British triathlete Helen Jenkins produced a sterling performance in searing heat to secure third at the World Championship Series in Madrid.
The 2008 world champion finished eight seconds behind Swiss winner Nicola Spirig and French star Emmie Charayron.
It was the biggest result of the season for Jenkins, 26, who finished third at the Series Grand Final last year.
Britain's World champion Alistair Brownlee returns to action on Sunday following a stress fracture to his leg.
The Leeds 22-year-old has already missed the Sydney and Seoul legs of the series but insisted in April that if he could compete in Spain he would remain a "serious contender" to defend his crown.
Jenkins happy after tough race
Brownlee's latest injury to his femur was his third such stress fracture.
Jenkins was delighted to have come through testing conditions which included a challenging bike ride through the hills and a run in 34 degree heat.
"It was a target to finish on the podium but I wasn't sure whether I would achieve it in the hard conditions with it being so hot," Jenkins said.
"It was tough but I got my nutrition right and hydrated well beforehand. The run was in the shade, which helps. It was quite scary seeing girls go down on the bike.
"I'm usually good at getting off the bike in the first few but I was lucky to swerve out of the way. The plan was to see if I could run with the leaders.
"I picked up the pace on the third lap, and then again on the fourth but Nicola was very strong and Emmie was strong in the end too. The result was a big improvement for me."
Britain's Liz Blatchford secured a top-10 finish with eighth place.
Chilean Barbara Riveros Diaz finished sixth but remained in the lead in the world rankings heading into round four of the series in Hamburg in July.
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