Kate Doughty continues impressive return

Australia’s Kate Doughty made it a hat-trick of Para triathlon wins, just eight months after giving birth, with victory in the women’s PTS5 at the World Para Triathlon Series in Milan, Italy on Saturday.

After taking a break from triathlon last year to welcome son Henrik, the 35-year-old added the Milan gold to her victories at the Oceania Championships and Devonport World Cup.

The Australian led from start to finish, completing the course in a time of 1:09:27, a minute ahead of France’s Gwladys Lemoussu with Hungary’s Petra Levay seven minutes further back in third.

Doughty’s compatriot Sally Pilbeam secured another medal for Australia, claiming bronze in the women’s PTS4 behind Great Britain’s Hannah Moore, who impressed in her first international event of 2019. The world champion – who only took up triathlon two years ago – pulled away on the 750m swim before extending her lead on the 20km bike.

The USA’s Kelly Elmlinger did cut Moore’s lead slightly on the run, but the British triathlete was already over six minutes ahead of the silver medallist, crossing the line in a time of 1:10:09.

Double delight

Moore was one of two British gold medallists in Milan with Alison Peasgood opening her season with victory in the women’s PTVI. The world silver medallist got the better of Spain’s world champion Susana Rodriguez by more than a minute in her first race since last September’s World Grand Final and the first with her guide Nikki Bartlett.

France’s Annouck Curzillat completed the podium in third, one of six French medallists in Milan.

Jules Ribstein claimed an impressive win in the men’s PTS2 race to claim his first international victory in a time of 1:06:18. It was nearly a French one-two, but Great Britain’s Andy Lewis held off the challenge of Stephane Bahier to finish runner-up, three seconds ahead of the Frenchman.

A dominant display from Alexis Hanquinquant secured France’s second gold medal in the men’s PTS4, finishing over four minutes ahead of the USA’s Jamie Brown and Spain’s Alejandro Sanchez Palomero, who won silver and bronze, respectively.

The women’s PTWC race went right to the line with Spain’s Eva Maria Moral Pedrero winning in a sprint finish with Brazil’s Jessica Ferreira. The pair were given the same time, but the victory went to Moral Pedrero.

The Netherlands’ Margret Ijdema rounded off the podium in third.

Further Spanish success came in the men’s PTVI as Hector Catala Laparra crossed the line a minute ahead of Great Britain’s world champion Dave Ellis, who suffered a mechanical problem on the bike stage. The USA’s Kyle Coon claimed bronze in his first World Para Triathlon Series event.

Teammates take wins

PTS2 world champion Allysa Seely continued her winning streak at World Para Triathlon Series events, winning her fifth consecutive title with victory in the women’s PTS2. Seely led a US one-two with Hailey Danz finishing second, over two minutes further back, with Finland’s Liisa Lilja next to cross the line in third.

Jetze Plat and Geert Schipper delivered a Dutch one-two in the men’s PTWC, with Plat catching home favourite Giovanni Achenza at the halfway point, before pulling away from the Italian. Schipper overtook Achenza to finish second to continue the Dutch duo’s domination, with Achenza securing a popular podium place in third.

Paralympic champion Martin Schulz of Germany began his season with a win in the men’s PTS5, overhauling Great Britain’s George Peasgood on the run to take the victory in a time of 57:27. Peasgood held off the challenge of Mexico’s Jose Abraham Estrada Sierra to secure silver, 14 seconds ahead of the Mexican.

Russia’s Victor Chebotarev was victorious in the men’s PTS3 getting the better of France’s Michael Herter in a head-to-head battle between the pair. Chebotarev’s compatriot Anna Plotnikova won the women’s equivalent, completing the course in a time of 1:20:29.

Full results are available on the International Triathlon Union’s website.