Emerging Australian triathlon star Gillian Backhouse has claimed her first ITU World Series podium finish in freezing conditions in Edmonton, Canada.
The 24-year-old Queenslander dug deep to finish third behind Great Britain's Vicky Holland and Bermuda's Flora Duffy.
Australia's top finisher in the recent Rio Olympic test event, Backhouse was back on the same course where she won a silver medal in the ITU world championship under-23 race last year.
It was so cold that Duffy admitted she couldn't feel her feet throughout the entire bike ride.
Leading Australian Emma Moffatt suffered in the cold, struggling to get her helmet off in transition, costing her valuable time and a podium push.
Moffatt, who has been training in Colorado, fought back to finish a spirited seventh, holding off fast-finishing teammate Ashleigh Gentle (eighth) while Emma Jackson was 11th.
In the men's race Australia's first Olympic qualifier Aaron Royle again put in a determined effort, finishing a close fifth behind South African Richard Murray who won from Spanish pair Javier Gomez and Mario Mola.
Share
