Julie Derron has revealed how she overcame “some low moments” on the bike before producing an extraordinary run to finish second to Taylor Knibb at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice.

Despite making up two places in T2, the Olympic silver medallist began the half marathon in ninth place after emerging from the swim more than 90 seconds behind the leaders and then losing further ground to a dominant Knibb on the bike.

But Derron refused to accept that her race was over.

She tore through the field with a 1:13:04 run split – just five seconds outside the fastest women’s half marathon ever recorded in an IRONMAN 70.3 race – to take second in 4:23:30.

‘I had some low moments’

Asked by Mirinda Carfrae on the live broadcast whether the race had unfolded as she expected, Derron admitted that the opening two disciplines had been more difficult than anticipated.

“Yes and no,” she explained. “I knew that I was going to have to work really hard on the run.

“I was really hoping for a better swim and also a better bike. I had some low moments on the bike, really thinking to myself that it wasn’t going to be my day today, but I just never gave up.”

Derron began the run more than eight minutes behind Knibb, with numerous athletes separating her from the podium positions.

But the Swiss star knew the flat, two-lap course along the Promenade des Anglais offered her an opportunity to transform the race.

“I knew once I got on the run, I just had to give my all,” she said. “I know I’m a strong runner, so I just had to fight until the finish line.

“I’m super happy with the outcome, for sure.”

‘I will not blow up’

Derron immediately set an aggressive pace and quickly began moving through the field.

She passed Kat Matthews and reigning IRONMAN World Champion Solveig Løvseth before overhauling Imogen Simmonds at the end of the opening lap.

Derron then caught Alanis Siffert after 12.5km to move into second place.

Asked whether she had ever doubted that she possessed the run required, Derron said: “Actually, no. Now you ask me, I never thought about it.

“I just really tried to stay in the moment, limit my losses on the bike, and then I started out really fast on the run and just hoped I could hold it.

“I kept telling myself, ‘I will not blow up and I will make it.’”

Knibb’s remained out of reach reach at the front end of a record-breaking performance, but Derron continued to reduce the deficit and ultimately crossed the line 4:06 behind the four-time champion.

“I’m super happy also to share the podium with Taylor,” added Derron. “Of course, she’s amazing at this. “I knew she was unreachable, but I kept getting the splits to go for second and that was the aim.

“I really fought hard to get to the podium position and then just to keep it,” she added.

“I’m super proud of the way I raced, just not giving up.”

Swiss double on the podium

Derron’s late charge meant two Swiss athletes finished on the podium, with Challenge Roth winner Siffert holding on for third in 4:25:10.

Derron acknowledged that closing down her compatriot had required her to maintain that remarkable pace deep into the run.

“I was chasing down my teammate Alanis and I knew that it was going to be a fight because she doesn’t give up either.

“I knew that it was going to be hard, and I’m super happy for the two of us as well.”