ITU: Flora Duffy continues her wining way with 4th consecutive win in Edmonton

Flora Duffy is the world champion of everything, including being undefeated in the ITU World Triathlon Series this year thanks to her win at Edmonton today and clearly not showing any signs of slowing after her win in Leeds last month. Here’s how the Elite Women’s race played out.

Taylor Knibb fights Duffy from the start

After establishing an early lead, Flora Duffy of Bermuda battled with American Taylor Knibb for the lead coming into the first transition. As the bike leg developed, the two continued to battle until Duffy pulled away and never looked back.

“I was thinking of going on lap four so I could build up a gap, but Taylor was riding so strong, I was getting tired, so I went on lap six,” Duffy said to WTS online. “I felt stronger at that point. I felt a little cruel doing that, but it had to be done.”

With the knowledge of Knibb’s strength in the swim and the bike, Duffy was determined to establish her lead.

“Taylor is riding super strong at the moment, I have been in a breakaway with her before, in Montreal last year, We worked together really well, but she was so strong I thought she might be running really strong too, so I attacked her on the last hill to get a little buffer”.

Duffy modest in victory

Always modest in her victory, Flora said on Twitter: “Is this for real?! 4/4 wins this year. Something I never thought possible. Thanks Edmonton for coming out to support the race today!” Adding in a post-race interview; “I’ve tried to be consistent over the last year. I’ve tried to minimise getting injured and just stay consistent in my training. I have to give a lot to my coaches.”

Knibb and Zaferes fight hard behind Duffy

“I just tried to follow Flora and it worked all right,” Knibb said. “On the run I just wanted to hold my own. To be on the podium on a race like this, on a WTS race, is simply amazing”.

After her third place, Zaferes said: “I knew this was going to be tough, but it was even harder than what I expected. I was pretty close to Flora and Taylor on the first kilometres, but on the first hill I got trapped. When Flora is riding you need to be with her any second or you will loose her. And the bike had a hill, but the run had my own hill too, with the battle with Summer Cook. I just kept telling myself be strong, be strong… and I made it.”

After winning at Yokohama, Leeds and Hamburg, Duffy has cemented herself as a truly formidable athlete after her win at Edmonton. Amazing.