Jonathan Brownlee won the men's race in Edmonton ©WTS

Britain's Jonathan Brownlee and Australia's Emma Jackson claimed their first victories of the World Triathlon Series (WTS) season in Edmonton.

The pair tasted success in the Canadian city at the last leg of the circuit before this year's Grand Final in Lausanne.

Brownlee, a double Olympic medallist and the 2012 world champion, has endured a disappointing season but proved his class as Spain's Mario Mola won silver and Marten van Riel of Belgium the bronze.

He was part of a chasing group which followed rankings leader Vincent Luis of France out of the water following the swim and stayed right in the mix during the bike leg.

There was drama during the last lap of the cycling as Brazil's Reinaldo Colucci and Stefan Zachaus crashed while taking off their shoes during transition which led to a large pile-up.

Brownlee, whose brother Alistair is the back-to-back Olympic gold medallist, was the triathlete to find an extra gear on the run as he powered home to the line.

"I knew I could do it," he said.

"I knew I was doing well in training, I was just having bad luck after bad luck. 

"It's been tough but I finally won something."

Mola, who has won the last three overall WTS titles, claimed a second silver medal of the season after winning the opening leg in Abu Dhabi.

Van Riel's bronze was his best-ever result on the circuit.

Emma Jackson prevailed in the women's race for Australia ©WTS
Emma Jackson prevailed in the women's race for Australia ©WTS

Luis finished sixth and still leads the overall standings with 4,180 points.

Mola, on 3,783 in second place, will be hoping to overhaul him in Lausanne next month when 1,250 points will be available for a victory.

Jackson had not stepped onto a WTS podium since 2014 and came to the fore during the run.

Summer Rappaport of the United States won silver and another Australian in Ashleigh Gentle the bronze.

"I hadn't been on a WTS podium since 2014, so I am quite emotional now," said Jackson. 

"I've had some good runs in Montreal and Hamburg and I have been training really well lately, but I was not expecting this. 

"I just wanted to have a good swim and I think I had a terrible one today, but luckily Taylor Knibb and Ashleigh Gentle worked really hard to take us back up with the leaders. 

"After so many months out with injuries and after so much time training, this feels quite unbelievable now."

American Katie Zaferes leads the overall standings on 4,925 points with Britain's Jessica Learmonth second on 4,170.

They were sixth and fourth respectively today.