Switzerland's Nicola Spirig powered her way to victory today at the London Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series

Switzerland's Nicola Spirig powered her way to victory today at the London Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series.

After exiting the water behind the leaders, Spirig pulled herself into the front group on the bike and then tagging at the front of the run, bolted away in the last 200 metres from Sweden's Lisa Norden to take her first Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series win. Spirig's finish time of 1 hour 54 minutes and 24 seconds was just two seconds ahead of Norden. Only three seconds back from these two was home country favourite and current world champion Helen Jenkins in third.

"It has been an absolutely amazing year for me, I don't really know what to say, I am very very happy," commented the 27-year old law student Spirig. "I knew that Lisa Norden is a very good sprinter, and I didn't know about Helen [Jenkins] so I tried to break away early but they were just too strong so I just had to wait until the finish and see. I guess I was fast enough!"

A non-wetsuit swim greeted the 60 elite women as they entered the Serpentine in central Hyde Park, London. As per usual Australia's Annabel Luxford led a group of 12 women out of the water, including Jenkins, Madrid winner Andrea Hewitt, Daniela Ryf and recent Tiszuajvaros world cup winner Kate McIlroy. A second group of 12 exited just about 20 seconds back with the likes of Spirig and Norden. 2008 Olympic silver medallist, Vanessa Fernandes from Portugal, showed her injury has still not fully healed exiting over 70 seconds back and eventually pulling out of the race.

As expected, biking powerhouse Spirig managed to single-handedly pull the chase group up to the leaders within the opening two laps on the flat and fast 40 kilometre bike course through Hyde Park as the leaders formed a large group of 24 at the front. The chase group worked hard and continued to catch the leaders over the next 20 kilometres, but with a crash on the penultimate lap taking most of the group out only a few lucky athletes would finally catch on to the front pack on the last lap.

Onto the 10 kilometre run, local athlete Jodie Stimpson bolted out of transition into the lead followed by Spirig, Norden, Jenkins and Debbie Tanner from New Zealand. Eventual fourth place finisher Elizabeth May from Luxembourg eventually replaces the young Stimpson in this groupl. These five led the entire run, working off each other to increase their lead on the chasers. With three kilometres to go the first acceleration was put in by Jenkins causing Tanner to drop off. With 1500 metres to go a second acceleration was put in by Jenkins dropping May. But Spirig and Norden would not be dropped and with only 200 metres left Spirig broke to the outside taking Norden with her, and not looking back she was able to head home the Swede by a couple of steps at the line.

"I am so pleased, especially in front of a home crowd," said Jenkins. "To get on the podium is brilliant! I was a bit worried about my sprint, and then I saw Liz May drop off the pace, and I thought 'I have to keep this up and just try and hang on to Lisa [Norden] and Nicola [Spirig]', but they're such good finishers and they've been up there all year, so I'm just pleased to be so close to them."

Despite her absence, Australia's Emma Moffat retained the lead of the Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Series. Norden moves into second place in the overall rankings with her silver medal today.

Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship Rankings

After Race Six of Eight

Hamburg Dextro Energy Triathlon - ITU World Championship

1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run

Elite Women - Official Results

For more information, see www.triathlon.org.