Diana Isakova (RUS) closed out the World Triathlon Championship Series with a first ever win on Friday afternoon in Abu Dhabi, a remarkable gold coming less than a week after taking the tape at the Hong Kong World Cup.
It was another impressive display from the Russian number one who was able to pull clear of the only woman able to stick with her of the nine-deep lead group off the bike, Jeanne Lehair (LUX). From the chasers, it was the evergreen Gwen Jorgensen who emerged with the fastest run of the day to score bronze and a first podium for the US triathlon legend since the Grand Final in 2016.
"I am just so happy!" beamed a delighted Isakova. "From the swim through the bike and the run I felt good, and proud to be racing the best like Jeanne once again."
Winner here last year and the race number one Lisa Tertsch (GER) led the athletes off the sand and onto the right hand side of the new-look pontoon start, but it was Vittoria Lopes (BRA) and Sophie Evans (GBR) quickly making their way to the front of the 750m swim.
Diana Isakova and Laura Lindemann (GER) were right there too as they emerged back onto the beach, Jeanne Lehair well in touch, but it was Ana Carballo (ESP) taking to he front of the early stages of the bike.
The nine athletes up front immediately had 13 seconds over the four closest chasers, but that went out to 30 seconds as the chase groups came together and Brea Roderick (NZL), Franka Rust (GER) and Djenyfer Arnold (BRA) tried to power on the 17 hunters that included Tertsch and Nina Eim.
Across the five laps that lead just drifted and the gap grew wider and wider, however, Eve Whittaker (GBR) enjoying her time up front on Series debut, and as they hit transition the lead was up to 35 seconds.
Lindemann stumbled with her bike at the dismount and Whittaker hit the front chased by Diana Isakova, that pair with a small gap to Lehair, Angelica Prestia (ITA) and Carballo, Lisa Tertsch onto the run 40 seconds in arrears and on the charge along with Jorgensen and Eim.
It was at around the 1km mark that Isakova started to ease away from Whittaker and Prestia and it was Lehair moving in closest to the woman who beat her in Hong Kong just a week ago.
At the bell it was Isakova with just two seconds to Lehair, Whitaker and Prestia 15 and 20 seconds back, Lindemann and Carballo being closed in on by Jorgensen, Marta Pintanel and Guerrero, Lisa Tertsch still 42 seconds adrift and not making up any early ground.
Lehair was able to sit on Isakova’s shoulder then moved to the front with 1000m to go, while Jorgensen was motoring into the podium positions some 30 seconds back.
Just as the leaders headed back towards the stadium Isakova hit the accelerator with 300m to go and Lehair couldn’t respond, the Russian searing clear to take the WTCS tape for the very first time, Lehair settling for second and Jorgensen flying down the chute for a first Series podium and the fastest run of the day with 16:26 in the heat.
Laura Lindemann would take a battling fourth from Lisa Terstch in fifth, Djenyfer Arnold sixth followed by the delighted debut duo of Eve Whitaker and Angelica Prestia, Marta Pintanel and Nina Eim rounding out the top 10.
Jeanne Lehair:
“Compared to last weekend I used way more energy on the bike, but I was trying to motivate the group and I knew Diana was my main rival. We just wanted to make the breakaway work and I may have used too much energy but I am super happy with second place and my third podium of the year.”
Gwen Jorgensen:
“I thought I was out of this race but one of the coaches told me I was third and I couldn’t believe it. I was trying to stay in the moment and I was thankful this was a hot race and looking forward to the relay.
