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Moffatt's win for gran

 

Moffatt's win for gran

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AOC
Moffatt's win for gran

Australian triathlete Emma Moffatt has scored an emotional victory in Kitzbuhel, Austria to extend her lead in the ITU world championship series.

Moffatt's grandmother passed away just days before Sunday's race, but she steeled herself in cool but calm conditions to unleash her signature burst on the 10km run.

Australian triathlete Emma Moffatt has scored an emotional victory in Kitzbuhel, Austria to extend her lead in the ITU world championship series.

Moffatt's grandmother passed away just days before Sunday's race, but she steeled herself in cool but calm conditions to unleash her signature burst on the 10km run.

The Beijing Olympics bronze medallist eventually secured yet another resounding victory in a time of one hour, 54 minutes, 38 seconds, a comfortable 34 seconds ahead of Switzerland's Nicola Spirig. New Zealand's Andrea Hewitt claimed bronze.

Moffatt emerged from the 1500-metre swim well placed in fifth spot, and settled into a pack of more than 30 riders that easily reeled in breakaway leader Hayley Piersol of the United States.

She was content to ride conservatively for most of the 40km bike leg before moving to the front over the latter stages to ensure a clean transition onto the run leg.

From there, Moffatt was never headed, trading blows with Spirig and Great Britain's Helen Jenkins initially, then hitting another gear to drop her rivals a third of the way into the 10km discipline.

"I actually didn't feel great during the swim or the start of the bike leg, so I just sat in the pack and worked my way into the race," Moffatt said.

"It was a bit of a technical bike course, so I was pretty much up the back for most of it, then I managed to pick up the pace and get myself in a good position.

"I got on the run and I wasn't too sure how I would go because a couple of the other girls came with me. I had to dig a bit and found I had the legs to go on with it, so it was nice to have a win like that."

The 24-year-old was notified of her grandmother's passing on Friday, but with the support of the Australian team squad, based in France, decided to race.

Moffatt found it difficult to talk of her immediately after the event, but did manage a brief and emotional tribute, simply saying,

"Nan passed away this weekend, so I was racing for her".

Olympic gold medallist Emma Snowsill withdrew from this weekend's race due to a hip complaint, leaving Moffatt to take a commanding lead over the field at the halfway stage of the inaugural world championship series.

In the men's race Great Britain's Alistair Brownlee made it three from three in the series holding off Spain's European Champion Javier Gomez.

Courtney Atkinson was the best placed Australian in 12th place. Gareth Halverson 14th and James Seear in 18th had good races however Beijing Olympian Brad Kahlefeldt was off the pace in 33rd, Dan Wilson 46th and Josh McHugh DNF. 

AAP

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