HAMILTON, Bermuda, (CMC) – Bermudian Dame Flora Duffy boosted her chances of landing an unprecedented fourth women’s triathlon world title after she stormed to victory here Sunday in the penultimate leg of this season’s calendar.

The win in the World Triathlon Championship Series maintained Duffy’s 100 per cent dominance on home soil having won the 2018 edition in similar fashion before missing out a year later through injury. Racing here in 2020 and 2021 was cancelled because of the government’s COVID-19 protocols.

Sunday’s margin of victory was almost as great as 2018 when she finished one minute 46 seconds ahead of her nearest rival. This time, the gap was one minute 38 seconds as she crossed the line with Bermuda flag in hand on a breezy afternoon with an occasional shower in two hours one minute 26 seconds.

Racing in Bermuda for the first time since becoming Olympic champion last year, the 35-year-old Duffy did not disappoint the thousands of fans who lined the course, sprinting clear of her rivals.

American Taylor Knibb finished second in 2:03:04 with Britain’s Beth Potter completing the podium in 2:03:17.

Sunday’s race – entailing a 1 500-metre swim, 40-kilometre bike ride and 10-kilometre run – came nine days after Knibb was crowned Ironman 70.3 world champion in Utah, where Duffy finished fifth on her debut in the longer event.

Duffy emerged in second place after the swim and shared the bike lead with Dutchwoman Maya Kingma, who eventually finished sixth, before drawing clear on the run.
“I’m so thankful for Maya on the bike. She was so strong and we worked together nicely, and then the crowd just pulled me through on that 10-km run,” said Duffy.

Duffy finds herself firmly in contention to retain her world ahead of the final in Abu Dhabi in three weeks’ time, sitting in second place on 3 856 points, just 69 adrift of British leader Georgia Taylor-Brown, who opted out of Bermuda to concentrate on preparations for Abu Dhabi.

With victory in the United Arab Emirates capital counting for an increased 1 250 points, the incentive for Duffy will be clear, with victory in the final race guaranteeing her the crown regardless of where her British rival finishes on November 25.

“Honestly, I think this is a little bit more special than in 2018 because I was under a lot more expectation to have a race like this today,” said Duffy.

“In 2018 I managed to pull off that victory without any real major expectation whereas I knew everyone was going to come out and see me back here as Olympic champion so that made it even more special.

“I was hoping for a good day here and the race played out perfectly. The crowd was incredible and it was just such a special day.

“It sets me up great for Abu Dhabi. I needed to win today to keep that title chase open; thankfully, I did and so we will see what happens in three weeks.”

Duffy’s fellow Bermudian Erica Hawley, 24, crashed out on the bike leg, one of 10 athletes who did not finish the course.