Search
shop

Cassandre Beaugrand on France’s Olympic countdown: ‘We’re closing on the Brits’

She's enjoyed plenty of big-race wins in 2023 but it's two near-misses which still rankle with French short-course star.
News Director
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Cassandre Beaugrand is currently enjoying a well-deserved break after signing off her season with another impressive victory on the Super League Championship finale in Neom.

The French star has racked up the wins again as she continues her build to next year’s Paris Olympics where she will be one of the big favourites as part of a formidable French team which she feels is starting to rival the strength in depth of the British women.

Advertisement

So close to the overall win

Beaugrand raced just the two SLT events – Malibu and Neom – and won them both, while she also collected impressive WTCS victories in Hamburg and Sunderland.

But it was two near misses – in the Paris Test Event and then the Grand Final in Pontevedra, which were both won by Britain’s Beth Potter as she became world champion – which left Beaugrand with mixed feelings about the campaign as a whole.

Speaking to TRI247 she said: “My coach asked me at the start of the season what my big goal was and I said to qualify for the Olympics [her runner-up spot in the Test Event did that, though she has to validate it in 2024].

“But also in my mind, I was hoping to try to get closer to the World Series podium because I was fifth last year in the overall.

“So when I was doing well and leading the series going into Pontevedra, I was really motivated and thinking that I could do it.

“Being so close to the win meant it was a mix of a bit of disappointment and also happiness because I finished a close second and I was struggling in both Paris and in Pontevedra with cramps. So I was a bit frustrated because I couldn’t go harder in the run at the end.”

Cassandre Beaugrand Super League Triathlon Malibu 2023
Cassandre Beaugrand of the Scorpions wins Super League Triathlon Malibu 2023 (Photo – Super League Triathlon).

Up until the cramp struck on the run in Pontevedra, Beaugrand had been perfectly placed after one of the best swim and bike combinations of her career over the Olympic distance.

And she added: “It was so frustrating because I have improved so much this season in my Olympic-distance racing and wanted to go so much faster. I was so ready and it was just annoying, but it’s something I will have to fix for the future.”

Future looks bright

What has become crystal clear this season is the strength in depth of the French Olympic contenders – both women and men.

Beaugrand took that second spot in the overall standings behind Potter while 22-year-old Emma Lombardi has risen to third in those year-end WTCS rankings and Leonie Periault is 18th.

“We are lucky we have three spots, though you never know what’s going to happen,” Beaugrand pointed out.

“But we have a very good dynamic now and being on podiums with Emma is so good because we can show that while the French girls might not be quite as good as the British, we are getting there. So it’s quite exciting.

“It’s always good when you have someone like Emma, who is younger, coming in and putting the pressure on us. I think it makes us realise that we have to also improve.”

Emma Lombardi Cassandre Beaugrand WTCS Sunderland 2023 photo credit World Triathlon / Tommy Zaferes
Emma Lombardi and Cassandre Beaugrand helped France dominate in Sunderland this year [Photo credit World Triathlon / Tommy Zaferes]
Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Dave Ellis / Luke Pollard - World Para Triathlon Championships Pontevedra 2023
Golden opportunity – British Triathlon launches search for LA2028 paratriathlon guides
IRONMAN Lanzarote 2024 - Anne Haug on run course
Best marathon shoes for Ironman – the ‘legal’ super shoes you CAN wear to level up your run split
Challenge Sanremo 2024 - Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
How to fuel your triathlon training: Expert nutritionist tips to help you nail every session
swim start IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2024 photo credit Tony Svensson IRONMAN
Level up your Ironman swim split – must-read tips from an expert swim coach
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
latest News
Taylor Knibb 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupo New Zealand
US triathlon phenom Taylor Knibb hails great rival Kat Matthews for record-breaking IRONMAN Texas win
Richard Varga Jonny Brownlee Arzachena
Triathlon legend Jonny Brownlee reveals ‘Last Dance’ motivation behind latest challenge
IRONMAN Kona 2022 Age Group Results
How will “re-imagined” IRONMAN World Championship at Kona actually look for Age Groupers?
Lucy Charles-Barclay IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2023 Finish
IRONMAN World Championship goes ALL IN on Kona again with men and women to race on same day from 2026
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
Nice gets consolation prize of 70.3 Worlds after IRONMAN World Championships return to Kona
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...