World Triathlon Championship Series: GB's Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee win in Cagliari

Great Britain's Georgia Taylor-Brown and Alex Yee both won at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Cagliari.

Taylor-Brown said it was a "massive relief" to claim her first victory this year with an impressive run.

Yee then overcame a determined Hayden Wilde in a tense finale in Italy to continue his brilliant form.

Taylor-Brown climbs to third in the elite women's rankings, while Yee is fifth in the men's.

GB have dominated the women's field this year, with Sophie Coldwell, Beth Potter and now Taylor-Brown all claiming victories.

Three-time Olympic medallist Jonny Brownlee struggled home in 35th in the men's race as he prepares for Paris 2024.

Delighted Taylor-Brown back on top of the podium

It had been a disappointing start to the series for Taylor-Brown, who failed to finish on the podium in Abu Dhabi and Yokohama, coming seventh in the latter race.

But the 29-year-old rediscovered her form in Italy, and with Coldwell skipping the Cagliari event and Potter falling behind in the swim, she was Britain's best hope for the top three.

A good start in the Sardinian sea coupled with a swift swim-to-bike transition gave the 2022 Commonwealth silver medallist a good position in the lead group of cyclists.

By the start of the run, she and France's Emma Lombardi were way out in front.

They were tied until the final lap but Taylor-Brown forged ahead in the midday heat and finished the race in one hour 46 minutes 43 seconds, ahead of Lombardi's 01:47:06secs.

America's Taylor Spivey finished third, but took the overall lead in the series on points, with Lombardi second and Taylor-Brown third.

"It's a massive relief. I know it's only been two races and I've been a bit dramatic after those two races, but it's really nice to be back," said the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist.

"I definitely did [doubt my own ability] after Yokohama. I'm so used to being in that front pack and I really missed it.

"I've just tried to keep my head focused and not worry about it too much and trust the process, and today I'm finally back!"

Yee too strong for Wilde once again

The men's race came down to a tense finale between familiar rivals Yee and Wilde.

The pair are inseparable in terms of personal best times, but Yee has the competitive edge having always won a race in which Wilde also competed.

It was nearly a disastrous start for Yee, who tripped on the sand and entered the water at the back.

But he put in a terrific swim and maintained a good pace in the 24-man leading pack of cyclists, until there was barely a metre separating him and Wilde throughout the four-lap run through the streets of Cagliari.

There were regular charges from both runners to test the other, but it was not until the last 200 metres that Commonwealth gold medallist Yee pulled away. By then Wilde - who got the silver in Birmingham - was physically struggling.

Yee, 25, crossed the line in one hour 36 minutes 28 seconds, five seconds ahead of his opponent.

"It was really fun. I just enjoyed being back racing," said Yee, who missed the last round in Yokohama. 

"I want to be known as a triathlete [as opposed to a distance runner]. I've worked so hard, day in, day out, doing the swim and the bike."

Brownlee was keeping up with the leading pack up until the second transition, after which he slowly moved down the rankings to finish 35th.

Yee has not raced every event so far so only sits fifth in the overall leaderboard, behind Wilde in fourth.

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