Victory slipped away from Norfolk triathlete Kimberley Morrison in temperatures above 30C in Slovakia.
Morrison was competing in the high-profile Challenge Championship in Samorin, which featured two-time Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee and a prize purse of 150,000 Euros.
The event was made up of a 1.9km swim, 90km cycle and 21km run. Although Brownlee had to retire on the run, Tri-Anglia member Morrison completed the course in sixth in the elite women's race, in a total of four hours, 22 minutes and 30 seconds.
The 29-year-old, from Bale, near Fakenham, climbed out of the water in ninth but had worked her way into first with 25km of the cycle left, explaining: 'No excuses on the run, I gave it my very best and took sensible measures to keep myself cool in the 30C+ heat with no breeze or shade.
'I am not equipped yet to run to my potential in the heat and my coach and I are well aware of this.'
Morrison won 3,500 Euros, continuing her excellent year, having won Ironman 70.3 Texas and finished second at Ironman 70.3 Buenos Aires.
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