Taylor Knibb holds off late Ashleigh Gentle charge to win PTO US Open in Milwaukee in style

Taylor Knibb turned in a superb performance to win the PTO US Open from defending champion Ashleigh Gentle.

Knibb finished runner-up behind Gentle in the 2022 edition of the 100km race but vanquished her foe this time around in Milwaukee, opening up a commanding lead on the bike before holding on over the 18km run to land a first PTO Tour title.

The 25-year-old’s time of 3:32.58 was good enough to seal top spot by almost a minute from Gentle, with Paula Findlay of Canada crossing the line a further four minutes behind in third.

“I’m really grateful to race here in the US at this kind of race,” Knibb said.

“I raced here for the first time ten years ago and Chrissie Wellington was at the finish line giving me medals. I have a picture. And so it’s just fun to be back.

“It’s fun to be racing. It’s fun to be doing a different distance and finally mixing it up with the other women.”

“Like Jan Frodeno says, pressure is a privilege. And actually he was out there on the bike course, like, way, way out. And he yelled at me: ‘believe, believe’.

“So I have to thank him for that. That’s what really makes a true champion.”

Knibb trailed her fellow American Lauren Brandon by almost 30 seconds after the 2km swim in Lake Michigan but quickly ate into her deficit on the bike, which is her strongest discipline.

After just five of the 80km course, the 25-year-old had assumed the lead and set about opening up as big an advantage as possible amid fears that she would struggle during the run following surgery she underwent in January.

By the time she transitioned into the 18km run, Knibb led by 90 seconds from Findlay and Britain’s Lucy Byram, with Gentle crucially a further minute and 20 seconds back.

Gentle, who overturned a seven-minute deficit to Knibb on last year’s run, powered her way into second place within 5km as she set her sights on reining in her rival and defending her title.

But Knibb wouldn’t be denied as she maintained enough speed to hold off Gentle to take the victory by 51 seconds and land the $100,000 first prize.

Behind the top three, Great Britain enjoyed plenty of success, with Byram sprinting to the line to seal fourth, 16 seconds ahead of fellow Brit Holly Lawrence in fifth.

Kat Matthews captured seventh after a strong run to ensure three Brits finished inside the top 10.