Bermuda's Flora Duffy won the World Triathlon Grand Final in Cozumel ©ITU

Bermuda's Flora Duffy was crowned women's world champion at the International Triathlon Union's (ITU) World Triathlon Grand Final event in Cozumel today.

It was the first time Duffy has wont he Series, as well as the first time Bermuda has topped the overall World Championship podium.

Coming into the race, Duffy was the top ranked woman in the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings, but only by 166 points. 

That meant she needed to either beat the United States Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen or come second to her.

Jorgensen had only lost two races in the last two years before starting today's race.

But a breakaway on the bike saw Duffy run into the sun with a large enough gap that Jorgensen could not overcome. 

Jorgensen ran in front of her the field to finish both second on the day and second in the Columbia Threadneedle Rankings. 

America's Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen suffered only her third defeat in three years at the World Triathlon Grand Final ©USA Triathlon
America's Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen suffered only her third defeat in three years at the World Triathlon Grand Final ©USA Triathlon

Charlotte McSchane, who trains with Jorgensen, closed out the season with her first-ever World Triathlon Series podium with bronze, while Japan’s Ai Ueda finished fifth to end the season third overall in the rankings. 

Her season third place is the highest any Japanese athlete has ever finished.

Crystal clear waters awaited the women, who were the first group of elites to crown a world champion. 

The course offered up only one 1500 metres swim and with the ocean current, the field essentially saw one long string of swimmers. 

About seven women were able to get a slight lead, Britain’s Jessica Learmonth and Lucy Hall along with Duffy, Jorgensen, America's Sarah True, Spain's Carolina Routier and Brazil's Pamella Oliveira.

Coming out of the swim it was just a small workable lead of just five seconds that Duffy, Learmonth and Hall had over Jorgensen. 

It was enough, though, for the three to have a swift transition and push out onto the bike with no-one else able to join them.

Jorgensen exitied the water in fifth but could not get into the lead pack and started out the bike in a trio alongside True and Routier.

Duffy has made a name for herself as one of the strongest cyclists in the field, and it was that discipline where she needed to make the most ground if she wanted to earn the world title. 

This time working with Learmonth and Hall, the three continued to increase their lead after each lap. 

By the end of the cycle, that gap had increased to more than a minute.

Getting through the second transition, Duffy sprinted out of the gate.

The chase entered T2 down by 67 seconds, which meant Jorgensen had some work to do to catch up to Duffy. 

But at the World Triathlon Series event in Leeds Jorgensen had trailed over 90 seconds from Duffy and still was able to come back and win the race.

Flora Duffy was able to savour her victory in the World Triathlon Grand Final ©ITU
Flora Duffy was able to savour her victory in the World Triathlon Grand Final ©ITU

At the halfway mark in the run, Duffy was still holding onto the lead and by the time the bell rang it actually had increased to 74 seconds.

Duffy then entered the finish chute assured of victory and was able to grab the Bermudian flag and high-five the fans and she then crossed the finish line and collected not only her second World Triathlon Series win of the year, but her first world title.

Second place then went to Jorgensen, who crossed the line 77 seconds behind Duffy.

The bronze medal was then left up to a sprint finish. McShane and Britain's Helen Jenkins found themselves neck and neck entering the finish chute, but it was McShane who had the final stepto win her first World Triathlon Series medal. 

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