Taylor-Brown and Yee grab brilliant World Championship Series wins in Yokohama

Georgia Taylor-Brown admits she battled through the pain barrier to grab a gutsy win and climb to the top of the World Triathlon Championship Series table in Yokohama. The two-time Tokyo 2020 medallist, 28, delivered a searing run to open up a commanding advantage and cross the line ahead of French star Leonie Periault.

Ad/> Olympic champion Flora Duffy claimed the final spot on the podium while in the men’s event, fellow two-time Tokyo medallist Alex Yee emulated Taylor-Brown to win his first event of the campaign. TriathlonJonny Brownlee still in pursuit of triathlon perfection ahead of Commonwealth Games tilt07/05/2022 AT 17:22 Yee — who joined forces with Taylor-Brown, Jonny Brownlee and Jess Learmonth to win mixed relay Olympic gold in Japan — narrowly toppled New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde after edging a pulsating sprint battle on the final straight.

Yee moved up to ninth in the overall World Triathlon Championship Series rankings while Taylor-Brown, who won individual silver in Tokyo, leapfrogged Antonio Serrat Seoane at the women’s summit after three races. And the Manchester star, whose triumph came in the first World Triathlon Championship Series race of the calendar year, said: «I'd like to say it feels amazing but it actually just feels really painful! »I went out hard because I thought it is the first race [of 2022] and I've got nothing to lose.

«They got back on to me after a lap but I just told myself to sit on it and empty everything out.» Taylor-Brown came flying out of the blocks on the run to leapfrog Dutch leader Maya Kingma. She was soon dragged back in by the chasing pack but grit her teeth when it mattered to soar to a fine triumph and usurp Spanish star Serrat Seoane at the top of the table.