2010 ITU London WCS women

21-year old Canadian Paula Findlay sprinted away from Olympians Nicola Spirig, Helen Jenkins and Andrea Hewitt to win round 5 of the Dextro Energy ITU World Championship Series in London's Hyde Park on Saturday. The competitors racing in London only had a week of recovery since the last WCS event in Hamburg, Germany but will now have three weeks before heading to Kitzbühel, Austria for the penultimate stage of the Series on August 14-15.

All images are © Eric Wynn of ericwynn.org

Emma Snowsill jumps in the water for her warm-up swim

Barbara Riveros Diaz is focused on the task at hand.

Timing chip – check. Motivational message on tape – check.

Let us get this show on the road seems to be on the mind of Debbie Tanner and Emma Moffatt

Hamburg WCS winner Lisa Norden before the start.

A lone swimmer during the warm-up experiences peace and serenity.

It is time to get on the pier for the start and Kate McIlroy obliges.

Last minute algae sweeping before the start.

Every athlete seems to have a unique ritual to get ready.

Let the battle begin.

There is no more serenity now.

The pack is still relatively close together.

Lisa Norden is driving the chasing pack of about 30 athletes, but the front group is getting further and further away.

Too many athletes in this group were just along for the ride.

Inspired by the enthusiastic local crowd, Jodie Swallow leads the front pack here.

The lead of the front group over the chasing pack increased from 30 seconds to almost 2 minutes.

Emma Moffatt's Orbea will still have the number 1 when the series continues in Austria.

After the win in Hamburg, a somewhat frustrating run to 26th place in London for Lisa Norden.

Akane Tsuchihashi and Sarah Groff running towards 10th and 12th place respectively.

A sea of photographers awaits Paula Findlay at the biggest win of her young career.