She came. She saw. She conquered. Cassandre Beaugrand, the reigning Olympic and World champion, solidified her status as an indoor triathlon powerhouse by dominating the T1 Lievin Indoor Triathlon Cup. Her impressive performance thrilled the local crowds, who filled the arena to witness her remarkable journey to victory. The Frenchwoman triumphed in her heat, semi-final, and final, standing tall on the podium alongside the German duo of Laura Lindemann and Annika Koch.
As the race unfolded, Cassandre proved unbeatable in the pool during her heat and semi-final. However, during the final, she faced fierce competition from two formidable swimmers: Zuzana Michalickova (SVK) and Jolien Vermeylen (BEL). The three exited the pool with a slight lead, but the German contingent, which had five representatives in the final, was determined to catch them.
Nina Eim, Annika Koch, Anabel Knoll, Laura Lindemann, and Julia Brocker were relentless in their pursuit, working together to close the gap. Yet, Cassandre had no intention of letting them gain ground. As they reached the second transition, Beaugrand unleashed her impressive running speed, proving once again she was the fastest athlete in the field. Her 1km run resembled an imperial march, as she was cheered on by thousands of enthusiastic spectators until she crossed the finish line with a triumphant smile, a full seven seconds ahead of the competition.
Behind her, Zuzana unfortunately faded and lost her podium position, while Vermeylen held on valiantly against the advancing German squad led by Lindemann. With just two laps to go, the Mixed Relay Olympic gold medallist moved into second place, and Annika Koch followed suit, pushing Vermeylen out of podium contention, leaving her to finish in a disappointing fourth place.
Fifth place went to Nina Eim, followed closely by Lena Meibner, Nora Gmur (SUI), Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal (MEX), Sara Guerrero (ESP), and Cathia Schar, rounding out the top ten. Cassandre's victory not only reaffirms her elite status in the sport but also sets the stage for an exciting season ahead.