Incomparable Cassandre Beaugrand takes second place in the series, takes the lead and comes to Paris as favorite • World Triathlon

French star Cassandre Beaugrand was once again the woman who caused a stir at the World Triathlon Championship Series Hamburg. With a time of 15:20 minutes over the final 5 kilometers, she crossed the finish line just over 10 seconds ahead of Lisa Tertsch, with the German narrowly beating Briton Beth Potter in a thrilling finish.

Series leader Emma Lombardi was alongside Tertsch on the right side of the start line, but it was Swiss torpedo swimmer Therese Feuersinger who led the rapidly spreading field through the 750m swim and back to dry land.

Briton Olivia Mathias was also at the forefront on the ramp. Tertsch and Jeanne Lehair fired up the crowd with brilliant swimming performances, while Lombardi, Maya Kingma and Katie Zaferes were surprisingly further back.

A quartet consisting of Feuersinger, Tertsch, Mathias and Lehair began to pull away from the field before Britain’s Kate Waugh caught up with the pursuers; due to their pace, Jolien Vermeylen and Summer Rappapprt fell back at the back of the group.

Potter and Waugh led the leading group on the second lap, with Cathia Schar and Emma Lombardi increasing the pace in the chasing group as it came together.

With two laps to go, Feuersinger risked his luck and was able to gain a lead of a few valuable seconds, but nothing came of it, so that when the bell rang, a total of 26 athletes stood together and assessed each other for the upcoming 5 km run.

Maya Kingma had worked her way to the front as they approached T2, but a brilliant transition saw Tertsch, Lena Meissner (GER) and Brea Roderick (NZL) out first, but Beaugrand was also quickly in the lead, with Annika Koch (GER) and Lombardi, Waugh and Vermeylen, Potter and Schar all right up front.

Beaugrand then began to build up her own precious lead, while Waugh was forced to stop briefly due to a loose horseshoe, dropping her behind the leaders and effectively ending her medal chances.

At the bell, Lehair, Potter and Tertsch were 11 seconds ahead as Beaugrand looked to make a major Olympic statement two weeks before the home Games. Just when it looked like Potter had the silver medal in the bag, Tertsch stepped up a gear on the blue carpet and marched across the finish line, Potter with bronze, Lehair followed her in fourth place ahead of Emma Lombardi.

Lombardi soon made it a four-way battle for silver and was caught close to Potter’s shoulder as Lehair and Tertsch eased off, but the German struck back once again!!

Cassandre Beaugrand ignites the firepower of #WTCSHamburg to make a strong statement of intent ahead of the home games in Paris 2024!