Helen Jenkins wins Gold Coast world cup

Wales’ Helen Jenkins strengthened her case to be selected as Britain’s third female triathlete for the Rio Olympics with victory in the Gold Coast World Cup in Australia.

The 32-year-old won her first World Triathlon Series race since 2012 in one hour 56 minutes three seconds.

Jenkins’ main rival for the final spot at Rio, Jodie Stimpson, finished 12th.

In the men’s race, Jonathan Brownlee was third behind two Spaniards – Fernando Alarza and winner Mario Mola.

The 25-year-old defending Gold Coast champion, who has been pre-selected for Rio, finished 41 seconds behind the 1:46.28 of number one-ranked Mola, who also took the opening World Series event in Abu Dhabi in March.

Brownlee’s brother Alistair, the defending Olympic champion and also pre-selected for Rio, finished 36th.

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Two-time world champion Jenkins is currently ranked number one in the world, two places above Stimpson but the latter is 5-2 up in head-to-head results between the pair since 2014.

On Saturday, Jenkins finished 41 seconds ahead of current world champion Gwen Jorgensen of the USA, with New Zealander Andrea Hewitt another second back in third.

“I can’t quite believe it,” said Jenkins.

“I did not have the best swim today, and then on the bike, because it was so technical, it was just as hard even if you were at the front. And I got to the run and just went for it.”

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