Lewis wins from Wales

Wales-based Lewis’s showing was not quite a last-minute surprise – the Island Games triathlon champion announced the previous day that he would be streaming his race via Facebook – but he impressed by finishing over 4min. clear of the Guernsey-based opposition.

The full race involved running 1.5 miles from home, cycling 15km (9.3 miles) on Zwift’s Sand and Sequoias Watopia course, and running another 1.5-miler to finish.

Lewis’s 37min. 17sec. winning clocking included a 20-50 bike split and two low-8min. runs.

Hardy veteran Ian Scholes sealed runner-up in 41-49 and teenage prospect Thierry Le Cheminant finished another minute back with a strong performance.

The Ravenscroft-backed Lewis, who has missed his potential European Cup debut and several other key focuses due to coronavirus restrictions, enjoyed testing his race legs.

‘With the lack of racing at the moment, it was a good opportunity to put yourself on a start line of sorts and put down a solid effort with some of the simulated pressures of a real race, which is what I and I think a lot of people can benefit from at this time,’ he said.

‘It was also great fun. Just knowing others were doing and experiencing the same thing was really motivating.’

Dan Galpin took fourth overall but just behind him, fellow Island Games triathlete Emily Squire clocked a superb 43-47 for top woman.

Sammy Yendell was second lady in 46-30 and Jersey’s Louise Bracken-Smith third.