Unstoppable Flora Duffy wins 3rd world title of 2016
ITU World Champion Flora Duffy from Bermuda has won her third world championship this year, the 2016 Snowy Mountains ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship in Australia.
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As the defending champion, reigning ITU World Champion, and Xterra World Champion Duffy was the clear favourite to win the race, and led from the start. She increased the margin at every chance to eventually win by four minutes from Chilean Barbara Riveros, and Suzanne Snyder (USA) taking bronze.
“It’s really surreal and I don’t think I’ve full absorbed it yet,” said Duffy. ” It’s cool; it was kind of a crazy idea that formed after the overall win at Cozumel. I thought there’s two more world titles this year and maybe I can win them. To do it, to keep it together for this long under this much pressure, is cool.”
Newcomer to off-road racing Charlotte McShane was in second after the swim, however could not keep up with Duffy on the single-track mountain bike leg and Duffy was soon out of sight and amassed a huge 4minute lead.
McShane lost ground over the bike leg, and Riveros, who was recovering from a broken foot, soon overtook hervto take her second successive silver medal at the World Championships.
Snyder was consistent all day and slowly worked her way to the front of the field, overtaking McShane who finished in fourth place, to take bronze and her first world championship podium.
GB’s Jacqui Slack Slack finished in seventh place in a time of 3:14:14, 20 minutes behind Duffy.
The men’s race was won by Ruben Ruzafa (ESP) for the third year running. He came out of the water in 16th place and by lap two on the bike had clawed his way to the front. From then on he stayed in front, winning for the third consecutive year. Josiah Middaugh (USA) finished second and took the silver medal, while Braden Currie of New Zealand took bronze.
2016 Snowy Mountains ITU Cross Triathlon World Championship Results
Women
1. Flora Duffy (BER) 2:54:11
2. Barabara Riveros (CHI) 2:58:05
3. Suzanne Snyder (USA) 3:05:45
4. Charlotte McShane (AUS) 3:08:13
5. Myriam Guillot-Boisset (FRA) 3:10:39
6. Elizabeth Orchard (NZL) 3:14:41
7. Jacqui Slack (GBR) 3:14:14
8. Catherine Sterling (USA) 3:15:36
9. Jessica Simpson (AUS) 3:17:25
10. Renata Bucher (SUI) 3:23:26
Full Results