WTCS 2024 Grand Final: Cassandre Beaugrand wins triathlon world title on Costa del Sol

Cassandre Beaugrand made it a perfect four from four wins in the 2024 World Triathlon Championship Series to take a first individual world title of her career.

Britain’s defending champion Beth Potter finished second ahead of Beaugrand’s compatriot, Emma Lombardi, which also gave Potter and Lombardi second and third respectively in the overall standings.

There was also a phenomenal performance from 2016 Olympic bronze medallists Vicky Holland who ran through for fourth in her final race before retirement. 

The victory didn’t come without a couple of frights for the 27-year-old Beaugrand. Firstly, she headed in the wrong direction at the start of the swim and then the medal ceremony was delayed due to a protest of ‘outside assistance’ that was ultimately rejected.

Having come up just short at junior and Under-23 level, it was Beaugrand’s first individual world title in a season where she also achieved her first top tier standard distance win over a 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run.

What happened in the swim?

It was a wetsuit legal beach start in the waters of the Costa Del Sol and Beaugrand starting on the far right of the field immediately took the wrong line.

By the time the French woman realised her mistake the field was around 50m to her left and she had to cut diagonally across to pass the first buoy on the correct side and join the back of the pack.

A sizable swell was helping to break up the pack and after the first of the two 750m laps Bianca Seregni led out with GB’s Olivia Mathias in third and Potter and Holland in the top 10. Beaugrand was 32sec behind and moving through the field

Seregni was first in transition in 21:59, slower than most swims at this level and reflecting the challenging conditions. The Brits were at the front in force, as was Beaugrand who had swum herself up to 10th place. Lisa Terstch was the biggest loser among the contenders at 45sec adrift.

What happened on the bike?

The 40km bike course was a flat, technical test and a lead group of 12 headed by another British up and comer, Jess Fullagar, tried to cement a breakaway.

The gap was 30sec by the time the leaders came through the first of eight laps ahead of the chase group that included Tertsch, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Kate Waugh and USA’s 2016 Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen.

The advantage was extended to 1min by halfway on the bike leg and continued to go out as the 19-strong chasers struggled to maintain pace.

Beaugrand showed why it has been the season of her career by even taking a couple of uncharacteristic turns at the front of the race, and by the time they reached T2 is was Mathias to dismount first as the front 12 had a 90sec lead.

What happened on the run?

There were few surprises when Beaugrand, Lombardi and Potter went straight to the front of the four-lap 10km run along the beach front.

They were joined by Lehair, who was looking for a result to round out the WTCS season on a happier note after a mechanical ended her Olympic chances in Paris.

The two French women started to stretch away on the second lap, as Beaugrand led the charge and Lombardi battled to stay with her. Potter was several seconds behind in third, with Lehair quickly losing ground. 

Beaugrand had a 17sec lead over Lombardi heading on to the final lap, with Potter a further 7sec behind, but the Brit fought back in the closing kilometre to finish both second in the race and the series before congratulating the new champion.

There was a wonderful send-off for Holland, who won the European title a fortnight ago, and ran through for fourth, and Tertsch and Periault ran strongly from the second pack to move into the top 10.

What Beaugrand said:

“I was completely panicking [after swimming off course] and pushed myself very hard on the second lap to come out with the first group. I just wanted this world title so badly. I was fighting and training hard and I think it was well deserved today. I didn’t know what to expect at the start of the year, but I was working hard and believing in myself. “

What Potter said:

“It was really tough out there and I think I put a good fight to defend my title but wasn’t quite good enough this year. I just wanted to enjoy it today and leave the course having given it everything.”

What Lombardi said:

“Ending the season on this note is amazing. I got a lot of fourth places this year and didn’t want to end the year with another one.”

WTCS Grand Final Torremolinos final standings:

1. Cassandre Beaugrand 1:56:44
2. Beth Potter +38sec
3. Emma Lombardi +50sec
4. Vicky Holland +1:12min
5. Miriam Casillas García +1:18min
6. Jeanne Lehair 1:25min
7. Lisa Tertsch 1:28min
8. Bianca Seregni 1:35min
9. Leonie Periault 1:44min
10. Kirsten Kasper 1:51min

WTCS 2024 final overall standings

1. Cassandre Beaugrand 4,000pts
2. Beth Potter 3,793pts
3. Emma Lombardi 3,508pts
4. Lisa Tertsch 3,402pts
5. Jeanne Lehair 2,668pts
6. Georgia Taylor-Brown 2,473pts
7. Leonie Periault 2,390pts
8. Kate Waugh 2,031pts
9. Flora Duffy 1,938pts
10. Vicky Holland 1,905pts