After the shit, the show. On a day where crowds were at least 10-deep along the banks of the Seine, Cassandre Beaugrand delighted home fans with a thrilling victory in the women’s triathlon, while Beth Potter took bronze for Great Britain.
It was a gold medal made in Paris, where Beaugrand was born, but also honed in Loughborough where she trains. Afterwards she credited that move to England two years ago with helping her to cope with the wet conditions as she won in a time of 1hr 54min 55sec.
“I just can’t believe it,” said Beaugrand, 27, who admitted she never used to like riding in the wet stuff. “I want someone to pinch me right now. I moved to Loughborough, so I am used to riding in the rain now. It took me out of my comfort zone. The English people helped me a lot, so thanks to them.”
This was the first time a Brownlee brother has not competed in an Olympic triathlon since 2008, but Alistair was part of the team that helped to coach Potter, who was delighted with her result. “I am just so happy,” said Potter, who switched to triathlon after coming 34th in the 10,000m for Team GB in the Rio Games in 2016. “I was going for the gold but Cassandre and Julie were just too good. I have come a long way in eight years.”
The Swiss athlete Julie Derron took silver, six seconds back. Of the other British women, Georgia Taylor-Brown was sixth, while Kate Waugh was 15th.
Questions about faecal matter in the Seine had dominated the buildup to the triathlon at these Olympic Games. But after the race was given the all-clear at 2am local time to go ahead, the triathletes quickly became preoccupied with other issues. Heavy overnight rain had made the current in the Seine tricky in which to swim – while the 40km bike course, with its many cobbles, was now hugely slippery.
With no practice allowed in the Seine on Sunday and Monday because of the high E coli levels, there was no way to learn its peculiar whims and wiles.
But the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist, Bermuda’s Flora Duffy, worked out quicker than most where to best position herself as she climbed out of the water first in 22min 5sec.
However, the Britons were not far behind as they went on to the bike course, which proved to be even more devilish than the swim.
With the bike route 27% covered in cobbles, it was tricky enough. But the wet paint on the zebra crossings was especially slippery and led to crashes galore.
By the time the triathletes entered the run, a group of eight – including Potter and Taylor-Brown – were clear and fighting for the medals. Duffy was the first to slip back. Then Taylor-Brown began to drift off. Now only four women were left chasing the medals with three laps to go.
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The 32-year-old Potter initially looked strong and tracked every move that the gutsy Derron was making. But when Beaugrand made her push halfway through the final lap it proved decisive.
