India Lee took apart a world-class field including reigning Ironman world champion Lucy Charles-Barclay as she won the opening T100 World Tour event in Miami.
The 35-year-old produced the day's fastest bike split and then took the lead from Charles-Barclay and held strong on the run with another fastest split to take maximum points in the eight-race series that culminates in the Middle East in November.
In a dramatic 100km race at the Miami Homestead Speedway, US-based Brit Holly Lawrence rounded out an all-GB podium, with another British triathlete, Lucy Byram, in sixth, just behind Canada's Paula Findlay and five-time Ironman world champion Daniela Ryf in the Swiss athlete's final season of professional racing.
"I'm speechless. I had my coach's voice in my head saying don't go out too hard," Lee said. "I've been frustrated with how my run has turned out throughout my triathlon career, but I knew I had it in me. Today, I had a run I could be proud of."
Charles Barclay said: "We've got some really bad-ass women in the UK and throughout the series we'll hopefully see the Brits dominate."
Compared to the men who competed in the heat of the day, there were very different conditions for the women who started just before 5pm local time with the sun setting during the bike leg and at times plunging the triathletes into almost complete darkness as they sped through the infield course.
But it still led to a clutch of DNFs in the 20-strong field, including Lucy Buckingham, Kat Matthews and Emma Pallant-Browne, with the latter taken to a local medical centre for treatment.
Miami T100: What happened in the swim?
It was a rare occasion where the two Lucys, Charles-Barclay and Buckingham, were in the same race, and it was no surprise to see the two of them at the head of the swim from the start.
Charles-Barclay led the way, with Buckingham tucked in on her feet as they extended the gap to the chasers throughout the 2km to just under 1min by the exit.
This was despite some impressive swim speed in the chasing pack of seven that included Lawrence, Lee, and Spain's Sara Perez Sala, who beat Charles-Barclay out of the water in last year's PTO race in Singapore - and would be another DNF before the day was done.
Byram and Matthews were a further minute behind, just ahead of the Ryf, Pallant-Browne and another dangerous Canadian Tamara Jewett.
Miami T100: What happened on the bike?
The bike leg started in bright sunshine but quickly turned into a war of attrition as athletes pulled out through the 80km and darkness set in.
Buckingham, who was reportedly sick before the start, pulled out midway through, but while Charles-Barclay continued to lead the way, she was bridged up to by Lee, who would go on to post the fastest split at 1hr 53min.
The leading duo were followed by a trio of Brits, Matthews, Lawrence and Byram, along with Findlay at 2:42 behind, with the feared runners of Pallant-Browne and Jewett also casualties of the conditions.
Miami T100: What happened on the run?
Charles-Barclay set off on the 18km run looking for another wire-to-wire victory following her memorable win in Kona in October.
Matthews was still within striking distance leaving T2, but seemed to cramp badly in her left calf early on the run which put paid to her chances.
Lee caught Charles-Barclay in the first-half of the run and managed to open a 30sec gap that held until the tape as the Brits rounded out a one-two-three.
Miami T100: Women's results
- India Lee 3:27:12
- Lucy Charles-Barclay 3:27:42
- Holly Lawrence 3:30:36
- Paula Findlay 3:31:39
- Daniela Ryf 3:32:29
- Lucy Byram 3:33:22
- Hayley Chura 3:34:16
- Skye Moench 3:36:10
- Pamella Oliviera 3:38:08
- Kaida Kivioja 3:40:!5
Top pic credit: PTO
