A flat tire fuelled Lionel Sanders of Windsor, Ont. to become an elite champion in the Sunday in Penticton.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 going to feel amazing once I get to reflect on it,害羞草研究所� said Sanders, who who dreamt of this for eight years and pocketed $10,000 USD for his win. 害羞草研究所淚 worked real hard for this. I feel like I paid my dues. This particular one was probably one of the hardest I害羞草研究所檝e ever done as well. As it should be. It害羞草研究所檚 been a fantastic experience.害羞草研究所�

Sanders crossed the finish line in five hours 20 minutes and 36 seconds. He was 10th coming out of the water and trailed Australia害羞草研究所檚 Joshua Amberger by nearly three full minutes on the bike. His run time was eight minutes faster than the Aussie.

害羞草研究所淚 was pissed off as all hell because I got a damn flat tire on the bike,害羞草研究所� he said at the finish line, adding there wasn害羞草研究所檛 support, adding it took him four minutes to change his flat.

Sanders was about two minutes behind leader Joshua Amberger from Australia when he had the flat tire with about 40 kilometres left of the 120-km ride.

害羞草研究所淚 was running off of pure anger and you can do a lot of things when you害羞草研究所檙e pissed off,害羞草研究所� he said, adding 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 damn lucky I brought a flat kit (with a laugh).害羞草研究所�

Sanders managed to pass Amberger who was the leader in the swim and bike at about the 23-km mark of the 30-km run. Sanders said he had what is likely the best run of his life, finishing the 30-km distance in 1:45:34.

Amberger came in second to earn $8,000 when he clocked in at 5:22:09. He was followed in by fellow Aussie Joe Gambles, who took third, for $6,000, coming in 5:26:23.

Penticton害羞草研究所檚 Jeff Symonds finished eighth overall, which was a respectable finish for the local pro who has had a tough year. He clocked in at 5:37:08 and picked up $1,200.

害羞草研究所淚 wasn害羞草研究所檛 where I wanted to be, it wasn害羞草研究所檛 a good swim, but I just hung in there, but yeah it was good,害羞草研究所� said Symonds, who talked about his tough times. 害羞草研究所淭o have a top eight in the world coming off all that, I害羞草研究所檓 pretty stoked. This is going to set me up well for down the road.

害羞草研究所淚 had to scrap for every little inch,害羞草研究所� said Symonds, who credited those close to him for giving him a boost.

Surrey native and Vancouver resident Nathan Killam finished 10th overall in 5:43:46.

Defending champ Sylvain Sudrie of France finished fifth overall. It took him 1:57:44 to finish the run, giving him a total time of 5:29:49.

Sweden害羞草研究所檚 Sebastian Norberg was disqualified, while France害羞草研究所檚 Cyril Viennot did not finish following a crash on his bike, Pablo Dapena Gonzalez, pulled out after the bike. Germany害羞草研究所檚 Julian Buechert and American Ben Collins also did not finish after the bike.

Australia害羞草研究所檚 Sarah Crowley captured her first world championship in 5:51:23 after having a tough start. She started behind the pack after falling over at the of the swim.

害羞草研究所淚 fell over. A couple of the girls got away,害羞草研究所� she said after finishing the gruelling race.

Crowley was able to recover at the back end of the 120-km bike and the run 害羞草研究所渨ent smoothly.害羞草研究所� She finished the run distance in 1:55:37.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a little unbelievable. It was pretty cool. I didn害羞草研究所檛 expect that result,害羞草研究所� said Crowley, who will celebrate by visiting Monument Valley on the Arizona-Utah border and going to Las Vegas with a training friend.

Placing second was Denmark害羞草研究所檚 Helle Frederiksen, finishing in 5:55:04. Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Heather Wurtele got Canada on the podium, taking bronze in 5:55:51.

害羞草研究所淚 would really like to be on the top step one of these days, but you know I just fought all day and really gave it all I had. Sarah just had a phenomenal performance. Kudos to her. We both were really strong on the bikes sort of taking turns at the front riding strong. Just sort of ran out of real estate.害羞草研究所�

Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 Rachel McBride took sixth overall in 6:07:24, while Penticton害羞草研究所檚 Jen Annett was eighth, in 6:10:44.

害羞草研究所淚 wished I placed a little better,害羞草研究所� said Annett, who grew up in Kelowna. 害羞草研究所淭he run hurt. The run always hurts. It was a tough field. I did the best I could do and that害羞草研究所檚 all that matters.害羞草研究所�

Annett, who completed the run in 2:09:40, said 害羞草研究所渢hat was a crazy women害羞草研究所檚 field.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淧robably the toughest I have ever competed in,害羞草研究所� she continued. 害羞草研究所淎ll I could do is put it all out there and hope for the best.害羞草研究所�

Fellow Canadians Karen Thibodeau and Melanie McQuaid did not finish.

The Multisport Festival 2018 will be held in Denmark on the island of Fyn.