Hat-trick of wins for Georgia Taylor-Brown

Georgia Taylor-Brown made it an incredible hat-trick of wins at the latest supertri League event in Toulouse on Sunday.

After claiming maximum points at the Chicago and London races, the Tameside triathlete once again led the elite field home, crossing the line four seconds ahead of closest title challenger Taylor Spivey.

Competing for the Crown Racing team, GTB chose to swim the chilly waters of the Garonne without a wetsuit, a decision that would lose her speed in the river but pick up vital seconds in the transition leading to the first bike leg.

It was a choice that seemed to pay dividends as Georgia came out in touch with the leading pack, but difficulty putting her left running shoe on at the end of the first of the 4km bike stages meant she was 20 seconds adrift of fellow Brit, Jess Fullagar.

She hauled herself back into contention on the first of two 1km runs, scything seven seconds out of the leaders before the second 300m dip into the Garonne.

With the other athletes now also without their wetsuits, GTB had accelerated into 4th spot by time they left the water. Alongside Fullagar and Crown Racing and GB teammate Kate Waugh, the British trio reeled in Spivey on the second cycling stage, the four of them 20 seconds ahead of the chasing pack going into T2.

They were still inseparable as they took to the Garonne for the last time, but Taylor-Brown and Spivey – as they have been for much of this series – emerged onto the final bike leg together. Although the American edged ahead, the four were reunited by time they began the 2km sprint for home.

Once again, the Droylsden athlete proved to be the stronger runner in a season in which she has returned from a serious injury, opening a four-second gap over Spivey that she maintained until the tape.

“When you’re at the top and winning, you definitely want more,” GTB said after the race. 

“That’s three wins going into the final in NEOM and I feel quite happy and safe. I told myself I’dgo for a non-wetsuit [first swim] ahead of the race and I stuck to that. I knew it was going to be cold and that I’d lose time, but I’m happy with that decision.”

The win puts Taylor-Brown six points clear of Taylor Spivey and Jeanne Lehair going into the supertri League final at NEOM in Saudi Arabia next month, knowing that a Top 2 finish will seal her third series title after wins in 2021 and 2022.