Three-stages of intense, dramatic
super-sprint racing saw New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde and France's Cassandre
Beaugrand come out on top to win their second WTCS Hamburg titles on Saturday
afternoon in front of packed crowds that included the IOC President Thomas
Bach.
The course was demanding, tight and
technical, the physical and mental pressures of completing three super-sprint
triathlons unlike anything else on the Series circuit, and Wilde and Beaugrand
went about their racing with impeccable power and precision to take home the
titles and precious points towards the overall Series titles.
Men's Report
Wilde had toiled in the first stage,
having to do plenty of work on the bike to try and keep out of the pressure pit
of the back of the race knowing only the top 20 would survive to stage two.
Jelle Geens and Matthew McElroy were
among the first ten names eliminated, Vetle Bergvik Thorn likewise after a
dismount line penalty cost him a place and saw Roberto Sanchez Mantecon through
in 20th.
The second round was less frantic,
though the pace was every bit as intense as Wilde again had to come from the
back of the swim but found himself looking happier in the main bike group as 10
more names were shaved from the start list of the final round. Marten Van Riel,
Manoel Messias and Tayler Reid were among the ten to go, the remaining names
knowing that gold was within reach.
Blummenfelt bullet train
That was when Kristian Blummenfelt
tried to wreck the legs of those around him with a dynamite bike display after
Csongor Lehmann had led from the swim, but it was again Wilde who played his
hand perfectly, sweeping the final bend and gaining precious seconds over the
likes of Hauser, Yee and Blummenfelt that he then doubled thanks to a fluid
transition, suddenly opening a gap that those behind could do nothing about.
That left a 1.75km run to glory for
Wilde, his first lap clocking in 2 seconds quicker than Yee and enough of a
margin for him to enjoy the blue carpet and the first time he had beaten Yee at
a WTCS.
Vasco Vilaça was able to out-sprint
Alex Yee to the silver, Blummenfelt taking fourth and Matthew Hauser fifth.
All of which sees Vasco Vilaça
retaining his overall Series lead, Wilde moving ominously into second, Hauser
sitting in third place with just WTCS Sunderland, the Paris test Event and the
World Triathlon Championship Finals Pontevedra remaining in the Series.
HAYDEN WILDE
“I had to do some work in that first
round and the legs weren’t feeling too good but I was a bit more relaxed in the
second out front, but my tactic was always to try and get a couple of seconds
swinging round into transition and get away,” said Hayden Wilde. “It was a bit
of a gamble and I normally fumble a bit in T2 then it was just keep pushing and
keep pushing and got the win. Everyone’s upping their game and starting that
race it was always going to be difficult to get it done.
VASCO VILAÇA
“I’m not sure you can call it short
distance when we’ve been here for three hours, but we got a bit of a break in
the middle, it’s a long session, a long time under pressure not just physically
but mentally as well,” said Vasco Vilaça. “This year has been amazing, better
than I could have expected. This is where I want to be and I’m still missing
that win but it’s the third podium this season and I’m very happy with it.
Kristian was killing my legs on the bike and I could feel Alex’s shadow on that
finish chute and went into another dimension to get the sprint and the finish!”
ALEX YEE
“It’s crazy this racing. I really
enjoy it but it’s carnage, admitted Alex Yee. “Once you get to that last ten
just racing against your mates it’s really enjoyable, Kristian doing a madness
on the bike and my legs were in tatters, but it’s great racing. I’m very much
preparing for Olympic distance at the moment so to come down to this was
madness, but I loved it.”
Women's Report
It was something of a Super-Sprint
masterclass from France’s Cassandre Beaugrand on Saturday afternoon as she
produced three peerless stages of WTCS Hamburg finals to win the gold and the
format’s first ever women’s World Championship title.
With the fastest swim of anyone on
the 30-deep start list for the first stage, Beaugrand was able to make the most
of the clear water while behind was a melee of arms and legs through the dark
tunnel. Laura Lindemann was never far from Beaugrand’s feet, Zsanett Bragmayer
likewise, and soon that trio was joined by Beth Potter and carving through the
city streets for the three-lap bike.
By the bell there were 18 athletes
together and looking safe, though Lisa Tertsch had to serve a penalty that
would cost her a place in the second round after failing to clip into her
helmet before heading off on the bike.
Solveig Lovseth, Natalie Van
Coevorden and Gwen Jorgensen were among the further nine names unable to
progress, while Germany still had five women in the hunt for the medals with
Lindemann; Annika Koch, Marlene Gomez-Goggel, Lena Meissner and the lucky last
to make it, Anabel Knoll.
Vermeylen crushes run, Linn retires
injured
Beaugrand and Lindemann would again
dominate the second round from the outset, this time there was transition drama
with Katie Zaferes taking a tumble off the bike to end her chances, Sophie Linn
injuring her foot in a bike wheel and forced to retire from the race.
Meanwhile Jolien Vermeylen was once
more in flying form on the run and able to pick her way into the top 10 at the
expense of Jeanne Lehair and Rachel Klamer, Nicole Van Der Kaay and Cathia
Schar also through to the final 10 along with Taylor Spivey and Summer
Rappaport.
Beaugrand’s final flight
That brought the second day of action
and the WTCS Hamburg title for 2023 down to one race between the ten fastest
women, and it was Lindemann firing up the crowds with a strong swim, the pack
failing to break up and all ten pouring into transition together.
Cathia Schar was first to drop off
the back but soon back in business and would be first out of T2 with Beth
Potter, only for Beaugrand to go through the gears and find her flow one final
time, opening an advantage and then pulling away so that by the bell there was
little doubt she was on the way to another glittering Hamburg gold.
Beth Potter hung tough in second to
ensure silver was hers, Lindemann making a popular podium for the home crowds
who could then cheer Annika Koch and Marlene Gomez-Goggel across the line for
the duo’s career-best finishes.
CASSANDRE BEAUGRAND
“I think I wanted it so much, Ive
been training so hard for this and just really wanted this one,” said a
thrilled Cassandre Beaugrand. “Today my transitions saved me a bit, I’m really
happy with that. The 1500m is my strength, I’m very comfortable with it and
that distance suited me.”
BETH POTTER
“Cassandre was always going to be
hard to beat,” said Beth Potter. “I’m proud of how I stuck it out and got
through the race. I enjoy the format, and enjoy that kind of racing, it was
good fun. I got lucky today in the water and was back where I feel like I
belong and didn’t have any trouble in the swim today.”
LAURA LINDEMANN
“It’s amazing to race here in Hamburg
on home soil and I had so much fun,” said Laura Lindemann. “My plan was to stay
out front but I was very tired going into that final race, the crowd was
amazing though, it was awesome.”
The full results can be found here. https://triathlon.org/results/result/2023_world_triathlon_sprint_relay_championships_hamburg?mc_cid=cbbcc97286&mc_eid=6139649918
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