Emma Snowsill (AUS) has, once again, derailed Vanessa Fernandes' bid for history! The three-time World Champion won today's BG Triathlon World Cup season opener in Mooloolaba, successfully defending her. It was the first head-to-head battle between the two women who are expected to clash for gold at the Beijing Olympics. Fernandes (POR) was aiming for a record-breaking 20th World Cup title but had to settle for silver, approximately 39 seconds behind Snowsill. Last year's Under23 world champion, Lisa Norden (SWE), had an incredible run to take the bronze, becoming the first Swede to ever podium at a world cup in ITU history.

Snowsill and Fernandes were in the lead pack throughout the swim and bike and ran side by side for the first five kilometers. Snowsill made her move on the third lap when she cranked up the pace up the hill, the same place she broke away from Fernandes on year ago. Fernandes didn't respond, allowing Snowsill to cruise to her seventh career world cup title.

Laura Bennett (USA) finished fourth while Andrea Whitcombe rounded out the top five. In a riveting battle between Kiwis Andrea Hewitt and Nicky Samuels for the third and final New Zealand Olympic spot, Hewitt came out on top. She was the first Kiwi across the line in 14th spot, securing her ticket to Beijing. Little known Alee Sharp (AUS), who was competing in just her second World Cup, was the second-best Australian in seventh, beating out established stars Emma Moffatt, Felicity Abram and Erin Densham. Helen Tucker was 13th, Emma Davis (IRL) 15th, Liz Blatchford 17th, Kerry Lang 18th and Jodie Swallow 27th. No result for Michelle Dillon.

Emma Snowsill (AUS) 2:00:44, Vanessa Fernandes (POR) 2:01:22, Lisa Norden (SWE) 2:02:07

Full results are on the ITU website