Italy's Francesca Tarantello, left, triumphed in the women's visual impaired race at the World Triathlon Para Championships ©World Triathlon

Spanish home favourite Susana Rodríguez's reign as Para triathlon world champion in the women's visually impaired class came to an end here as she was beaten by Italy's Francesca Tarantello.

Rodríguez, from Vigo near the host city of Pontevedra for the World Triathlon Championship Finals and Para Triathlon Championships, is the Olympic champion and had won golds at the last four World Championships.

However, Tarantello moved into the lead with a quick second transition from bike to run, and went on to triumph in 1hour 7min 19sec.

Rodríguez was hit by a penalty in the cycling element for which she later expressed her displeasure, and had to settle for silver at 32sec behind Tarantello.

Annouck Curzillat of France completed the top three in 1:10:16.

The Para triathlon races featured a 750 metres swim, 20 kilometres bike including several speed bumps and a narrow in parts 5km run.

Another dominant athlete in the United States' Kendall Gretsch was beaten in the women's wheelchair race.

Gretsch had been undefeated since the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, but finished second in 1:11:19.

Grace Norman of the US, centre, won a competitive women's PTS5 race to defend her title ©World Triathlon
Grace Norman of the US, centre, won a competitive women's PTS5 race to defend her title ©World Triathlon

Lauren Parker of Australia claimed gold in 1:10:38, with Brazil's Jessica Ferreira taking bronze in 1:13:48.

France's Elise Marc was able to claim a dominant third consecutive title in the women's PTS3 in 1:13:25, finishing more than 11 minutes clear of second-placed Kenia Yesenia Villalobos Vargas of Mexico, and American defending champion Hailey Danz winning the women's PTS2 in 1:14:38, beating Anu Francis of Australia by 23sec.

In a star-studded women's PTS5 race, Grace Norman of the US defended her title, hitting the front on the run to pull clear of Britain's Claire Cashmore and triumph in 1:03:28.

Cashmore finished more than one minute back in second with a time of 1:04:39, and her compatriot and Paralympic champion Lauren Steadman was third in 1:05:45.

The other winner in the women's Para triathlon events was Kelly Elmlinger of the US, who also produced a superb run to finish in 1:10:42 and reclaim her world title, with Spain's Marta Francés Gómez her closest challenger in 1:14:00.

The Netherlands' Geert Schipper triumphed in the men's wheelchair race, ending compatriot Jetze Plat's run of seven world titles ©World Triathlon
The Netherlands' Geert Schipper triumphed in the men's wheelchair race, ending compatriot Jetze Plat's run of seven world titles ©World Triathlon

On the men's side, Jetze Plat of The Netherlands was stunned in his search for an eighth consecutive title in the wheelchair class.

He suffered a puncture and was pipped across the finish line by compatriot Geert Schipper, who won by 5sec in 1:00:58.

Britain's Dave Ellis enjoyed a defence of his visual impaired title in 57min 37sec, with France's Thibaut Rigaudeau his closest challenger in 58:42.

Jules Ribstein of France won a fourth straight PTS2 title in 1:06:00, 20sec clear of Mohamed Lahna of the US, and Spain's Daniel Molina provided a home victory with a successful PTS3 title in 1:06:53.

Paralympic and world champion Alexis Hanquinquant triumphed for France with a time of 59:03 in the PTS4, finishing 27sec clear of compatriot Pierre-Antoine Baele, and the PTS5 gold went to Paralympic champion Martin Schulz of Germany in 56:18, staving off defending champion Stefan Daniel of Canada by 27sec.

The Para triathlon mixed relay is due to be held tomorrow in Pontevedra.