Helen Jenkins is world leader after Lausanne

Helen Jenkins finished fourth at the ITU Sprint World Championships in Lausanne to climb the world rankings to number one with just the Grand Final left to decide the 2011 world champion.



Jenkins opened a huge lead over the rest of the top class international field during the swim by taking the pace with British junior, Lucy Hall. The two British women had a clear lead of 30 seconds on to the 20km hilly bike course, but Hall was unable to stay with Jenkins and set up a breakaway.



Jenkins was reeled in by an aggressive chasing pack of cyclists, which contained Jodie Stimpson. Jenkins was back up to the front at the start of the run, and for a while it looked like she might repeat her Hyde Park win from two weeks ago.



However, it was young Australian, Emma Jackson on her 20th birthday who looked the freshest mid way through the run. Chile’s Barbara Riveros Diaz and New Zealand’s Andrea Hewitt also looked strong in the 30 degree heat.



Riveros Diaz took the tape following a sprint against under 23 world champion, Jackson. Hewitt was third and Jenkins fourth. However, it is Helen Jenkins who now claims the number on spot in the world, which is based on the top four best results from the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series and the Grand Final.



Jenkins said: “I haven’t been swimming very well this year so I was really pleased just to have a good swim. I saw Lucy and just though I would latch on but I couldn’t quite stay with her at the end.”



The final run took it out of Jenkins, she commented: “They all started surging at the end and I was really surprised just to be there at that stage. I was struggling from the start so I was happy to come in fourth and to go to the top of the world rankings is awesome.”



She added: “Paula Findlay wasn’t here today and she’s one to watch. It’s points and half in Beijing, so it’s really important. I’m glad I’ve got a few weeks at home to get some good training in and it’s really good motivation to have the best race that I can in Beijing.”



Jenkins joins Alistair Brownlee in going to Beijing with the number one ranking. Jonathan Brownlee is also second, ensuring that the Grand Final (10-11 September) will be a spectacular climax to a successful season for Britain’s triathletes.



Jodie Stimpson continued her run of consistent results with 18th and Vicky Holland, who is returning from injury, was just one place behind her. Holland finished eighth in the world last year and trains in Switzerland with an international group that includes today’s winner, Riveros Diaz as well as Hewitt.



After leading out the swim, Lucy Hall finished 32nd, and may now need to step in for tomorrow’s relay, depending on the fitness of Non Stanford, who did not finish after damaging her ankle during the race. Lois Rosindale finished 35th.



Women’s results:

1. Barbara Riveros Diaz CHI 58:35

2. Emma Jackson AUS 58:35

3. Andrea Hewitt NZL 58:37

18. Jodie Stimpson GBR 59:47

19. Vicky Holland GBR 1:00:00

32. Lucy Hall GBR 1:01:12

35. Lois Rosindale GBR 1:01:59

DNF Non Stanford GBR