Emma Pallant-Browne will head to St. George, Utah full of confidence next month after continuing her excellent 2021 season with a fine win at IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder on Saturday.

The British star made it six podium finishes from six races this year as she ran down 70.3 debutant Taylor Knibb on the run to take victory in Colorado.

Knibb produced a fine performance just seven days out from claiming Olympic Mixed Relay silver in Tokyo, and had an advantage of 1:34 over Emma going into the run. Pallant-Browne overcame that gap though to win in a time of 3:59:54.

Taylor sets up Boulder thriller

Afterwards she said “It was amazing, massive kudos to Taylor for a first 70.3 – she gave us something big to chase out there. It made for a really exciting race, super-strong swimmers out there and the chase was on. It was a fun day.”

When asked about her ability to come from behind on the run, Pallant-Browne said it’s a skill she is gradually perfecting.

“I think it makes it exciting. When I was first doing it I used to go off too fast and try and reel all the time in at once. I’ve learnt it a lot better now and Taylor definitely didn’t let me go, she was right there with me when I went past.”

Now for the Worlds

Now the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship will provide the big date looming on the calendar for Emma, and she will remain in Boulder to continue her preparation for the trip to Utah. Emma earned the silver medal when the championship was last held in the stateside, 2017 in Chattanooga.

“This is my third race here in America in a block into St George,” she explained.

“I’m actually staying here in Boulder for the lead-up to St George. It’s been an amazing place to train and it gives me some good confidence and I’m feeling good.”