Three Brits in top six as Stanford returns with victory in Cape Town

The Discovery World Triathlon Cape Town over the Sprint distance saw a dominant performance from the three Britsh athletes racing today.

Returning to her first World Triathlon Series event of the season after qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games last year, Non Stanford was straight back to the top of the podium. Overcoming her disappointment from Gold Coast two weeks ago, Jodie Stimpson took the Silver with Vicky Holland in sixth.

Bermuda’s Flora Duffy took control for much of the race. Choosing a different line through the opening 750m swim, Duffy exited the water in tandem with Carolina Routier (ESP), with a significant gap over the rest of the field. All three of the British athletes were within 15 seconds of each other, around 30 seconds back.

A fine cyclist, Duffy was soon on her own and held a lead of over 30 seconds at the halfway point of the bike. Despite her own abilities on two wheels, holding off practically the entire field on her own would prove impossible, and when Duffy arrived into T2 first, it was with around 30 athletes just second behind her. Would she have anything left for the run?

The three Brits were quickly to the front on the 5km run, along with Duffy and Anne Haug (GER). Stanford looked strong throughout, setting the pace, with Stimpson tucked in behind. At the start of the final lap, Holland fell off the pace slightly as Stanford pushed on. It looked like it would be Stimpson versus Haug for the Silver, but over the final 400m, Duffy fought back and passed Haug, such that Stimpson had to hold firm to maintain Silver medal position.

Stanford and Holland can be pleased with their 2016 debut’s, while for Stimpson, it won’t resolve her disappointment of missing out on Olympic selection, but she now moves to second in the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings behind Bermuda’s Duffy.

Stanford, who was starting her 2016 season, said: “I came here to see where I was, and I think everything is on track. I’m definitely not in my ideal race shape, so it means there is more to come, which is exciting.”

Stimpson looked focussed throughout the race, particularly through the second transition. Having not performed at her best during the Olympic assessment race on the Gold Coast two weeks ago, she bounced back in style.

She said: “I didn’t expect anything from this race. It’s been a tough couple of weeks, so I’m ecstatic to come here and make the podium.”

ITU World Triathlon Cape Town – ELITE WOMEN – Sunday 24th April 2016
750m / 20km / 5km

1st – Non Stanford (GBR) 59:49
2nd – Jodie Stimpson (GBR) 59:56
3rd – Flora Duffy (BER) 59:59
4th – Anne Haug (GER) 1:00:07
5th – Kirsten Kasper (USA) 1:00:08
6th – Vicky Holland (GBR) 1:00:15
7th – Ai Ueda (JPN) 1:00:21
8th – Yurie Kato (JPN) 1:00:26
9th – Sarah True (USA) 1:00:33
10th – Kaidi Kivioja (EST) 1:00:34