France’s Leonie Periault produced a race-defining run surge on the first lap of the 5km run at WTCS Hamburg, breaking her teammate Cassandre Beaugrand’s challenge  in the process as the Olympic and World Champion had to settle for silver.

The rain had held off until the end of the bike, but even as the heavens opened on the closing stages of the race, Periault looked completely at home, backing up her lightning run in Alghero with another impressive kick, Beth Potter with the bronze just as she had looked close to reeling in her rival.

'This is a very beautiful day, I feel amazing,' said Periault of her second Series win. 'I have no words. The weather is terrible but for me it's a beautiful day. For the first time, the swim for me was very good. In the bike I didn't feel great because we had a very large group, just too many people, but then on the run I just felt great again and went for it.' 

There was huge expectation on race number one and home favourite Lisa Tertsch as the athletes lined up on the edge of Hamburg’s imposing Binnenalster Lake, but there was little sign of nerves as she and Italy’s Bianca Seregni drilled the 750m swim, 14 seconds of daylight behind them to chasers Cassandre Beaugrand and Jeanne Lehair. 

Then it was Belgium’s Jolien Vermeylen, Ana Godoy of Spain and Britain’s Beth Potter following them up the ramp, Periault some 24 seconds back but still in 10th, Gwen Jorgensen, Tilda Mansson and Taylor Spivey just over 30 seconds off the front. 

Tertsch didn’t hang around on the bike, either. As Seregni waited to be caught, the German was suddenly 10 seconds clear of the field, but the advantage was quickly reeled in on lap two as Annika Koch (GER) and Kate Waugh (GBR) took charge of things out front. 

Promising French youngster Ilona Hadhoum – Junior World Champion on this course two years ago - was enjoying her time at the front of the pack, before the experienced figure of Beaugrand made her way to the head. Eva Goodison (NZL) and Emma Jeffcoat (AUS) also pressing hard as nearly the entire field came together for the closing stages of the 20km ride, the in-form Carolina Velasquez (COL) and Roksana Slupek (POL) unfortunate to come off and end their challenges. 

Into transition for the second time it was Tertsch who positioned herself perfectly to come off the bike first, Jeanne Lehair also well set, but there looked to be little anyone could do as Beaugrand strode her way quickly to the front of the run and began to gap her rivals.

Unlike last year, however, she had the in-form Periault to contend with. In a flash, the French star was alongside her teammate and then just as quickly pulling clear, Beaugrand unable to respond to the surge and reduced to spectator as the leader drew away. 

Into third was Jolien Vermeylen (BEL), looking right in her groove just a week after silver in the Tiszaujvaros World Cup. It was the Belgian who put together the fastest first half of the 5km run, but it wasn’t enough to keep Periault in contact, the 30-year-old digging in over the last lap to deliver her first gold since Yokohama 2024. 

The final margin of victory of 4 seconds but did little to reflect Periault’s dominance, Beaugrand having to pull a final kick from the fire to hold of Beth Potter three seconds back, Vermeylen in 4th.

A brilliant 5th place went to Sweden’s flying Tilda Mansson, GB's Kate Waugh in 6th ahead of Lehair, Emma Lombardi (FRA), Tertsch and Taylor Spivey (USA). 

CASSANDRE BEAUGRAND
'I didn't feel like that for a very long time. Today I have really emptied the tank, I have nothing left. I don't know what happened to me for the first time, but when Leonie passed me I didn't have another gear. It doesn't happen that often but here we are. I am happy that it was Leonie who beat me today. My goal was just to stay at the front on the bike, to avoid accidents, and I put a lot of energy on that, maybe too much, but I stayed safe. It might have taken a bit too much of energy from me but I am really happen with second today.'

BETH POTTER
'I think I made some mistakes today which cost me a place in the podium but I am working on getting my confidence back and this result today helps. To be back in the podium, Im happy with that. I executed most things really well and I am happy with my run.'