World Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships 2023: Hayden Wilde and Cassandre Beaugrand claim Super Sprint world titles in Hamburg
Olympic bronze medallist Wilde used a quick second transition and early burst in the run to take the men's crown, before Frenchwoman Beaugrand powered to victory.
Triathlon
Hayden Wilde and Cassandre Beaugrand were victorious in the Super Sprint World Championship triathlon finals in Hamburg on Saturday (15 July).
IOC President Thomas Bach was in the crowd, and on hand to give out the medals to the athletes who had raced three times on the day.
The Super Sprint format comprises a 300m swim followed by a 7.5km bike ride and a 1.75km run.
On Saturday, 31 athletes contested Stage 1 in both the men's and women's competitions with the top 20 going through to Stage 2, and then the top 10 progressing to Stage 3 where the medals were decided.
The men went first with Hungary's Csongor Lehmann leading after the swim.
But all 10 were together ahead of the run despite reigning Olympic champion Kristian Blummenfelt pushing the pace at the front with Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Wilde joining him just before the second transition.
And it was Wilde who broke away on the first lap of the two-lap run, opening up a gap of five seconds on the rest of the field headed by Vasco Vilaça of Portugal, Britain's double Olympic medallist Alex Yee and Blummenfelt.
The New Zealander was able to stay clear and, despite a few nervous glances over his shoulder on the approach to the finish, crossed the line in 19:26 to take victory.
Vilaça just outsprinted Yee for second, two seconds behind, with Blummenfelt in fourth place.
Beaugrand cruises clear to take women's title
In the women's finale, Laura Lindemann led after the swim and was at the sharp end on the bike along with Britain's Beth Potter who won the Sprint event in Montreal last month.
Swiss youngster Cathia Schär lost touch early on in the cycle, but worked her back to the pack before taking a turn on the front.
When the run started, however, it was Beaugrand - who had looked supremely strong in winning Stage 2 - who made her move.
She quickly opened up a lead on Potter and had time to collect a French 'Tricolore' from the crowd before breaking the tape in 21:35.
Potter was 10 seconds back with Lindemann taking third ahead of fellow Germans Annika Koch and Marlene Gomez-Göggel.
Beaugrand, who reached the 1500m final at the 2014 World Junior Athletics Championships, said afterwards, "I think I wanted it so much... I just wanted to win today. The last month, I've been training hard.
"Today, my transitions saved me a bit. Last year they cost me a lot. My strength is the 1500. It's what I was doing on the track. I have so much pleasure doing that."
Earlier on Stage 1, Australia's Sophie Linn pulled up with a leg injury with USA's Rio 2016 Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen also failing to make the top 20.
The World Championship mixed relay, with four Paris 2024 quota spots going to the winners - two men, two women - if their NOC has not already qualified for the Games, takes place on Sunday.
Games hosts France and Great Britain, by virtue of their second to France at last year's Mixed Relay World Championships in Montreal, are already in the Paris line-up.
2023 Super Sprint World Championship women's podium (L-R): runner-up Beth Potter, winner Cassandre Beaugrand, third-place Laura Lindemann
Results from the men's Super Sprint World Championship triathlon in Hamburg, 15 July 2023
- Hayden Wilde (NZL) 19:26
- Vasco Vilaca (POR) +2"
- Alex Yee (GBR) +2"
- Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) +6"
- Matthew Hauser (AUS) +7"
- Max Studer (SUI) +12"
- Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) +15"
- Tim Hellwig (GER) +18"
- Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN) +21"
- Csongor Lehmann (HUN) +26"
Results from the women's Super Sprint World Championship triathlon in Hamburg, 15 July 2023
- Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) 21:35
- Beth Potter (GBR) +10"
- Laura Lindemann (GER) +12"
- Annika Koch (GER) +17"
- Marlene Gomez-Göggel (GER) +20"
- Nicole Van der Kaay (NZL) +22"
- Taylor Spivey (USA) +24"
- Cathia Schär (SUI) +25"
- Jolien Vermeylen (BEL) +32"
- Summer Rappaport (USA) +55"
World Triathlon Sprint and Relay Championships 2023 schedule
Friday 14 July
08:00: Elite - Men Super Sprint (qualifiers)
10:00: Elite - Women Super Sprint (qualifiers)
19:00 - Elite - Men/Women Super Sprint (repechage)
Saturday 15 July
19:40 - Elite Men/Women Super Sprint World Championships finals
Sunday 16 July
14:15 - Elite - Mixed Relay World Championships