The second WTCS event of the 2022 season makes it’s way to Leeds in a new and shorter version of the much-loved World Triathlon Series classic.
After nothing less than disaster struck in the men’s race with GB’s Yee and Brownlee’s hopes dashed in the swift and unforgiving bike course, the women’s race promised plenty more fast-paced racing.
Favourite out the bat was current Olympic and World Champion, Flora Duffy (BER), double Olympic medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown (GB), and Team GB’s Olympic reserve and last yea’s third
Cassandre Beaugrand leads at the early stages of the swim while Bermuda’s Flora Duffy leads out a second parallel swim pack alongside. Once they passed the first buoy, the groups merged with Duffy sliding in into sixth place in the chaser pack including with the USA’s Taylor Spivey.
Out the swim first was French superstar Cassandre Beaugrand with Coldwell hot on her heels and silver medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown in 11th position 9s behind.
The first of four laps on the 20km bike course saw a lead group of reigning Olympic and World Champion Flora Duffy, with GB’s Sophie Coldwell caught by Taylor Spivey to form a solid first pack.
Hot in pursuit was Germany’s Laura Lindemann and Britain’s Beth Potter, who were soon caught by silver medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown, fresh from her win at Yokohama last month.
The Bermudian can’t keep the pace however, losing touch of the lead group in the second lap of five and leaving the front two to battle it out.
By the end of lap three, the two frontrunners boasted a huge lead of 40s, with a gigantic chaser pack headed by Georgia Taylor-Brown having swallowing up Flora Duffy who moved down to sixth.
Last year’s winner Maya Kingma (NED) sits safe in the 22-strong chase pack, alongside Britain’s Beth Potter and Sian Rainsley, plus swim leader Cassandre Beaugrand, Laura Lindemann (GER), and Rachel Klamer (GER).
It’s not all fun and games though with Coldwell powering up the hill out of transition to drop Spivey straight away at the start of the 5km run. A busy T2 saw the chasing pack coming through 20s later, with Taylor-Brown gliding through in fourth and Duffy having moved down the ranks to 13th.
A blunder from Beaugrand spelled disaster for the French athlete, who mounted her bike just before the line and gained herself a 10s penalty, effectively taking her out of contention.
Knowing she has to take the penalty, Beaugrand powered ahead in the second run lap hoping to create enough of a lead to stay in contention. Meanwhile, Georgia Taylor-Brown overtakes Coldwell into second place with Spivey falling off the back into fourth.
As it often does in these races, it was down to the wire between the British duo out in front, with Taylor-Brown inching past Coldwell in the final few minutes.
Despite having to take her 10s penalty, Beaugrand retains enough of a lead to sprint to the finish ahead of the British athletes with a winning time of 59:03. Taking silver was Georgia Taylor-Brown and in bronze was Sophie Coldwell.
Top image: (Photo by Jack Thomas/Getty Images)