The manner of Cassandre Beaugrand’s win at Paris 2024 belies the sheer grit and resolve it took to earn that Olympic title. The margin looked somewhat comfortable as she soaked up her blue carpet moment, but the effects of the 10km battle that had raged and subsequent physical and emotional exhaustion was obvious as she lay crumpled over the finish line.
On 19 October in Torremolinos, the 27-year-old has the opportunity to do what only the great Flora Duffy has managed before: win the women’s world and Olympic titles in the same year.
As a sign of how far Beaugrand has propelled triathlon in France, finishing 2023 with the overall season silver made her the first Frenchwoman ever to secure a Series podium. In Paris, she overcame huge pressure to become not just the country’s first Olympic Champion but its first individual Olympic medallist of any colour. History maker. Cool as a cucumber. Now one win away from the perfect year.
Three race results plus those earned at the Finals count towards the final point totals - use this handy simulator to figure out who needs what to win. You can, as always, watch all the action on TriathlonLive.tv.
BEAUGRAND RISING TO THE OCCASION
Make no mistake – when Cassandre Beaugrand is on, she is a force of nature. Wins in WTCS Cagliari, WTCS Hamburg and Paris 2024 have left her with a 100% record and a 114 point lead in the rankings.
But nobody is immune to the uncontollables of Olympic-distance triathlon. In Pontevedra last year, going into the Finals as number one with a slender 32-point lead, cramps over the first half of the run allowed Beth Potter a window that she took full advantage of. The Brit put 30 seconds into Beaugrand over the 10km and became World Champion. The rivalry was ignited once more.
This time around, gold or silver in Torremolinos will confirm Beaugrand as World Champion. But also this time around, 312 points separates the top four in the rankings. In 2023, it was nearly 400 from 1st to 3rd, meaning every place counts and the impact of over a dozen athletes on the title race becomes magnified.
TOUGH TRIO OF IMMEDIATE CHALLENGERS
Leading the charge is defending champion and Olympic bronze medallist Beth Potter. The Brit may have lost the winning habit that seemed to come so naturally last year, but she will be racing free this time around. Equally, only a win is likely to be sufficient to secure a second title. Combine that with a raw competitive instinct and we should see fireworks in Spain once again.
Then there is the equally fierce spirit of Germany’s Lisa Tertsch. Just 25-years-old, she has found the form of her life in 2024, propelling Germany to Olympic Mixed Relay gold and landing an individual top 10 despite crashing on the bike. Victory in WTCS Weihai has left Tertsch just 18 points behind Potter and in the same position of needing a win and Beaugrand to finish third or lower to win what would be a remarkable world title.
France’s Emma Lombardi lies in wait in fourth. A first win at this level for the 23-year-old, fifth or lower for Beaugrand, fourth for Potter and third for Tertsch and the title would be hers.
BIG PLAYERS AND PRIZE PURSES
From there, the odds of being crowned World Champion lengthen considerably for Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR), Jeanne Lehair (LUX), Kate Waugh (GBR) and Leonie Periault (FRA), but a Series podium and a huge impact on the race remain perfectly possible. Add in German powerhouses Nina Eim and Annika Koch, American trio Gwen Jorgensen, Kirsten Kasper and Summer Rappaport, Rachel Klamer (NED) and Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal (MEX) and there are some big names capable of dramatically tipping the balance of the Series one way or another.
Gold in the Championship Finals is worth USD30,000, silver $20,000, bronze $15,000. Winning the Series and the world title is worth a whopping $70,000. The Series runner up receives $40,000 and the third place $26,000. Plenty to play for across what is a stacked Championship Finals start list.
Join us on 19 October when the start horn sounds at 15:35 local time in Torremolinos. It’s going to be one for the ages, and you can get your Pay-Per-View pass for the four-day Championship Finals HERE.
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