Cassandre Beaugrand regains world triathlon crown

Cassandre Beaugrand is world champion again after reclaiming the women’s title in Pontevedra. The French Olympic champion, who lost last season’s crown to Lisa Tertsch, secured the second world championship of her career with victory in the season finale.

A podium would have been enough for Beaugrand to finish ahead of Beth Potter, Tilda Mansson and Tertsch in the overall standings, but she controlled the race from the early stages. She stayed with the leading group after the 1,500-metre swim, then reached the 10-kilometre run among eight athletes following the 40-kilometre cycling section.

Beaugrand established her advantage alongside Georgia Taylor-Brown after the transition and increased it by about 20 seconds on each 3,300-metre lap. She finished more than a minute clear of Taylor-Brown, with Kate Waugh third. Potter placed fourth, around two minutes behind the winner, while Tertsch finished ninth.

The result put Potter second overall and Taylor-Brown third, with Tertsch dropping out of the top three. Beaugrand had already won the WTCS events in Alghero, Quiberon, London and Weihai in her four previous appearances this season. France also placed Léonie Périault eighth and Emma Lombardi 14th in Pontevedra.