Edmonton Highlights Triathlon: World Series

Welcome to highlights of round six of the 2017 ITU World Triathlon

Series which comes from the capital of Canada's Alberta province,

Edmonton. It promises to be another instalment of sprint racing at the

best. Before we get to the action lets have a recap of what happened

in the previous five events in the season so far. Abu Dhabi and Gold

Coast hosted the first two. Flora Duffy one in Yokohama and then in

Leeds, where Alistair Brownlee made a successful return. It is Edmonton

next, on a course which has drawn up a fair few surprises in recent

years. Montreal is a new event taking place next weekend. It will

challenge even the most highly skilled athletes. Then there is more

familiar territory. Stockholm. We end with the grand final in the

Dutch city of Rotterdam. Looking at the men's rankings, Mario Mola has

enhanced his chance of defending his world title but the race is still

wide open. He leads the standings. Tom Bishop is the top British

triathlete. He is not here this weekend. Jonathan Brownlee is in

Edmonton and has a chance to claim the rankings. We've been looking at

who will be pushing for the podium. Mario Mola was unstoppable in

Hamburg. The fact that he had time to high-5 the crowd is evidence of

how dominant years. He has won his last three races. Will it become

four? Fernando Alarza is a fierce competitor with give up attitude --

never give up attitude. Javier Gomez missed most of last season through

injury but a stunning victory in Abu Dhabi silenced those who thought his

desire was waning. He may not have won a sprint distance race but even

at 34 you would not rule him out of contention here. Australia are

enjoying a resurgence with Jacob Birtwhistle leading the charge. In

Hamburg he found an extra gear to move up and finish on the podium for

only the second time of his career. Jonny Brownlee missed hamburger

because of low magnesium levels being detected by doctors after he

felt unwell. It has been a frustrating year but he won last

year so he knows the course well. You would not bet against him. Here

we are, that is the loop, 750 metres around the island and then back.

They are kept within the park. Some smart residents in the parkland get

to witness the athletes going past six times on their bikes. 21 K bike

and a five K run. Sprint testing here. Let's take a look at the

start, all the Spanish flag is. Have you Gomez has been a winner, he

won the opener in Abu Dhabi. The British interest will come from

Jonny Brownlee. He's had a break, he's fully recovered, he starts with

number 12. The third member of the trio is Grant Sheldon. 50 elite

triathletes lined up and ready to race in round six of the triathlon

series. I they go. Fast and furious start. We expect

the pace to come from Richard Varga, the Slovakian. It is a 21 K bike and

a five K run. The pace is bang on. It's a sprint distance. They stand

on the pontoon, we saw Gomez down one end and then the athletes on the

other. The early leader is Richard Varga as we anticipated.

Matthew Hauser was start of the Australian group that took the

relay. Moved back home to Slovakia since

he's married. He is someone that Jonny Brownlee will rely on to set

the pace in this swim. He will hope to be close to Richard Varga when

they come out of the water. That is Aaron Royle. He's one of

those athletes that blows hot and cold. He looks to be the athlete on

the feet of Richard Varga. We have one of the Russian athletes, Dmitry

Polyanskiy. Those are the top three at the moment. We've had a different

swim leader in every race so far this season. We'll be the 30th time

Richard Varga has led coming out of stage one.

We will get a full check on the standings.

Had probably his best race of the season. There are more athletes

without swim caps. Some have had to make the whole journey without

goggles. It can be We thought about eight and a half

minutes. They are out of the water. Another

Frenchman, Raphael Montoya. They are heading towards T1. They

are led by the swim specialist. Jonny Brownlee at his bike, bike

helmet on. Pushing towards the mount up line.

Mario Mola has just arrived. He's off the pace. He's going to have to

work hard to close the gap. They are pretty well spread. This is the

second group out of transition. There is a leading group of about

15. Jonny Brownlee with the black helmet. Heading up to lead the race.

Sometimes you get this train effect athletes are able to get on and join

up with the front pack. Let's see what they can do. We know there is a

tough claim that comes very quickly and that will be the opportunity for

some of these athletes to break away and stay away. Jonny Brownlee taking

his turn at the front. Vincent Luis is behind him. Things have gone very

much according to plan for the younger of the Brownlee Brothers.

Grant Sheldon, the third of the British triathlete to emerge from

the order. We our alongside the leaders who are making this climb.

Here's the nasty right-hander which takes them into the residential

areas of the parkland of Edmonton. It is Jonny Brownlee who leads them

up. A group of ten at the front. The next group is led by one of the

Canadians. They are some way off the pace.

This is the chase group. Mario Mola, the winner of the most recent race.

The Spaniards know that they are in trouble when they turn up to play.

This is the group of nine front. Five laps to go and we are going to

check on the difference. It is 16 seconds at the end of lap one.

It is a big group, the chase pack and they will need to communicate

really well. 16 seconds between the lead group

and the chase group at the end of lap one. Promising numbers for the

group currently led by Jonathan Brownleee. There he is - familiar

position out front. Words exchanged to Aaron Royle n

second position. It is great to see Brownlee marshalling the troops.

Someone has to lead. It is important that you get someone up the front

getting all the athletes to work. You don't want anyone sitting in not

doing anything. Ben Kanute, from the United States, at the front at the

moment. Aaron Royle, third place. Great to see Brownlee and Royle

together. You know your style of racing. Aaron Royle now on the race

of Jonathan Brownlee. Knows how important it is to gain time here.

Raphael Montoya, in that group as well. The Frenchman. The

The 21-year-old. Gomes is pushing the pace. They got that lead pack in

their sights. That is sometimes big motivation to work harder to see if

you can get back on. That is the difference now. It is no longer 16

seconds. It is closer to about 10 seconds.

They are trying to close down the leaders. Let's see if there's a

reaction from Jonathan Brownlee here at the front. He will know that the

Gomes group is leading fast. It looks like there's a little bit of

activity at the front here. Ben Kanute, at the back. Johnnie

Brownlee at the front. Working hard to keep the group at bay. Having a

chat there with the American athlete. There's no time to chat to

someone. You cannot risk losing any time. I think it is here on this

decent here where the chase pack will make some inroads. Between

Kanute and Gomes at the front, it is now just five seconds.

This has been a monumental effort from Gomes to lead the chase group

Varga getting over his bike, looking for extra speed.

I always think that looks a bit dangerous, doesn't it? And very

uncomfortable. Varga, well it has worked for him, he's opened up a

little bit of a lead. I wonder if the others may follow suit when they

come on that downward part of the course. Approaching the end of lap

two. They had a lead of 16 seconds at the end of the first lap. That

has all but gone now. Well, I think it is disappointing

for that little pack that seemed to have broken away. They seemed to

have a good group on a course like this. When you have the big, wide

open roads, a big pack will travel a bit harder. And that chase pack now

in the front group, Richard Murray as well. Let's not forget

Blummenfelt, from Norway, a phenomenal rider.

So they are approaching the end of lap two. It is all change. This

group is one of 30. Brownlee in with Gomez and all his old rivals dwen. S

again. This break away from Kanute will not

be for too long, I don't think. Benson is in that pack as well.

Grant Sheldon has made it into that group as well. All three British

triathletes are in and around the front group, which is enormous.

Looking ahead to stage three, 5km. With Noya, the world leader, with

Brownlee, with Javier Gonez, with Richard Murray, who has won World

Triathlon series races in the past. They come when he wears number four.

He's wearing number four again today. Others who will fancy their

chances. Vincent Luis, have not seen the best

of him so far this season. Maybe we will today.

Fernando Alarza, who until the last race, was the holder of the world

leader's trophy. He could have a bearing on the outcome of today's

race. This is shaping up to be a ding-dong battle, as they head into

the #kkm run. This will come down to the accuracy,

in and out of transition when they leave their bikes behind. They put

on their running shoes and of course the early stages of the run, with so

many good five kilometre runners in there. This one is wide open today.

It may have just taken the edge off of the racing of the bike stage, but

I think it makes for a fine battle, forth coming in the four kilometre

run a little later. There is always the discussion where best to place

yourself in a big group like this. I think it's important to be out of

trouble and somewhere near the front. At the same time, you do get

to see some of the athletes sitting in behind and not having to do too

much work as they get pulled along by the train effect. You have to

think where you are positioning yourself on the bike into T 2.

Five Ks left on two wheels. Absolutely wide open here.

They are all in contention. The end of the last lap will be interesting.

You want to be first into transition, to avoid the traffic and

the potential pile ups that can occur. And then you have potentially

34 athletes who want to be at the front coming off their bikes, so you

have to play it very sensibly, but very safely, too.

Gomez with his old rival Jonathan Brownlee behind him. Silver and

bronze-medallists in the London Olympics in Hyde Park in 2012.

Alistair was the champion. Johnnie improved by one moving up to

silver. Gomez was unable to compete because of his broken tharm he

picked newspaper a training accident. Richard Varga, the swim

specialist is with them as well. Could Varga potentially break the

top ten here today? It is a possibility. Has done in the past,

Richard Varga, in World Triathlon events. Might do it again today.

There are some strong runners in there. We have not spoken much about

Richard Murray and what he's capable of over five kilometres. He's been

relatively quiet this year, hasn't he, Murray? He's been playing it low

key. Had a good result in Abu Dhabi he he finished tenth. Disappointing

in Leeds. Seventh in Hamburg. It will be interesting to see how

Murray's fitness has progressed in the last couple of weeks. Not a lot

an athlete can do in two weeks. They would have had to travel over to

Canada from Europe. They take the bell. They are on

their final lap. Around the streets of the Pawrelak

Park and the Emily Murphy Park, here in Edmonton - the capital city of

Alberta, in Canada. We have a serious triathlon shaping up here,

with some of the main contenders in the Olympic distance racing circuit.

The only one who is missing. The only serious notable missing is

Alistair Brownlee, the Olympic champion, but his younger brother is

there, in the front, taking a drink now. He's got plenty of his old

rivals, including Mola and Gomez. The South African Murray and a

variety of Frenchmen to keep the interest up, as they cruise through

their final sir -- circuit in the park. Three laps of 1.66 kilometres

to conclude today's sprint distance event.

Well, Alistair Brownlee is missing, but also Henry Scuman. There are

around about 50 metres now. I think once they have realised he's off the

front, they'll be chasing him down. A brave move from Russell White. He

thinks he needs to arrive early in transition to get a head start on

the rest of them. Some are struggling to match the pace at the

back of the field. One of the Americans having a

laboured time there. They'll make this hairpin right-hander on the

hill for the final time. It will be up and then down, back sweeping down

on the Edinburgh Road and back to transition. T 2, where they will

leave the bikes. Just under two kilometres left to ride.

We have to keep our fingers crossed for Jonathan Brownlee. It was a

around about this stage in in Yokohama that he was brought off his

bike. It is interesting how you see the experienced athletes, they know

where they need to be at this stage on the bike. They somehow manage to

get themselves there, even though there are 34 other athletes around

them. It is Mola on the front. Brownlee

tucked behind. Then grom grom and a couple of the Australian athletes --

then Gomez and a couple of Australian athletes.

Almost 65 kilometres per hours. 75 kilometres per hour at the highest

speed on the course. Now the scramble begins. Varga, once again,

he's done that before. The second time leading them on the down-hill

stretch. The Irishman Russell White moves on once again. Now, the

jostling for position begins. Grant Sheldon and Gordon Benson are

looking for a way through, trying to weave their way through the pack and

arrive at the dismount line near the front, to avoid the traffic to have

a clear run to their places in transition. And then it's all about

timing. They need to be quick on the way in,

fast on the way out, neat and tidy in transition is what they're all

looking for. Here we go... Jonathan Brownlee is

off his bike and away. Tough for the marshals to keep an eye on all this,

to make sure everything was legal on the dismount line.

Nobody got left behind. Jonny Brownlee got left at the front.

Excellent transition. In pole position here. He strikes the front.

Richard Murray, Vincent Luis, Mario Mola are all in contention. You can

see Gomez in between Vincent Luis and Jonny Brownlee. What a line-up.

This could be a cracking finish. This first kilometre is uphill for

the first 800 metres. Could that be good for a Jonathan Brownlee? Gomez

just deciding to go up front. Mario Mola's time is 40 minutes and one

second. That is what we are looking for. That's the sort of level we are

looking for. The interesting statistic is when

Mario Mola has been off the lead within two seconds coming into T2

he's never been beaten. He was certainly within three seconds

coming out of transition. Richard Murray, talented runner from

South Africa, Mario Mola, world-beater from Spain. To control

of the overall rankings following his victory in Hamburg. He won the

Gold Coast sprint. He's enjoying a stellar season. He is forcing a

strong pace. What more could you want than this? The Canadians are

hoping to get decent positions to give the spectators something to get

excited about. Richard Murray and Mario Mola are going to work at the

front of the field. Great to see them here. Need to keep

himself cool. We know that sometimes he does not work that well in the

heat and needs to get some water on board. Only 3.8 kilometres to go.

They are breaking away. Grant Sheldon from Great Britain. Finished

fourth last year. He's obviously liking racing.

Battle of the giants of the sport. Interesting to see Richard Murray up

your earlier on. Please it pretty conservatively. He cannot afford to

do it today. Back to full Olympic distance. Have

you Gomez moves into position. He decides he wants to have a go.

This has been matched by Brownlee and Mario Mola. He's got to learn to

drink some and not just pour it over his head.

He's hurting as much as the other will athletes but is saying, I'm not

going to sit back, I'm going to try and unnerve them. I don't know

whether it's the pace or the bike but behind them there are other

great athletes. You can see them coming through behind. Jacob

Birtwhistle has not given up either. Mario Mola takes it up. Mario Mola

thinks it is time to do some damage. Grant Sheldon is down in seventh.

Montoya is six. Mario Mola is starting to enjoy his running. He's

going backwards, there's a gap of a couple of seconds.

Jacob Birtwhistle does not look comfortable. Mario Mola has gone, he

has gone away at the front of the field. This could be decisive. Here

comes Jacob Birtwhistle. He wants to be second behind him in Edmonton.

That's a monumental effort from Jacob Birtwhistle and he might even

catch Mario Mola. He's closing the gap all time. Mario Mola will see

him now. He's gone past in! That is brilliant from Jacob Birtwhistle. He

is leading. What a race from the Australian. He's come from the

clothes to read. Does he still realise that there is

two kilometres? It's amazing. He looks fantastic. Has he gone too

early? Jacob Birtwhistle is leading. Brown

is down to four. Out of the podium at this stage. Still more than a

mile. It is a significant lead to the Jacob Birtwhistle has got. Has

he gone too early or is he on his way to win? He went the wrong way!

An error of judgment and Mario Mola caught up a little bit.

The signposts are quite confusing there and I can see why he's done

it. Mario Mola is not giving up though I imagine he cannot quite

believe what is happening. Nobody expected Jacob Birtwhistle to come

through the field like he has. He's running away again. I'm not sure

Mario Mola will get back on. I wonder if Jacob Birtwhistle might

have misjudged it. Perhaps that's why he went up the carpet. He'd been

round that route before. I think he got that wrong. I think he messed

up. I think he will be caught. Suddenly he realised he's got it

wrong. He makes pay the price for that error of judgment as Mario Mola

surges alongside him and takes first.

I'm not sure that the way he went, it looked like he was in the final

400 metres. You said at the time. The way that he's blowing now, if

Jonny Brownlee keeps going he has a chance. Jacob Birtwhistle is hurting

and I would not be surprised if it was not that he thought that was it.

But, well, he knows there is relapse.

Brownlee could still take third with 900 metres to go. Mario Mola back in

first position. Jacob Birtwhistle and Murray are shoulder to shoulder.

It could be Mario Mola's win. He's never won it. 750 metres to go. He

looks unstoppable now. Weaver confused about what was going on but

now he looks very comfortable as he eases his way to the finish. The

fight is on. You feel very sorry for Jacob Birtwhistle. If he hangs on

for second, he will need to get involved in another sprint and he's

already had one of those. That would be extraordinary. He is not closing

the gap any time soon. Birtwistle seems to have found a hidden gear.

He's got more to give which is absolutely incredible. Coming down

that hill he's got his heart rate down. His legs will be burning. He

will galvanise his lead at the top of the world triathlon series

rankings. This will be his third sprint distance when following the

Gold Coast. He's never won in Edmonton before. He is showing the

way with a sensational performance. Potentially on the way to another

world title. Wins in Edmonton. 54 minutes and 52 seconds. What a

performance despite his misjudgements. Takes his place on

the podium finishing in third whilst Jonny Brownlee comes home with a

creditable fourth position. I did the best I could. I am happy I

had another swim. I am pleased only with the swim. I know it was a

challenging course. Worked hard the first couple of laps. Then it was a

finish. I saw Jake in the second lap. Lucky to get back to him and

then feel I get the final kick. Jacob, it is fair to say that your

running is better than your maths? I guess that's pretty obvious now. I

guess I was not sure. I got to the front too easy. I thought, no, I

started to really doubt myself and I had to hurtle over that barrier and

suffer around for another lap. Thankfully the damage wasn't too

much and I was able to finish off OK. Is it a two-lap run? I saw him

go... I thought, wow, he's gone too early. If he could keep that up he

would rival Bolt or Farah. I am sure it didn't look that good, I had to

resurrect something. Mola is the champion in Edmonton.

With Jacob Birtwhistle in second for Australia. Murray, third. Jonathan

Brownlee just off the podium, in fourth.

Grant Sheldon finished in tenth position for Great Britain.

Mola strengthens his lead. The best of the British is still Bishop in

seventh. Jonathan Brownlee has moved up to

10th. London... Are you ready? Mo Farah wins the gold! It is a

mammoth job! Going to win the world title... It is going to be... She's

smashed the winner's record. Bolt... I'm ready!

We have all that to come for you in August. But time now to turn our

attention to the women's event. Britain's Standard is not competing

here. She gave us the low down on where the race might be won or lost.

The favourite has to be Flora again. You could have the American girls

who are going well at the moment. A few other American girls is going,

and Knibb, they often surprise you over the smaller distances.

Hewitt isn't going to be there. She's obviously the main contender

for Flora and the World Championship title. I cannot see anyone

overtaking Flora. I think the battle will be for second and third. It

will be between Kasper, Zaferes: Tell us about the race itself, the

course? The course is relatively uninteresting. The bike is not

technical. It is wide open, it will play to the advantage of other

girls. Usually Flora thrives on hard technical courses. It will allow

them to stay with her more. The lap is three runs, fairly uneventful. I

think that will actually work against Flora for once. Edmonton is

a race where you can see surprises. Do you think the change in the time

of the year might make a difference? Definitely. In the past the race is

September. It has often been awful weather. It will be hotter. So you

don't have to contend with the bad weather conditions, which will

change the race. In the past few years we've had some surprise

podiums. Bringing it forward, getting stable weather conditions

will bring up predictable results. Play into Flora's hands? Quite

possibly. Flora will be the favourite.

Zaferes leads the way, ahead of Gentle, Kasper, with Flora Duffy,

the world champion in fourth. There are no British triathletes

racing in Edmonton. So Katie Zaferes wears number one.

She'll have the golden number one on her upper arm.

Kasper, fellow American, with two. Defending world champion, Flora

Duffy, on a royal run of form, with victories in Yokohama, Leeds and

Hamburg, has three. Gillian Backhouse, the top-ranked

Australian in the field, with four. Yuko Takahashi is number six. No

British interest in today's race at all for the women.

Round six of the 2017 World Triathlon series, in Pawrelak Park,

in Edmonton, Canada. -- in Hawrelak Park, in Edmonton,

Canada. Beautiful conditions. The ducks are flapping and flying for

cover, as the 33 triathletes set out on stage one, this one lap,

750-metre swim. It is a sprint distance today. 750-metre swim. A

21-kilometre bike over six laps of 3.5 kilometres T conclusion, a five

kilometre run. And away they go... Conditions absolutely perfect. The

park, the city, bathed in glorious summer sunshine. Mid-20s Celsius.

The water temperature nice and warm. A complete contrast to the

conditions in which they raced a year ago. It was absolutely freezing

last year. Edmonton is a fascinating place. One day you can have 26

Celsius, like you do today and the next day it will k be virtually

snowing. Lovely conditions for the athletes today and great for

Edmonton, because it is an incredible city for triathlon. This

is such a huge following there. It is a beautiful place to go and

train. I have been there. Absolutely fantastic T just having a little

look now at our early race leaders. It is Katie Zaferes there, on the

left-hand side from the United States. I wouldn't be surprised to

see Vanessa Lopes from Brazil, who led out in Hamburg. She was a

surprise there and I think she has been a surprise to other athletes

who are used to taking charge in the swim. She swam about 15-20 seconds

faster than Flora Duffy in Hamburg. I wouldn't be surprised to see her

doing very well. Vanessa Lopes, 21-year-old from Brazil and new on

the series. With Katie Zaferes, world leader right on her shoulder.

So Zaferes is taking advantage of the absolutely perfect mill pond

water conditions here. Stand-up paddleboard is patrolling. All

around they are not expecting any incidents. We had one of the

triathletes hauled out of the water in Hamburg during the sprint there.

It was a full field. But with a relatively small field

and the athletes being already quite well spread. They should be able to

keep clear of each other, as they make this first anticlockwise turn

at the inflatable buoy. So, with 540 metres to swim, Lopes, of Brazil,

the first around the corner and on her way.

Lopes of Brazil. Now they are heading due north on their way to

the final third of this swim. They are in the Hawrelak lake, named

after Edmonton's longest serving mayor. Seeing a few gaps forming.

300 #3450e9ers to Government we will not see anything too significant, I

wouldn't say. So Taylor Knibb of the USA, early leaders.

Katie Zaferes, who was near the front in the early stages has won

over the sprint distance in the past. 57.03.

Zaferes is leading the world standings with success over the

sprint distance in the past. The pace is really being raised here by

the swimmers at the front. So the athletes now with just under

100 metres to swim, going around that red buoy there. There are some

gaps forming here. There is a pack there out in front, with 15 athletes

and then a little gap to the next pack. But a lot of Americans in

here. As you mentioned there, Matt, they had three Americans on the

podium here last year. I wonder if they can do that again. Amazing what

the Americans are doing. Even without Gwen. She's away having

her baby. I think she's due in the next couple of days. Summer Cook

leading them through. She's first to emerge here in Edmonton. And starts

to prepare for the arrival in transition. Victoria Lopes in hope

pursuit. Duffy is not fair away. Stars and Stripes everywhere.

Gillian Backhouse ahead of Palmer. All within 24 seconds. So Cook, bike

helmet on. Didn't rush it.

First in, first out. That's the key. You don't want to get stuck in

transition. In fact, not first out, guess who stole a march on her

there, none other than Flora Duffy, who's always one of the

lightning-fast transition triathletes. And Duffy is away,

leading them out on the road. She knows she can get this race won on

her bike. And she is out attacking straightaway.

When you look at her stomping down on the pedals there, you think, is

anyone going to get on her wheel at all? She's got it to a fine art,

these break aways. Normally happens later on.

If Duffy tries to break, you've got to stay with her.

And Zaferes and Kasper are still sort of negotiating themselves on to

their bikes in a comfortable position. Shoes aren't quite on.

Right foot of Zaferes isn't in that shoe yet. In fact Duffy's got the

same issue. They will come together and work potentially as a leading

pack of three here. Flora Duffy of Bermuda. Katie

Zaferes, world standing's leader, also from the USA. And this group,

which are quite well spread and Radford from South Africa. They will

do their best to close these three down. They have already escaped.

This is a really effective break away. Look at Duffy, out of the

saddle and pushing hard. I think we've lost Zaferes, haven't

we? Knibb was near the front on the

swim. They are staying within the park this year. They don't leave the

park and cross the bridge out on to the free way like they have in

recent years. They are staying within the confines of the park. It

is Duffy and Knibb. So they have sorted themselves out. And what

happened to Kasper and Zaferes there? Well, they couldn't stay on

her wheel, by the looks of things, which is incredible. Duffy has said

that it is a tough bike course. If Duffy says it is tough, we know it

is tough. It is a short, sharp hill and it has obviously taken its toil

on Zaferes and Kasper. They have been blown out the back. Knibb, it

is only her third start in the World Triathlon series. She went to Leeds,

didn't finish there. She has won a sprint race - part of the American

Cup race on 9th July. So Taylor Knibb coming into this race with

form over the sprint distance. She is new to this level of racing and

finds herself, right now, out in front with the current world

champion, Duffy. If you are going to stay with her, you've got to have

your best day on the bike, that's for sure. Expect these two to

complete the bike course in around 31 minutes.

Nine minutes or so for the swim. 31 for the bike and around 16 minutes

for the run. 5 kilometre run after the 21-kilometre bike today. Six

laps and they are about to complete the first of them. It is a pace that

Taylor Knibb is pushing here. 15 hi35 second since the triathlon

began and 15 second or so will be the gap, possibly more than that for

the next group. First lap done. It is 18 second to Zaferes and Kasper,

who are in a pair on their own. We have not seen them for a little

while. They are 18 seconds down and then a further eight seconds to the

Lopes group. They had a Leeds of eight seconds

over the next group but it has been whittled down to a second and a

half. They will merge to form the group that is chasing. On this

course it is tricky for the cameramen. It is difficult to stay

on top. You've not got big stretches of road is to ride up. It's a great

course but it's a tough course. Six laps. Not the American we expected

to see. July is the wettest month of the

year. It can get really damp but this is gorgeous. Stunning weather

and great action on the streets. Within the parks, the Emily Murphy

Park and Hawrelack Park. Smart suburbs of Edmonton. The pace is

being dominated by an American. Not an American we are used to seeing

front. Taylor Knibb. She's alongside someone we're used to seeing at the

front. My feeling is these two outfront,

all they've got to do is work well. They've got to get some good

rotation is going on the bike. They've got to stay away because at

the moment, every lap, we will have a look and see where that chasing

pack is. The chase group contains some big names.

Back with the leaders. Scared of the rear wheel. She remains completely

in control. Away she goes, with Taylor Knibb drafting in behind. She

doesn't look comfortable on her bike. I've seen her take some large

bends and make a meal of it. She was well up there. She's just managing

to stay on the back of that chasing pack. It has been a minute since

Taylor Knibb and Duffy made that turn. These guys are going

backwards. The gap was 18. By the completion of lap to it was 40

seconds. They are on a completely different part of the track.

We will see what they have got because it is heading towards a

minute by the time they get through the race. Ten kilometres to go. What

an incredible athlete. She raised three times this year. She's not

leading the standings but that's got a lot more to do with the other

athletes. They have more points and they are ahead of her.

The end of lap three. Taylor Knibb and Duffy in a world of their own.

If she stays on her bike it is difficult to see how she loses this.

I cannot imagine when she woke up this morning and started her prep

that she thought she would be riding away and literally leaving the rest

of the field. 40 seconds was the time last time they crossed the line

and they are already approaching a minute. An extraordinary time

difference achieved by the leading pair. One minute and one second.

This has been a masterclass of control. She has taken returns. She

will not let her there she's not taking returns. As we mentioned,

Taylor Knibb is only raised on this circuit once. It will be stretched

out quite a bit more by the time the athletes come background.

Duffy looks like she will add to that. That is an outside

possibility. With the gap widening all the time, I don't know. Is third

the best they can hope for? I think so. She does run well. She's not

going to be the fastest. They don't even seem to make the

attempt. She's put fear into the other athletes are they think they

cannot ride with her. When you get Taylor Knibb going with her, the

lack of experience, I'm really surprised they could not go with

her. I think that Summer Cook enjoyed the

cooler conditions last year. Tougher day here. As we see the lead player

coming round. The bell rings and the clock is ticking. Up to ten seconds

already. Interesting what is going on. Taylor

Knibb, when you put out the elbow. Interesting to see the young athlete

saying, take your turn. She knows she's got plenty of time and doesn't

have to work too hard or take any risks. With a minute and 20 heading

to a minute and 30, she could stay well ahead. She's a pretty solid

runner and we won't see anyone from this chase pack picking their way

up. One minute and 23 seconds as the gap

as they take the bell. They did not grow on that lap which suggests

they've got their act together. Either that or Duffy has slowed

down. She's broken away and does not want to come into T2.

Duffy has taken it on. Such a dominant force on her bike. Pushing

harder and harder. The chase group are off the pace. Out in front all

on her own. Surely heading towards her fourth successive series is

Flora Duffy from Bermuda. She's riding away because previously

they hit one another on the corner. This is officially chase group two.

Back with our leader with a kilometre left to run. Just

wondering what is going on in Duffy's head, she must be thinking,

surely they will make it harder for me than this? She's working hard but

she's not really hammering it. She has kept it together and kept

herself safe and out of trouble. She's done the job. She's going to

come out and worked on onto the run with one minute 30 seconds.

Barring any disasters that is her race. I am really looking forward to

her having the company of the ultra-elite athletes later on. The

sport needs the return of the very best. I am looking forward to that

as well. It is a lot to do with the athletes. They are not putting

themselves into that place. Absolutely clean as you like to the

dismount line. No stress at all. Duffy might not be aware of Taylor

Knibb's ability over five K and thought she would put some distance

there and make life more straightforward. All the equipment

is in the box. Duffy is on her way. Taylor Knibb glances to see what

Flora Duffy is doing. She's out of transition. The 19-year-old

American. She's on the chase for Flora Duffy. Three laps. This has

been an exemplary performance for Flora Duffy. There's no stopping

her. Away they go. Taylor Spivey just leading the way.

She was first to strike. The difference is 12 seconds. The chase

group difference is one minute and 33.

She won five in a row of the races she took part in.

What a season she's enjoying. Looking for her fourth straight

victory. Knibb is down. Zaferes, another minute and six seconds

behind. Zaferes and Cook jostling for third position right now. Knibb

is having the race of her life. I cannot see, barring disaster, she'll

lose that second-place finish. So that time difference now is 31

second between Knibb and Duffy. 1. .37 between Knibb, Zaferes and Cook.

They have not pulled anything back. If anything they have lost seven to

eight seconds to Duffy on that first mile. Taylor Knibb, the 19-year-old,

knows that this is potentially a turning point this her career. Her

first World Triathlon series podium beckons. A chance to beat Cook,

Zaferes, higher ranks members of the team. Flora Duffy, once again in a

league of her own. Must get quite lonely as a top-level triathlete.

She spends most of these races, or certainly this season, she's spent a

lot of the race out in the front. If anything her swim is steady this

year. She's always there or thereabouts. She was very strong

last year. Often leading out the swim. Thisser she tucks herself in,

saves some energy and works really hard in the first part of the bike.

What has improved as well is her run. I can see Summer Cook now, just

breaking away. She's left Katie Zaferes. Put herself into third

place, which is a great performance for Summer Cook. Since her podium

finish or her win here last year. A good day for Cook.

Not so good for Zaferes. She'll be frustrating. Very competitive

athlete. At the moment she finds herself in fourth position.

19-year-old Taylor Knibb glancing over to her left. She will take the

bell, she's take taken the bell with 50 seconds deficit behind Flora

Duffy. Still comfortably clear of Summer Cook, who is in third. It

looks like the Americans will have second and third in this race today,

with thor with mewian -- with the Bermudian. She would try

and lead the swim. She's swimming just as well, but she's saving her

energy and then when she goes out on the bike, that's where she lets it

lose and no-one can go with her, as we have seen over the last three

races. A couple of weeks ago, in Hamburg, she had Learmonth on her

wheel and managed to drop them as well.

This is the battle for third. Cook seemed to have left Zaferes.

Zaferes has found a bit of energy and has bounced back to get back on

Summer Cook's shoulder here. Now, Zaferes comes into this race, or

came into this race as the world number one in the standings. It is a

lead that she will surrender to Flora Duffy today, unless she can

climb up and finish second, but that is not looking likely. They have

over a kilometre to run. And Taylor Knibb is comfortable, holding second

position out right at the moment. This is our leader. She as been

since the moment she left the water. Second position, Taylor Knibb, who

rode with Duffy for much of the 21 K ride around Edmonton. She's about to

start lapping at Lees on her way back towards transition. You are

safe on the run. If you get lapped ond the bike you get taken off the

course. Incredible to think that she's over a lap ahead. One minute

now separates Knibb and the chase group.

Yes, so Knibb is safe in second at the moment and Zaferes has beaten

Cook to third position. It looked like third position was Cook's

outright a few moments ago. And Cook was moving away from Zaferes. When

we pick them up again, Zaferes had closed the gap. Now we go back to

them and Zaferes is clear of Cook. Good work from Katie Zaferes. Katie

Zaferes just needs to be more competitive on the bike. On the run

she does that. She'll drop off a bit, whereas some athletes think,

oh, I've nothing left to give. Katie works hard on the run. It is a shame

she's not able to work as hard on the bike at the moment. So

competitive. I thought Summer Cook had all the confidence of knowing

she won here last year. Struggling to stay with Katie Zaferes and looks

like she has lost that third place, as she had a few hundred metres ago.

600 metres to go. Zaferes is out in third position. It

means that Cook, who was the winner here 12 months ago, will finish off

the podium, unless there is a massive change.

500 metres remain for Flora Duffy. It's been another masterclass from

the athlete from Bermuda. What an impact she's had on the World

Triathlon series in the last couple of seasons. For so many years she

was racing, she was middle order, always impressive, but never able to

break the higher echelons of the sport and then a couple of years

ago, she started to turn it around. I don't know whether it with us the

impact that Gwen has or the British triathletes and the consistency.

Something clicked for Flora Duffy and she has been the dominant force

in the sport. She won the world title last year at the grand final.

She also had her first World Triathlon series win in 2016. She's

about to get her fourth in a row in 2017. A smile from one of the

American athletes as Duffy goes past her and almost takes the wrong

direction. Now she can raise her glasses, make eye contact with the

spectators and enjoy the final moments oh this triathlon in

Edmonton. I credible what this athlete has done. Four races and

four wins now on the World Triathlon series for Flora Duffy.

Extraordinary season. The winner in Yokohama, in Leeds and in Hamburg

wins again in Edmonton. One hour and 23 seconds. Her winning time in the

Canadian city this afternoon. And now she can just find some shade and

wait for the arrival of Taylor Knibb, who sets a new personal best

today. The 19-year-old American, who has had some success on the junior

stage will now have her taste of success. The best American on the

day in Edmonton about to take the final turn. Flora Duffy finished a

while ago, but now Taylor Knibb can enjoy the last moments of the

Edmonton sprint triathlon. Round five of the 2017 series has once

again produced some surprises. Summer Cook was the surprise package

#127b months ago. In 2017 it is Taylor Knibb, who comes home in

second. Exactly one minute behind Flora Duffy.

It is a pretty good run for her. She's a very young athlete. Flora

Duffy is ten years her senior. A minute over five K, that is not

disastrous. A great performance from the young American athlete. And

Zaferes holds off the challenge of Summer Cook by some margin in the

end, to finish in third. Zaferes had a chance to ride with Cook and Knibb

in the early stages of the bike. A chance she missed somehow and she

comes home to make it two Americans on the podium. Summer Cook finishing

in fourth. Flora Duffy, our champion, gold

medal-winning triathlete for the fourth time in 2017.

I think I just tried to be consistent over the last two years.

Try not to minimise getting injured and getting sick and be consistent

throughout my training and I think I owe a lot to my keeps. You know Neil

is my head coach and thenvy incorporated a running coach, who is

in South Africa. I think the two of them, it is working really well. I

think I am coming into my own, enjoying the sport. I keep rolling.

Going up the hill, I thought I'd be better, I saw the gap form and

chasing after her would not be that great. I held my own. It was as

technical as riding behind something wasn't. I was at an advantage at

that stage anyway. How much does getting on the podium in a race like

this become a confidence boost for you for what is left of this season

and beyond? Amazing. In the days previous I knew it would be tough.

It was harder than anticipated. You don't have any time to be off your

game. When Flora is riding you need to be with it every second. If you

lose a little bit, then you are off and you are chasing the rest of the

way. Katie Zaferes, on the podium once again, a regular visit to the

presentation ceremonies. Taylor Knibb on the podium for the

first time. I am sure it will not be the last.

Her success as a junior and as an under-23 backed up now by her first

podium at World Triathlon Series level - the highest level.

Representing Bermuda, Flora Duffy. Done it again. Four in a row. What a

run she's having in 2017. The defending world champion.

Unstoppable this year. Confirmation of the final results in

Edmonton. Stunning win for Flora Duffy. Taylor Knibb is on the podium

for the first time in second for the USA and Katie Zaferes in third.

So Duffy now leads the standings. 3200 points, her total.

Zaferes is second on 3192, with Kasper in third, on 2677.

Gentle, absent in Edmonton, drops to form.

And you can catch all the drama from that event in Nottingham on the BBC.

There are still three more races to come in this year's World Series.

Next weekend we move across Canada to Montreal, with live races on

Saturday and Sunday, on the BBC Sport website and highlights on

Monday on BBC Two. Then Stockholm at the end of August, before the grand

final in Rotterdam, on September 16th. So for many reasons and

unforgettable weekend of racing in Edmonton. The two world champions

rubber stamping their authority at the top of the 2017 standings. See

you for more action in Montreal next weekend.

Goodbye for now. The latest of our Premier League

commentaries for you this season, the whole game in full

here on 5 Live. It's been a knockout day

in the Premier League. One of the most sensational

Premier League games in history.