Cassandre Beaugrand makes it three in a row at WTCS Sardinia

Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) made it three WTCS victories in a row in Alghero, Sardinia after fighting her way back to the front and finishing with a stunning final kick on the run.

Beaugrand had an unusually slow start, coming in 32 seconds behind the early pacesetter, Tilly Anema (GBR) in a swim which was choppy, but only about to get worse for the men’s race later on. Anema set an impressive time of 19:13 for the 1500m sea swim to leave many athletes behind.

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Only Sophie Evans (GBR), Lisa Tertsch (GER) and Márta Kropkó (HUN) were able to stay with Anema, creating a pack of four as the athletes came into T1 and headed out on the bike.

What happened on the bike

Taylor Spivey (USA) was in the chase group and had compatriot Taylor Knibb for company. Leonie Periault (FRA) likewise had a great swim to emerge in the same group, significantly in the pack ahead of Beaugrand.

The lead pack’s time alone at the front proved short-lived, however. Multiple huge turns across the array of small groups saw an eventual lead pack of 22 athletes come together.

The lead group gradually settled and arrived in T2 without further significant change. It was then, though, that Beaugrand came under pressure once more as she lost ground in transition. WTCS medallist Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal (MEX) led out onto the run with Beth Potter (GBR) in close pursuit and Beaugrand 13 seconds behind.

What happened on the run

Over the course of the first half of the run Tertsch, Potter and Beaugrand were joined by Jeanne Lehair (LUX) and Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR).

It was Taylor-Brown, fresh from her first T100 win last weekend, that dropped off the pace first. Coming into the final lap however, it was clear that Beaugrand still had enough energy to fight for gold as she kicked towards the finish.

Potter then sprinted ahead of Tertsch to take the silver. Tertsch, meanwhile, held on to take her first WTCS medal of the year in third. 

Image credit: World Triathlon

Helen Webster Editor, 220 Triathlon

About

Helen has been 220's Editor since July 2013, when she made the switch from marathons to multisport. She's usually found open-water swimming and has competed in several swimruns as well as the ÖtillÖ World Series. Helen is a qualified Level 2 Open-Water Swim Coach focusing on open-water confidence and runs regular workshops at the South West Maritime Academy near Bristol. She is also an RLSS UK Open Water Lifeguard trainer/assessor.