After Kimberly García (Peru) fell off the pace, the group was reduced to just five by the 12-kilometre mark: two Chinese, Yang Jiayu and Lü Xiuzhi; María Guadalupe González (Mexico); Antonella Palmisano (Italy); and Érica de Sena (Brazil).

Another lap later, Palmisano couldn't handle the pace which looked like the break for the three medalists.

Yang didn't have the same awards, but she was leading the group with the Olympic silver and bronze medalists.

Yang raced González to the line, winning by barely a second.

[4] The top five did negative splits (walking the end of the race faster than the beginning).