Home favourite Lauren Parker continued her spectacular start to the 2019 season by taking the opening Para triathlon World Cup in Devonport, Australia, on Saturday (2 March).

The 30-year-old beat out strong competition from world champion Emily Tapp and Germany’s third-place finisher Christiane Reppe – a Rio 2016 cycling champion – for the women’s PTWC victory.

“I felt amazing in all three legs, getting a lead out of the swim and increasing that lead on the bike,” Parker said. “I was able to enjoy the run and stay in control, I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

“I was able to enjoy the run and stay in control, I couldn’t ask for anything more"

Her win followed her recent triumph at the Oceania Championships; and Parker was one of six Australians who were victorious in the first of seven World Cups this year.

Home victories

In the men’s PTWC, Nic Beveridge backed up his Oceania win by holding off Germany’s Benjamin Lenatz and compatriot Robert Peime, respectively.

“I guess to back up from last weekend at Newcastle [Oceania Championships] is a testament to the work that we have been doing to come off the 12 week period that we have had, and physically feel the way that I am feeling at the moment,” the Australia said.

David Bryant made his Para triathlon debut memorable by surpassing two-time world champion from Hungary Peter Boronkay and France’s Antoine Besse, winning the men’s PTS5.

It was another golden day for Australian Paralympic champion Katie Kelly (women’s PTV1).

“We [with guide Briarna Silk] backed up from Newcastle last weekend,” Kelly said. “It’s back to training and building up towards Yokohama in May.

“I think my coach Dan Atkins will be really happy with that, I had a really good off-season so reconsolidate now and get back to work.”

Two-time PTS4 world champion Sally Pilbeam got the better of New Zealand’s Sharon Dagg, giving Australia another gold.

Kate Doughty (PTS5) also has a perfect score for 2019 outclassing Hungarian Petra Levay and Australia’s Molly Wallace in just her second race for third.

Spoilers in Devonport

A thriller in the PTS4 men’s race saw Austria’s Oliver Dreier shoot ahead of Australian Clint Pickin by just six seconds, with Denmark’s Sebastian Jensen rounding out the podium.

France’s Arnaud Grandjean served spoils in the men’s PTVI with an outstanding run. Home favourite Jonathan Goerlach’s race did not quiet go to plan, dropping his chain on the penultimate bike lap but still managed second place.

Japan also took line honours in both male and female PTS2 categories with Kenshiro Nakayama and Yukako Hata.

Complete results from the Devonport World Cup are available on the International Triathlon Union’s website.