For the third time this season, Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) proved equal to everything a world-class field could summon. Reigning world champions threw the kitchen sink and then some at the Olympic champion across the swim, bike and run at WTCS London, but Beaugrand had an answer to everything. With this gold accompanying her wins in Alghero and Quiberon, her charge to reclaim her 2024 world title is gathering pace.
“I was not very confident on the swim because I think I had one of my worst swims ever,” she said afterwards. “I thought I was having a very bad day when I was swimming. I just had no speed; I was very sleepy. I had to wake up on the bike, and luckily my run is still here from two weeks ago. It was still good and I’m very happy.”
It was indeed a swim to forget for Beaugrand as she emerged in 25th place and 30 seconds behind the pacesetter. Leading the way was Tilly Anema (GBR), alongside recent Tiszaujvaros World Cup winner Fanni Szalai (HUN), who clocked 9:37 for the 750m. Ominously, Szalai was followed out by her Tiszaujvaros breakaway partner, Edmonton World Cup winner and 2024 T100 world champion Taylor Knibb (USA).
Knibb would take the lead out of T1 with the likes of Bianca Seregni (ITA), Jeanne Lehair (LUX), Sophie Evans (GBR) and Anema in close pursuit. If Beaugrand thought she would have an easy time joining the leaders, however, she was mistaken.
Knibb blasted off the front with Anema; much as Beaugrand was hunting a third straight win, the American was in pursuit of a third straight breakaway-driven medal. The two leaders put on a masterclass, riding away from Evans, Szalai, Seregni, Lehair and Lisa Tertsch (GER) in the immediate chase. Yet Anema would unfortunately crash, leaving Knibb alone.
As the chasers coalesced into a pack of over thirty women, with Beaugrand among their number, they were able to contain Knibb to a 21-second advantage by the end of the bike. A group of Beaugrand, Tertsch, Tilda Månsson (SWE), Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) and Emma Lombardi (FRA) then caught Knibb relatively early in the 5km run.
Pushes from WTCS Hamburg winner Leonie Periault (FRA) and WTCS Samarkand winner Beth Potter (GBR) saw them rise through the pack, but the action was all at the front as Beaugrand, Tertsch and Månsson surged ahead. With a kilometre to go, Tertsch, the reigning world champion, made her move and dropped Månsson. No matter what she threw at Beaugrand, though, the Frenchwoman would not budge.
As the finish line came into view, it was Tertsch that slowed and repeatedly looked over her shoulder as Beaugrand, two weeks removed from crushing a French record over the 3000m, found gears beyond her rivals. While this was London’s first appearance in the Series in over a decade, it should be noted that the past four winners of the event (in 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2011) all won that year’s world title. Based on this form, it is hard to see beyond Beaugrand making that five in a row.
Tertsch crossed for a strong silver medal, matching her best finish of the year, while Månsson was on hand to take 3rd. In doing so, she secured a fourth straight medal and moves within 5 points of the Series lead behind Potter.
Potter, Periault and Taylor-Brown followed with Knibb holding out for 7th place ahead of a fast-finishing Lehair. Once again, though, the day belonged to Beaugrand and the French star is now two wins away from a perfect season.