If ever there was an ultimate lesson in Olympic triathlon grit, Cassandre Beaugrand’s WTCS French Riviera win on Sunday afternoon was it, the fan favourite digging in after a flying Jeanne Lehair (LUX) had threatened to pull clear, the French no.1 truly living up to her champion billing at the most hyped race of the year so far.

Beaugrand and Lehair both delivered excellent swims to hit the beach almost side-by-side behind leader Summer Rappaport, but the breakaway failed to stick and towards the end of the 20km bike, 28 athletes came together into transition. Onto the run, Leonie Periault and Emma Lombardi (FRA) were dropped on the final lap of three, and as Lehair looked to have the race won, Beaugrand found one final surge to take the tape and the Series lead, Periault following Lehair over the line. 

'I am impressed with myself today, because I went very deep,' admitted Beaugrand. 'I know this year is not the easiest for me mentally, but I am very happy. I fought until the end, tried my best and showed that is not finished until its finished. Talking about French Riviera: “This was definitely a race that I wanted to do the moment I knew this was happening. Even if I was tired mentally I told myself; 'Come on Cass, fight for it. I was thinking that if I do well today maybe I dont have to do any more races until the Final! Jeanne was hard to beat today, but I proved today that you have to work really hard if you want to beat me.'

RAPPAPORT DIALS THE SWIM

In a choppy swim the fight was on for clear water around the first buoy, Cassandre Beaugrand getting ahead of Olivia Mathias and Lisa Tertsch and managing to avoid the worst of the congestion. 

Jeanne Lehair was also cutting through the water at pace with Maya Kingma and Sian Rainsley, but it was USA’s Summer Rappaport who was up the beach first and on the run into transition. 

Race number one Beth Potter was 11 seconds back at this stage, Leonie Periault a further 6 off her, both with work to do if they were to get back in touch with the leaders. 

PACKS COME TOGETHER

By the end of lap one the packs had shuffled and seven seconds separated the first 14 athletes including now Potter, Emma Lombardi (FRA), Rosa Tapia (MEX) and Nina Eim (GER), Periault in 20th and pulling the chasers along with Tanja Neubert (GER) and Alissa Konig (SUI). 

With nobody taking control of the front riders, the chasers were able to keep chomping away on the gap and by the point-to-point section of the final fifth lap, the pack was now up to 28 bikers jostling for the good position into transition. 

It was Emma Lombardi and Lisa Tertsch who had found their way to the front, but Lehair and Beaugrand were slick into the shoes, Periault 5 seconds back with Tilda Mansson (SWE). 

BEAUGRAND PULLS OUT HUGE FINAL PUSH

Beaugrand and Lombardi went straight to the front of the run, Mathias and Potter on their shoulders, but it wasn’t long before the Olympic Champion was back at the front pursued by Lombardi. 

By the second half of lap one, Lehair hit the front and was setting the pace to try and book out her rivals, Potter and Taylor Spivey unable to hold the pace and dropping 15 seconds back. 

Lehair was flying around the corners and put a small gap on Beaugrand at the bell with Lombardi 6 seconds back and Periault 11 seconds with a medal in her crosshairs. 

The third lap of three was another battle of wills as Lehair continued to lead Beaugrand, but it was a final surge from Beaugrand that proved decisive at the final turn there was nothing Lehair could do to prevent her rival come through, while behind it was Periault pipping Lombardi to the line. 

Beth Potter was home with fifth after a stirring finish, Eim, Spivey, Neubery, Mansson and Anna Godoy of Spain rounding out the top ten.

JEANNE LEHAIR:
'I told to myself that this morning I wrote a mental note to myself saying 'don't run in front'. I knew Cassandre would be very hard to beat but I thought that maybe this strategy would be good. At the end, clearly no, but I really tried everything I could. At some point at the beginning of the run I thought that I would finish 4th behind the three French girls, but I managed to step in between them, so Im happy. On the bike, I was trying to stay in front to be in a good position for the transition, but I am very happy in general with my race. I had a great swim, great run and OK bike!'

LEONIE PERIAULT: 
'I am very sorry for Emma because she was again 4th. But I am very happy with my run today. My swim was not good and the bike really hard, but finally the last KM I thought lets go for a podium at home. And I managed to do it, and felt the support of the crowds all the time.'

Full results can be found here.