Search
shop

Taylor Knibb dominates U23 Triathlon World Championship

The USA's Taylor Knibb provided a cycling masterclass on the Gold Coast to dominate Friday's ITU Triathlon U23 World Championship in Australia
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Third consecutive World Championship for the USA’s Taylor Knibb

Junior World Champion in 2016 and 2017. Under-23 World Champion in 2018. The impressive Taylor Knibb continued to build her impressive triathlon C.V. on the Gold Coast today by riding away from the field and building herself a three minute lead by T2. Giving up little time over the run too, she was an impressive winner – and an athlete that will surely be topping many a podium in the years to come.

Here is the full race report courtesy of Doug Gray at the ITU.


USA’s Taylor Knibb storms to brilliant U23 World title

An incredible bike segment from Taylor Knibb under the blazing Gold Coast sunshine saw the rising American star well on her way to a comprehensive win in Gold Coast on Friday morning, where she was crowned U23 World Champion with a powerful performance that had echoes of the mighty Flora Duffy. After winning the Junior title at the Rotterdam Grand Final 12 months previously, it was another case of rising to the occasion for the Washington DC native.

“I still can’t really believe it. I rode well, I think, I just tried to be smart. My coach had a very detailed plan going into the wind but then to maintain speed coming back. This is very much a lot of people’s work. It has been a long season but I am happy to end it on a high,” said a delighted Knibb afterwards.

Going into the race wearing the number one after a remarkable 2018, it was France’s Cassandre Beaugrand who many had their eye on, and coming out of the water after the two-lap swim just behind Great Britain’s Sophie Alden, she looked well placed to take hold of the bike.

The swim field was compact, however, and the likes of teammates Knibb and Tamara Gorman and Australia’s Jaz Hedgeland were on the front-runners’ heels. Beaugrand looked to have come out of transition the cleanest and had a small advantage in the early stages, but it was the USA’s latest talent Knibb who took the 40km ride by the scruff of the neck.

By the end of the first lap, Knibb had already managed to carve out a 25-second advantage, and as a group of 11 struggled to organise itself, including the likes of Germany’s Bianca Bogen, Italy’s Angelica Olmo and New Zealnd’s Nicole Van Der Kay, Knibb continued to extend her lead.

Gold Coast ITU Triathlon U23 World Championships 2018

The race continued in that trend, a ten-strong second chase pack also struggling to close in on their targets. At the bell, it was a huge lead of nearly three minutes that Knibb had managed to open up, a gap that looked too much even for the Jorgensen-esque French starlet Beaugrand to make up.

Taylor Knibb - Gold Coast ITU Triathlon U23 World Championships 2018

Knibb afforded herself an unhurried transition and set off for the 10km run with the luxury of a lead that only something truly remarkable could trouble. Over the first run lap it began to look like that just could happen, Beaugrand striding out alone in second and slicing 44 seconds off Knibb’s lead.

Gold Coast ITU Triathlon U23 World Championships 2018

The initial effort took its toll though, and Knibb was able to respond well, while a battle was raging for third place between Angelica Olmo and Nicole Van Der Kay. First the New Zealander made a move, then Olmo stormed back with a steely determination etched on her face.

Beaugrand could only cut six seconds off the lead over lap two, and by that stage, with the American out front and looking perfectly at ease, there could be little doubt as to the result. As Knibb took the crowd’s applause down the final chute, she crossed the line 94 seconds ahead of Beaugrand, Olmo powering into third.

“Coming off the bike I didn’t know how the legs would feel but I guess it is not how they feel it is what they let you do. I just focused on my arm carriage and that really helped me get through the run,” added Knibb after the race. “On the bike you can’t really play on a planned tactic, it was about seeing how goes. It was a dream scenario, getting away so early because I had a good swim. It was a great race.”

“I was hoping for a better result but it is one day and one race, so today Taylor was better but I hope one day it will be me,” said a disappointed Cassandre Beaugrand. “No one wanted to work on the bike so it was too hard for me to ride alone for such long time and pull back the time to Taylor. It was not my best run today, I was a little tired after the ride but I am still happy.”

Taylor -Knibb / Cassandre Beaugrand - Gold Coast ITU Triathlon U23 World Championships 2018

“I wasn’t expecting this after my crash a month ago in the Europeans and some problems with my shoulder, so I wanted to take the race as it came but suddenly I knew I was battling for the podium and it was Nicole once again with me,” said Angelica Olmo. “She dropped me early but I began to get back and believe. Taylor was amazing though. I knew if I came out of the water good I had a chance but she was something else.”

Gold Coast ITU Triathlon U23 World Championship – Friday 14th September 2018
1.5km / 40km / 10km

1st – Taylor Knibb (USA) – 1:53:47
2nd – Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) – 1:55:22
3rd – Angelica Olmo (ITA) – 1:56:39
4th – Nicole Van Der Kay (NZL) – 1:57:02
5th – Erika Ackerland (USA) – 1:57:18

13th – Olivia Matthias (GBR) – 1:59:07
15th – Sian Rainsley (GBR) – 1:59:22
22nd – Sophie Alden (GBR) – 2:01:48

John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
FORM Smart Swim 2 PRO lens close up
FORM Smart Swim Pro 2 Goggles review: can these high tech goggles actually help you to train smarter and swim faster?
Premium‘The difference from triathlon is so big – there’s no comparison’: Maya Kingma on life in the Women’s WorldTour peloton
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
TRIFIT VORTEX tri suit
The small but mighty tri brand you NEED to know about: Why TRI-FIT are on a mission to disrupt the triathlon apparel scene
latest News
Alistair Brownlee Olympics Triathlon London 2012 Podium Gold
Olympic icon Alistair Brownlee reveals most British thing ever when it comes to fuelling recovery
Lionel Sanders IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside 2025 celebration finish line
Lionel Sanders provides BIG update on triathlon comeback
Gwen Jorgensen World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong 2023 run
Olympic triathlon champion Gwen Jorgensen issues last call for scholarship fund for young athletes
Norseman Triathlon 2023 Start
The Norseman 2025: Date, start time and how to follow live for ‘the race that makes athletes cry’
Jan Frodeno Cheesehead PTO Tour US Open 2023 Milwaukee
Triathlon legend Jan Frodeno goes outside his comfort zone to take on epic UTMB challenge
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...