Vicky Holland used a second-fastest 17:14 5k run to break away from the field and finish the sprint distance Edmonton WTS race in 58:55, with a 9 seconds advantage over runner-up Flora Duffy of Bermuda and 15 seconds over 3rd-place finisher and WTS podium first-timer Gillian Backhouse of Australia.

“It was really tough conditions today, the coldest conditions,” said Holland of the 45 degree(F) temperatures in a driving rain. “A really strong swim set me up well for the race and I tried really hard to stay warm on the bike. Once I got going I felt good on the run.”

Coming back from an injury-plagued 2014 season, Holland looks like the top contender for the British women’s Olympic triathlon team after a 3rd at last year’s Commonwealth Games, a 1st at WTS Cape Town, 2nd at WTS Hamburg, 3rd at the Rio Olympic test event, and this dominating victory on a day that all of the top U.S. women stayed home resting for the WTS Grand Final in Chicago in two weeks' time.

With this second WTS win, Holland rose to 5th in the WTS season points standings – and is now within 394 points of 3rd-ranked Sarah True of the U.S. going into the Grand Final.

Duffy’s runner-up finish was her best in a fast-rising WTS career that now includes a 3rd at Abu Dhabi, a 5th at Gold Coast, a 3rd at the Pan Am Games, a 4th at Stockholm, as well as this performance in decidedly non-Bermuda weather.

“It was a hard day,” said Duffy. “As soon as we got into the water, you could really feel it. On the bike the wind chill was so bad it was impossible to get warm. I could not feel my feet the entire time – it was a weird experience.”

Duffy was smiling broadly at the finish. “I am extremely happy with how it went,” she said. “Ironically the girl from sunny Bermuda did well in cold, rainy conditions.”

Backhouse was crying with joy minutes after her first podium finish at the prestigious WTS series. Backhouse showed promise with her 2nd place finish at the 2014 ITU Under 23 World Championships, as well as a win at the Chengdu World Cup. But this season her best previous WTS finish was 12th at Hamburg.

“I’ve been with my coach for two years now,” said Backhouse. “Particularly this year, we’ve really been able to build into my training and give it a go at the World Triathlon Series.”

Swim

Carolina Routier of Spain led the swim in 9:12, with overall contenders in range including Flora Duffy of Bermuda (+1s), Australians Gillian Backhouse and Emma Moffatt (+11s), Helen Jenkins of Great Britain (+13s), and Ashleigh Gentle of Australia (+21s). Further back were Kirsten Sweetland of Canada, Emma Jackson of Australia, and Non Stanford of Great Britain between 45 and 53 seconds arrears.

Bike

Right off the bat, a group of 15 took to the front, led by Duffy, Anja Knapp of Germany (+1s), Vicky Holland of Great Britain (+2s), Moffatt (+3s), Jenkins (+3s), Ashleigh Gentle (+19s), Kirsten Sweetland (+26s), Non Stanford (+36s), Emma Jackson (+39s), and Anne Haug of Germany (+41s).

Further into the bike, driving rain and cold temperatures (44 degrees Fahrenheit) left almost all contenders with freezing hands. On Lap 3, Vittoria Lopes of Brazil took a turn at the front, followed by Gillian Backhouse of Australia, Duffy and Holland 1 second down, Knapp and Jenkins 2 seconds back, and Moffatt 3 seconds down. Hanging back but still with hope were strong runners Sweetland and Gentle (+28s), and Emma Jackson and Non Stanford (+39s).

By the finish of the bike, Knapp led the field, followed by top contenders Duffy (+6s), Holland (+11s), Backhouse (+11s), Jenkins (+22s), Sweetland (+34s), Gentle (+42s), and Moffatt (+43s).

Run

Holland took control right from the start, with Flora Duffy hanging on for half a kilometer. By the end of the first run lap, Holland led Duffy by 4 seconds, Backhouse by 14 seconds, Routier by 16 seconds, and Knapp by 17 seconds, with Sweetland hanging on to 10th 39 seconds back.

Non Stanford, the 2013 WTS World Champion who had lost most of 2014 coping with injuries, had a slow swim which cost her a potential podium spot. Stanford unleashed a race-best 16:52 run to advance to 6th place at the finish.

WTS Edmonton
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
September 6, 2015
S 750m / B 20k / R 5k

Results

Women

1. Vicky Holland (GBR) 58:55
2. Flora Duffy (BER) 59:04
3. Gillian Backhouse (AUS) 59:10
4. Carolina Routier (ESP) 59:20
5. Anja Knapp (GER) 59:41
6. Non Stanford (GBR) 59:44
7. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 59:52
8. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) 59:52
9. Claudia Rivas (MEX) 59:54
10. Kirsten Sweetland (CAN) 59:57