Non Stanford powered to her first-ever World Triathlon series victory as Great Britain claimed two podium spots in Madrid.
Stanford was followed home by team-mate Jodie Stimpson while Germany's Anne Haug split them, finishing 26 seconds back from the winner in second.
The British pair were prominent throughout the race, pushing the pace on the bike to break the resolve of current world number one Gwen Jorgenson.
The Welsh triathlete hit the front at the start of the run and was never seriously challenged.
“That was a really hard race. It was probably one of the hardest swims I’ve done for a long time, it was really physical,” she said.
“The bike was never going to be easy. The British girls worked really hard, which was fantastic. The plan was to go off really hard on the run, which I did, but I thought ‘oh no I’ve gone off far too hard’ but I managed to hold it together.
"It’s what you always work for and when it finally pays off it’s really nice.”
Brendan Purcell, British Triathlon's performance director, was all smiles after the race and will now hope Olympic bronze medallist Jonathan Brownlee follows Stanford's lead in Sunday's men's race.
"It’s the start of the three year build up to Rio, so it’s a good opportunity to try new things and do things differently," he said.
“We’ve never got two British women onto a World triathlon series podium before so we’re definitely going in the right direction.
"Of course there is a long way to go and some big names still race yet, but credit to Non and Jodie, and to Vanessa Raw for their hard work and great results.”
© Sportsbeat 2013