TRIATHLON: Ashleigh Gentle has extended her recent domination of the Noosa Triathlon with victory in a drama-filled race.
Gentle's close friend and rival Emma Moffatt saw her chances of victory disappear when she was hit with a mid-race three-minute penalty for drafting on the bike leg - the first time it had happened in her long career.
The same fate befell Czech Radka Vodickova, while young Australian Natalie van Coevorden was disqualified after taking a wrong turn on the bike when in first place.
Gentle was largely unaware of the drama as she powered away to win in one hour 59 minutes and 18 seconds on Sunday, giving her a third Noosa title in the space of four years.
Australian Charlotte McShane was second, Britain's Emma Pallant was third and two-time world champion Moffatt came home fourth, 4:14 behind Gentle.
"What happened, happened," said the 24-year-old Gentle.
"I had no control over it so I can't say if I was going to win either way.
"Emma Moffatt is am amazing competitor but I don't know what was going to happen.
"Moffy is a great friend of mine, it's really unfortunate for her, but it's not really my place to say anything."
Open-water swimming specialist Danielle De Francesco predictably set the early pace as the 1.5km swim leg was held in the ocean for the first time at Noosa.
Gentle had the race pretty much in hand after the controversial bike leg and was not challenged in the concluding 10km run.
"Each year it's always a challenge to come here and perform," said Gentle.
"It's the end of the year and everyone's pretty tired but it is a really special event and it brings out the best in me."
A frustrated Moffatt initially wanted to appeal the three-minute penalty in an attempt to clear her name.
"I'd hate to think I was cheating deliberately," she said.
"I definitely thought I was 12 and a half metres (behind the next rider).
"I've just had all the other girls say to me it was ridiculous.
"They saw where I was, they were riding amongst the same pack.
"It's a bit disheartening.
"I don't want to take anyone's spot but I don't want to finish with a penalty to my name."
Joe Maloy became the first American man to win the iconic Noosa race.
Maloy took control of the contest with a dominant bike leg and was never challenged in the concluding 10km run in hot, humid conditions.
He clocked a winning time of 1:47:04, with Australians Ryan Fisher and Jake Birtwhistle filling the other podium places.
"There have been some legendary names who have won here and I take a little pride that I'm the first American to win it," said the 30-year-old Maloy,
"That's very special for the history of the sport here and in my country.
"The profile of the race is huge and it was definitely on my bucket list."
There are still three vacancies on the the US men's team for the Rio Olympics and Maloy's main goal for 2016 is to snare one of them.
Aaron Royle - who was unable to defend his Noosa title due to a torn calf muscle - is the only Australian man to have locked down an Olympic berth ahead of the main qualifying race on the Gold Coast in April next year.
"It's the pinnacle of our sport for the short-course athletes and growing up, it was always my dream when I started out in triathlon," said the 24-year-old Fisher, who also finished second at Noosa back in 2012.
"The first real goal I ever had was to make an Olympic team."
MOST WOMEN'S WINS AT NOOSA TRIATHLON
5: Emma Snowsill (Aus) (2003-05, 2007-08)
3: Liz Hepple (Aus) (1983, 1989-90), Ashleigh Gentle (Aus) (2012, 2014-15)
AAP
