Cassandre Beaugrand issued a resounding statement at the weekend, cementing the notion that beating her will be a gargantuan task this season. Only a day later, however, one of her biggest rivals landed their riposte. Meanwhile, there were noteworthy performances from multiple rising talents on different sides of the planet. Across World Cups, Continental Cups and more, find out what you might have missed at the weekend with this week’s Monday Morning Mix.
Americas Cup La Paz
World Junior Championships silver medallist Reese Vannerson (USA) surged to the second senior win of his career at the Americas Cup in La Paz, Mexico. A solid swim put him within 5 seconds of the leaders heading into T1, and from there he remained at the head of the race. The field would come back together on the bike but it was Vannerson’s T2 that proved the point of separation.
His time of 10 seconds was the joint-fastest of the field and made him one of three men to clock under 15 seconds. Thereafter, he made no mistake over the sprint distance 5km run, clocking 14:11. Osvaldo Darell Zuñiga Fierro (MEX) took silver after matching Vannerson’s run split, the difference in T2 ultimately proving decisive. Sullivan Middaugh (USA) then won an intense four-way sprint for bronze.
World Cup gold medallist Anahi Alvarez Corral (MEX) was too good for the women’s field on the run as she led a home sweep of the podium. Her run split of 15:41 was over 50 seconds better than the next fastest runner, handing Alvarez a commanding victory. Maria López Faraudo (MEX), the young recent winner of the La Habana Americas Cup, came home in 2nd place while the experienced Cecilia Perez rounded out the podium. You can see the full results here.
Africa Cup Swakopmund
Over in Namibia, Rachel Klamer (NED) and Panagiotis Bitados (GRE) made it two in a row as they won at the Africa Cup in Swakopmund. Both had prevailed a fortnight earlier at the Africa Cup in Troutbeck. Klamer had a little more company this time round after her dominant performance in Zimbabwe. In Swakopmund, the WTCS gold medallist rode with a pack of four on the bike before putting them to the sword on the run. Bridget Theunissen (RSA) and Finja Schierl (GER) then secured 2nd and 3rd place, respectively, from the lead pack.
In the men’s race, Bitados was the first out of the water (clocking 8:47 for the 750m swim) before also riding as part of a lead quartet. His run split of 14:28 was likewise the fastest of the day and handed him the win by 30 seconds. The German duo of Justus Nieschlag and Valentin Wernz then rounded out the podium from the front group. View the full results here.
Africa Junior Cup Swakopmund
It was rinse and repeat for Nicholas Horne (RSA) too as he backed up his Troutbeck victory with a win at the Africa Junior Cup in Swakopmund. Horne lost over a minute to compatriot Antony Clayton in the swim, but made it up on the bike. Out of T2, he ripped a 15:10 5km run split to win the race in comfort. Clayton took the silver medal while the bronze went to Nathan Max Centlivres Chase of Namibia.
In a smaller women’s field, Lomé Gouws (RSA) won thanks to a bike effort that was almost 2 minutes quicker than her nearest rival. Kadence Ribbink (RSA), the winner of the Junior Cup in Troutbeck, was next home while Maja Jeanne Brinkmann (NAM) claimed the bronze medal. View the full results here.
Lievin Indoor Triathlon World Cup
And of course, how could we forget the drama of the T1 Indoor Triathlon World Cup. Henry Graf (GER) and Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) took the wins with similar breakaway performances in their respective finals.
Graf has started this season like a bat out of hell and already looks like he might become the focal point of the German men’s team throughout this Olympic cycle. As with Vannerson for Team USA, his will be a name that will most likely pop up at an increasing rate over the coming years. Antoine Duval (FRA) and Mitch Kolkman (NED) took silver and bronze as they downed heavy pre-race favourite Hayden Wilde. You can catch the full replay of the action on TriathlonLive.
Laura Lindemann and Annika Koch earned silver and bronze for Team Germany in Lievin. However the day belonged to Beaugrand. Such was her performance level, it remains to be seen whether she will actually lose a race this year. Check out the full results from Lievin here.
Around the world
One athlete that looks ready to take the fight to Beaugrand is Beth Potter (GBR). The 2023 world champion and Olympic bronze medallist clocked 31:15 at the Pulford 10km in the UK. In doing so, she lopped off 50 seconds from her previous personal best, as per World Athletics. She therefore keeps pace with the emerging arms race of running speed in the sport after Leonie Periault dropped a 31:46 10km last month in Cannes. Crucially, with speed like that, Potter will certainly back herself in a contest with Beaugrand.
Elsewhere, Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) won Ironman 70.3 Geelong. This represents the first 70.3 win for the 2018 WTCS Abu Dhabi medallist. After qualifying for the Paris Olympic Games last summer, Van Coevorden made the decision to move away from short distance racing and already appears to be making quite the impact in her new discipline. At the same event, WTCS gold medallist and reigning Ironman 70.3 world champion Jelle Geens (BEL) struck gold ahead of fellow short course racers Jake Birtwhistle (AUS) and Tayler Reid (NZL).