Taylor Knibb admitted she was in disbelief after storming to the inaugural T100 Triathlon World Championship title in Dubai.
The American delivered an assured performance amidst searing heat, powering to the front during the bike leg before refusing to relinquish her lead on the run.
Knibb was pushed all the way by title rival Ashleigh Gentle, who eventually faded to finish third behind Julie Derron, but had the staying power that others did not at the end to clinch a four World Tour race victory and with it the overall title.
She said: “I woke up and messaged my coach that I feel rough! I thought this was going to be a bad day so I was shocked.
“It only came together the last 3km when everyone else came apart. It was very step by step. It was brutal out there.”
That was special!
— T100 Triathlon World Tour (@t100triathlon) November 16, 2024
Taylor Knibb remains perfect to claim the T100 title, whilst Julie Derron and Ashleigh Gentle gave it their all to finish 2nd and 3rd 👏
FULL RESULTS: https://t.co/j4Kp7Xtxnq pic.twitter.com/Qxwwy8ZIoj
Knibb came into the race as one of the favourites alongside Gentle, with the American winning all three of the races she had previously competed in on the tour.
The pair were predictably right at the front after the swim alongside Sara Perez Sala, before Knibb stormed ahead with the fastest bike leg of the race.
That forced Gentle and the chasing pack to pick up the pace of their pursuit, but they could do little to halt the procession of Knibb to the finish line where she claimed her historic crown.
“I think my dad was more nervous than me!” she added. “I have a fantastic team of individuals and then a lot of sponsors. It is a huge team effort and I am really grateful for everyone who supports me and believes in me.”
Victory in Dubai completes an impressive year for Knibb, who also earned an Olympic silver medal at the Paris 2024 Games alongside fellow T100 athlete Taylor Spivey as part of the USA mixed relay team.
Knibb also had the rare honour of being a two-sport Olympian at the same Games, as she also competed in the cycling time trial in Paris.
But the first-ever T100 Triathlon World Tour title is the crowning achievement of her season, and the 26-year-old is determined to enjoy the magnitude of her accomplishment.
She added: “Recently a lot of people around me have been telling me to appreciate the good times when you are having them, so I have been trying to be better at that. In Las Vegas, I was a little bit better so hopefully here I will be a bit better.”
Knibb came out on top but was forced to be at her best due to a spirited performance from Gentle.
The Australian left it all out on the course in pursuit of what would have been an impressive comeback victory following the bike leg.
The final women's podium of the T100 season 🍾
— T100 Triathlon World Tour (@t100triathlon) November 16, 2024
🥇 Taylor Knibb
🥈 Julie Derron
🥉 Ashleigh Gentle
What a fantastic race to end the season! pic.twitter.com/AwCerjxjJU
She was forced to briefly stop just over 1km from home but pulled through to ensure she secured a third-placed finish in Dubai and second place overall in the T100 Championship.
“It’s still pretty fresh, but I went for the win and it was so painful!” said Gentle. “I gave it everything and got 3rd in the end but I’m proud of my effort.
“It is pretty brutal. When I wasn’t feeling too good and Derron just flew past me on the run, it was super soul-crushing, but I did what I could.
"All the athletes that I’ve been racing this year have been motivating me and inspiring me in training. I feel like I’ve been applying myself more, better than I ever have, because the level of the women’s field is just getting better and better and just trying to keep up is pretty difficult.
"Taylor has just been dominating and when you’re racing an athlete like that, it is sometimes really difficult to truly believe that you can beat them.
“I had this little fire in my belly. I have no reason to believe that I can beat her, but I’m on the start line and that means I have got a chance, so I just had to believe that and I don’t know how I did.
“I didn’t beat her but feel like I was a step closer today and did everything I could to try and get there."
The inaugural Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final to crown the first ever T100 World Champions takes place on 16-17 November. The women's race is live and exclusive on Eurosport in the UK from 1315 on Saturday 16 November, with the race starting at 1330. Followed by the men's race on Sunday 17 November at the same times. Fans can also watch for free on PTO+
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