For Blummenfelt, the win in Edmonton confirmed his place atop the men’s triathlon world in 2021. He entered the final race of the series placed second overall behind British rival Alex Yee. The rankings this year were determined by adding up the three best scores from events in Yokohama, Japan; Leeds, England; Montreal, Canada; the Tokyo Olympics; and the Championship Series Grand Final in Edmonton. With wins in Yokohama and at the Tokyo Games, Blummenfelt had to finish ahead of Yee in Edmonton to earn the title. 
 
Following the 1.5 km swim, Blummenfelt hit the 40 km bike leg in a chase group behind a lead trio of reigning world champion Vincent Luis of France, Belgian Marten Van Riel, and Hungarian Mark Devay. Riding a CADEX WheelSystem with a 65 rear wheel and 42 front wheel, both set up with CADEX Race 25 tubeless tires, Blummenfelt powered the chase group as it closed in on the leaders.
 
By the time he hit the second transition into the 10 km run, Blummenfelt was just 10 seconds back. “When I saw that Alex Yee was in the second pack I thought I’d just drive the train on and not let Marten get away,” he said. “That was the focus, but Marten was so strong on the run as well and I didn’t think I’d take the win.”
 
Running in a lead group of seven, Blummenfelt made a surge on the last of three laps. That was enough to drop two from the group, and then with a second surge he was able to lose two more. Entering the final kilometer, it was down to Blummenfelt, Van Riel and Frenchman Leo Bergere. As they hit the blue carpet for the final sprint, the Norwegian turned on the jets, winning the dash to the line as Van Riel took silver and Bergere bronze.
 
“It has been a really good year I must say,” claimed Blummenfelt at the finish. “Before this season I was calculating I was getting old and I had no titles. Now I’m Olympic Champion and World Champion!”
 
Spivey Fights for Third Overall 
 
In the women’s race, Taylor Spivey had to dig deep to earn the final podium spot for the overall series. She struggled with a case of food poisoning before the race and said she wasn’t sure she would be able to start.
 
The 30-year-old American managed to stay close to the leaders in the swim. Riding with her CADEX WheelSystem on the 40 km bike leg, she joined a chase group behind eventual winner Taylor Knibb. As she entered the run, Spivey was in a battle with Maya Kingma of the Netherlands and Brit Sophie Coldwell for the series bronze. In the end, Spivey was able to top those two, taking fifth on the day and edging out Kingma by 7 seconds to earn third overall.
 
“These girls are so strong and really pushed me out there today,” Spivey said. “I was with Taylor Knibb and Maya out of the water and had a feeling she would attack but I didn’t have that top end power to say with her and she was so impressive making that much time on us. I did my best, but it wasn’t easy for me today.”