
But despite a tight transition, it was Duffy, Learmonth and Hall who were able to get out onto the bike first. From that point the three never held back. The trio charged forward together and immediately created enough distance to hold off the chasers behind them.
While another bike trio of Jorgensen, Holland and Emma Moffatt (AUS) were able to ride together for the first lap, they were eventually caught by 11 more riders, which included Andrea Hewitt (NZL) and Jodie Stimpson (GBR).
2016 Columbia Threadneedle World Triathlon Leeds
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run
