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.
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.
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.
WTCS victory for Georgia Taylor-Brown in Yokohama and moves through as the 2022 Series leader. #WTCSYokohama @georgiatb @BritTri
— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) May 14, 2022
LIVE and on-demand at https://t.co/lKXegliQEA pic.twitter.com/ognZAwNTH6
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.
Victory moment for @Lixsanyee in WTCS Yokohama who was pushed all the way by @haydos77 who secured his first WTCS medal today with silver. Frenchman @LeoBergere earned bronze and had "no regrets" and now heads up the Series Rankings. @BritTri @TriathlonNZ @FFTRI @TeamGB pic.twitter.com/8H18GbkCQJ
— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) May 14, 2022
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.
Yee, 24, was similarly forced to battle as he won a thriller against Tokyo bronze medallist Wilde.
Both men just could not be separated heading into the closing stages but Lewisham ace Yee – who beat Wilde to silver in Tokyo last summer – hit the accelerator with the finish line looming to pip his rival to glory.
French star Leo Bergere – the overall series leader after three races in Hamburg, Abu Dhabi and Yokohama – finished third as Yee racked up a maximum 1000 point haul in his maiden event of the season.