 Bermuda's Flora Duffy crosses the line in third, but was declared the winner collecting the Gold Medal in a smashing and world class performance in the 2019 Tokyo ITU World Triathlon Olympic Qualification Event.
Training partners and BritTri team members Jessica Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown had taken the tape hand-in-hand ahead of Duffy, but they were both Disqualified.
The organizers quickly posted regarding the Disqualification of Jessica Learmonth and Georgia Taylor Brown, the ITU rules are as follows:
“Rule 2.11.f
Athletes who finish in a contrived tie situation, where no effort to separate their finish times has been made, will be DISQUALIFIED”
Duffy was clocked across the line in a time of 1:40.19, Duffy clocked 19.48 on the Swim, 1:01.47 on the Bike, before clocking 17.23 on the Run course.
“There was a lot of cobwebs to blow away and it was hard from the start,” admitted Duffy. “I haven’t done this intensity in over a year and there were times that I didn’t think I’d be back at the points end of a race so this is best case scenario. I loved the course, it was great to be back out with the girls again. I love racing hot and humid conditions and the whole point was to come here and check out the conditions and for me that felt pretty good out there today.”
The Elite Women’s Olympic Qualification Event got underway, with two laps of Odaiba Bay, 1.5km.
Great Britain’s Learmonth led the Women out of Swim with Duffy well in touch but 22 seconds back.
Duffy made a statement as she went to the front of 12 after two laps of the Tokyo2020 Test Event.
Seven riders moved out to a minute lead over a chasing pack as Taylor-Brown and Learmonth look like they are enjoying their time up front with Duffy.
With 2 laps to go on the Bike Duffy took to the front again, when the Elite Women began the run, Learmonth, Taylor-Brown and Duffy opened up a 30m gap on the field.
On the Bell lap, training partners and BritTri team members Learmonth and Taylor-Brown were running stride for stride, but they knew the race was not over as Duffy off the pace just a little was is still in striking distance running in third.
But the Drama would only be beginning.
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