Olympics-focussed Bermudian Flora Duffy clinched her second successive ITU Triathlon World Cup gold medal by leaving her rivals floundering and storming to victory in Italy on Saturday.
Following her triumph in the first rescheduled World Cup event, the Karlovy Vary ITU Triathlon in the Czech Republic last month, Duffy led from start to finish over the sprint distance to clinch victory in one hour, 53 seconds, ahead of Britain’s Bether Potter in 1:02:04 and Italy’s Verena Steinhauser in 1:02:07.
Duffy, a 33-year-old former two-time world champion, held a 10-second lead over her rivals after leaving the water, extending that to more than 35 seconds after one lap of the bike, and never looking back as she cruised down the blue carpet to complete a dominant display.
“I was super happy with the swim, as well as the overall race,” said Duffy afterwards.
“Sorting out my swim was a main goal here and the bike course I knew I just had to attack. I wasn’t expecting to be riding solo but I’ve been there before so it didn’t freak me out.
“My coach and I had discussed what sort of power I’d need to use so I tried to ride hard but within myself and really maximise the descent, get aero and push.”
The abbreviated season will conclude with an Olympic-distance race in Miyazaki, Japan, in two weeks’ time.
Duffy is building up to next year’s Olympiad in Tokyo where she is one of the strong favourites to medal and hand Bermuda only their second Olympic success following boxer Clarence Hill’s bronze at the 1976 Games in Montreal.
CMC
