Digital magazines from the International Triathlon Union (ITU) and the World Triathlon Series
Issue link: http://worldtriathlon.uberflip.com/i/1313191
The 2020 season got underway with Olympic qualification points on the line as well as the medals in Mooloolaba, Australia. World-class fields lined up on the famous Sunshine Coast and it was Vicky Holland who returned to the region of her 2018 World title win with another gold. Teammate Georgia Taylor-Brown brought home the silver, home favourite Ashleigh Gentle taking the bronze. "This means a lot because of the current climate and because we don't know when the next race will go ahead," said Holland, prophetically. "I wanted to see how my winter's training has gone because I have done a lot of work on the swim bike and I felt they were both pretty solid today. I didn't think I would run that well but I got the bit between the teeth and I thought I would have a dig and I came out on top." The British team had been based on Australia's Gold Coast for a pre-season training camp since January, so were no strangers to the water either, but it was to be Emma Jeffcoat and USA's Kirsten Kasper first out of the swim and into transition followed by a strong file of elite women. Experienced Olympians Andrea Hewitt (NZL) and Barbara Riveros (CHI) were among the women chasing hard and a huge group of women were soon looking to make an early impact on the bike with the likes of Taylor-Brown, Holland, Jeffcoat and Kasper taking turns in front seat. The stinging Mooloolaba hill saw Taylor-Brown showing the power in her legs, as she remained out in front. Australia's Jaz Hedgeland was also well placed in the mix with some impressive work to lead up over the hill. It began to rain in the middle of the race which meant that the women had to exercise caution on the turns, but that same group of 30-plus athletes worked together across the 5-laps of the 20-km bike course to set up a blistering 5km finale on foot. It was Australia's Jeffcoat who produced the quickest T2 to lead the field of elite women out on the course, Kasper and Australia's Gillian Backhouse were right on her heels. Taylor-Brown, Holland, Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) and Gentle were in the mix only seconds back from Jeffcoat and on the hunt for World Cup victory, Riveros just behind the leading charge. The 3-lap run features the same hill and the challenging climb saw athletes jostle positions and it wasn't long before the British duo Holland and Taylor Brown strode out in front, while Jeffcoat dropped back. Across the final stages 2016 Rio Olympic bronze medallist Holland displayed all her experience as she pulled away from the field to dominate the race to the line. Taylor-Brown remained in second position, while Australia's Gentle battled to the bronze ahead of New Zealand Olympian Hewitt and Ecuador's Elizabeth Bravo. Vicky Holland blazes to glory in Mooloolaba MOOLOOLABA WORLD CUP Full Results Watch the race on 29 contents