Aussie Crowley wins world triathlon title

Australian triathlete Sarah Crowley has pulled off an upset victory in the ITU world long distance championships in Canada.

Queenslander Crowley overhauled race leader Helle Fredericksen on the second lap of the closing run leg and raced away to win by more than three minutes from the Dane with a time of five hours 51 minutes and 23 seconds.

"It is pretty unreal," said Crowley.

"I didn't go into today expecting that at all, everything just went to plan other than falling over at the start of the swim.

"But I did have a good day though, I worked pretty hard after that, but yeah I had a good day and I am really happy."

In the men's race, Australians Joshua Amberger (5:22:09) and Joe Gambles (5:26:23) finished second and third respectively behind Canadian Lionel Sanders who won in 5:20:36 after overcoming a flat tyre on the cycle leg.

Amberger dominated on the bike leg to lead by over three minutes but was run down by Sanders.