Matthews eats humble pie before celebrating Team Europe's defence of Collins Cup title

Kat Matthews admitted she had to eat humble pie before cracking open the champagne after slipping to personal defeat amid team glory as Europe retained their title at triathlon's Collins Cup. Matthews finished second behind Team International's impressive Paula Findlay of Canada, who took the maximum six points after finishing six minutes and 47 seconds clear of the Brit, who clocked 3:37:57 around the 100km course.

Ad The 31-year-old tasted individual victory last year at the X-Bionic Sphere in Samorin, Slovakia but was unable to repeat the trick in one of just four out of the 12 matches featuring three athletes that Team Europe did not win. TriathlonTeam Europe justify favourites tag by defending triathlon's Collins Cup18 MINUTES AGO The defending champions posted 53 points to Team International's 38 with the USA winless on 22.5 in triathlon's version of golf's Ryder Cup.

«Paula was amazing, I underestimated her massively and properly ate some humble pie today,» said Matthews, who came into the race as the PTO's world No.4. «I had a really good swim, I was really in control but then I lost her feet a little bit.

I thought I did well on the bike but it wasn't fast enough and I had really bad run legs off such a flat bike.» With one eye on the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii in October, Matthews adjusted her bike position 10 days ago but on the completely flat course suffered during what is effectively an 80km cycling time trial and could not produce what she wanted for the final 18km run. «Realistically it was a double whammy with this course, it was too much for my body,» explained Matthews, a physiotherapist who is now a professional triathlete while serving in the British Army.