Beth Potter won bronze as four British athletes finished in the top 10 of the women’s race.

World champion Potter, who has also already secured her spot in the Team GB squad at the Paris Olympics, finished seven seconds behind winner Cassandre Beaugrand.

France’s Beaugrand claimed gold, ahead of Germany’s Lisa Tertsch, with a time of one hour, 47 minutes and 25 seconds.

“I went for the win and had to settle for third but I gave it a good shot,” said 32-year-old Potter.

“I wanted to get a race in before [the Olympics] to see where my swim and bike was at. Everything was good, I was just feeling a bit sluggish on the run.”

Olympic hopefuls Georgia Taylor-Brown and Sophie Coldwell finished sixth and seventh to boost their hopes of going to Paris.

Coldwell collapsed after crossing the finish line and needed medical attention. The race was held in temperatures reaching 25C in Italy.

The event in Cagliari is the last before Olympic selection and Great Britain can select up to six triathletes.

Two spots are expected to be filled by Kate Waugh – who finished 10th – in the running alongside Taylor-Smith and Coldwell.