The goal of the day for everyone lining of for the 2025 T1 Indoor Triathlon Cup Lievin was to make it directly to the semi-finals spending the less energy possibly, and all the big names delivered. Cassandre Beaugrand, Hayden Wilde, Laura Lindemann, Henry Graf, Jolien Vermeylen or Chase McQueen were among the ones booking tickets for the semi-finals that will take place on the same evening.
Men's Qualifiers
Hayden Wilde (NZL) made it clear in the first Heat that he is the man to beat here in Lievin, but without going full gas on the run to try to save some energy for the semi-finals and, potentially, the final this evening. Crossing the finish line right behind the double Olympic medallist was James Edgar (IRL). Mateo Vidal (FRA), Harry Leleu (GBR) and Ian Pennekamp (NED) -who served a 5secs penalty for mount line- also book direct tickets to the semi-finals.
On the second Heat, the race was a bit more contested with a big group making it together to the last transition. The top three athletes - Euan de Nigro (ITA), Mitch Kolkmann (NED) and Gyula Kovacs (HUN) crossed the finish line almost at the same time while Sasha Caterina (SUI) and Antoine Duval (FRA) grabbed the last two spots.
Heat number 3 was, on paper, the toughest one to get a direct pass to the semi-finals, so when a group of four athletes - Gaspar Tharreau (FRA), Chase McQueen (USA), Yanis Seguin (FRA) and Thomer Shapira (ISR)- opened a significant gap on the lead, only one athlete decided to fight for the last direct spot on the semis, Jawad Abdelmoula (MAR) with the rest jogging until crossing the finish line. . , and a group of four athletes. Two of the ones to watch for the men's race, Genis Grau (ESP) and Hamish Reilly (GBR), had to go to the Repechage.
Henry Graf delivered a perfect race on Heat 4, being the first one out of the pool, riding solo for the 14 laps of the bike and crossing the finish line in first place. Behind him, Jack Willis (GBR), David Lang (LUX), Nathan Grayel (FRA) and Leo Fernandez (FRA) book themselves tickets for the semi-finals.
Heat 5 was the most contested, with Adrien Briffod (SUI) crossing the finish line in first place, followed by Sachar Sagiv (ISR), Tom Richard (FRA), Pablo Isotton (FRA) and Izan Edo Aguilar (ESP) following him and all within three seconds of a difference.
Womens Heats
Cassandre Beaugrand has Lievin at her feet, and she deliver an incredible first race to make it clear that she wants this victory. She led out of the pool wich such a margin that she jumped on her bike when the rest of the field was still getting out of the water. She started lapping athletes on the second lap of the bike and would have continued if it was not for a big group that was not easy to pass on a track. But as soon as the French woman was on her running shoes, she opened again a significant gap to cross the finish line smiling while almost jogging. Behind her, Lena Meibner (GER), Cathia Schar (SUI), Nele Dequae (BEL) and Maria Casals Mojica (ESP) also qualified for the semi-finals.
On the second Heat, Nina Eim (GER) and Julia Brocker (GER) showed great bike-run skills to grab direct spots on the semis, similar to Vanessa Posberg (SUI), Sandra Dodet (FRA) and Margot Garabedian (CAM).
Another German one and two on Heat 3 saw Anabel Knoll and Annika Koch securing spots on the semis for themselves. Along with them was Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal (MEX), proving that she is one to fear when it comes to running on a track. Robin Dreijling (NED) and Maria teresa Jimenez-Orta Guerrero (ESP) rounded the top five with direct passes to the semi-finals.
Nora Gmur (SUI) din't want any surprises on her Heat and decided to go full gas and open a significant gap as soon as she was on her running shoes. Marta Pintanel Raymundo (ESP), Zuzana Michalickova (CZE), Rune Vansteenkiste (BEL) and Appoline Foltz (FRA) also qualified on this Heat.
The last Heat of the women's race saw Jolien Vermeylen (BEL) securing a spot on the semis, followed by Laura Lindemann (GER), Sara Guerrero Manso (ESP), Franka Rust (GER) y Avi Levi (ISR).