Beaugrand wins WTCS Cagliari in thrilling sprint finish

France’s Cassandre Beaugrand produced a stellar 10km run to beat Germany’s Lisa Tertsch and British world champion Beth Potter in Sardinia.

Britain’s Georgia Taylor-Brown finished sixth and Sophie Coldwell placed seventh as they looked to catch the eye of selectors for the remaining two GB spots in the final chance for Olympic qualification.

Another leading contender for an Olympic start, Kate Waugh, finished in 10th place, two places behind Tokyo champion Flora Duffy, but just ahead of leading US hope Taylor Knibb. Sian Rainsley ensured all five GB women finished in the top 20 and underlined their continued strength in depth.

It was Beaugrand’s fourth World Series victory, but her first over the standard distance. With team-mate Leonie Periault winning in Yokohama a fortnight ago, it means French women have won the only two WTCS races to take place in 2024, boosting medal expectations even further ahead of the Olympics in two months.

The USA selection for Paris was another hot topic of discussion. After none of the competing triathletes were able to get the required podium in Yokohama, two discretionary places remained and Katie Zafares – subbed into the race in Cagliari at the expense of 2016 Rio champion Gwen Jorgensen – pushed her claim for a slot by finishing 12th.

While it wasn’t the victory Potter hoped for in her first WTCS start of the year, the Scot was content with a place on the podium.

“I’ve just come off a really big training block, went for the win and came away with third, so I gave it a really good shot,” the 32-year-old said.

“Everything was good, but I felt a bit sluggish on the run. I had a bad cold a couple of weeks ago and coming out of that I’m happy with where I am.”

What happened in the swim?

There was a significant swell for the two-lap 1,500m sea swim in Sardinia with a suspect start suggesting several triathletes might have jumped the hooter although no penalties were forthcoming.

The Netherlands’ Maya Kingma led the field through the first 750m, but the leading contenders were all within a few seconds of each other as they hit Poetto beach for the first time.

The field didn’t string out much approaching transition as Kingma led in 18:53, followed by Brazil’s Vittoria Lopes, and USA’s Taylor Spivey.

Potter was the fastest of the British athletes, with Waugh, Coldwell, Taylor-Brown and Rainsley all within 20secs.

What happened on the bike?

The pace was on from the start of the 10-lap 38km bike leg and it was no surprise to see Knibb regularly driving from the front.

Taylor-Brown, Rainsley and Zafares were initially in a small chase pack but managed to bridge up on the second lap, leading to a large front group of 26 triathletes containing most of the leading contenders but missing France’s Yokohama WTCS winner Periault.

Opportunities for a breakaway were always going to be rare on a technical, pan-flat course, especially with so many triathletes eyeing Olympic qualification and not wanting to waste energy ahead of the 10km run.

Tokyo Olympian Summer Rappaport dropped out before halfway on the bike leg to all but end her chances of a return in Paris.

The front group were 3min clear heading into T2 knowing they would be fighting it out for the top spots as Waugh was first to the dismount line.

What happened on the run?

Lombardi was the sharpest leaving transition followed by countrywoman Beaugrand, but Lopes stepped off the course within the first few metres.

Beaugrand led through the first of the four laps with five athletes in close contention including Lehair, Taylor-Brown, Potter, Coldwell and Lombardi. Germany’s Tertsch, who clocked the fastest run split in Yokohama, quickly bridged up to join them.

It was shoulder-to-shoulder as they came through halfway, with Waugh 15sec back and fighting to get back in the mix knowing that Taylor-Brown and Coldwell, her main competitors for an Olympic place were up the road.

Olympic champion Duffy lost around 30sec in the first 5km as she continued her comeback from a knee injury that kept her on the sidelines for almost 18 months.

As the run entered the final stages it briefly looked as it Beaugrand might be dropping off, but she fought her way back and surged alongside Tertsch, breaking away as they ran on to the blue carpet to take a confidence-boosting win.

WTCS Cagliari: Final standings

1. Cassandre Beuagrand 1:47:25
2. Lisa Tertsch +3
3. Beth Potter +7
4. Emma Lombardi +7
5. Jeanne Lehair +26
6. Georgia Taylor-Brown +38
7. Sophie Coldwell +41
8. Flora Duffy +44
9. Nina Eim +48
10. Kate Waugh +55