Search
shop

Olympic champion targets 5k test and says triathlon in February ‘makes no sense to me’

Beaugrand will skip the first round of the World Triathlon Championship Series in Abu Dhabi
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Olympic and World Triathlon champion Cassandre Beaugrand will kick off her 2025 season this Sunday with the Monaco 5k.

The 27-year-old, who enjoyed the best year of her career in 2024, has decided not to take part in the first round of the World Triathlon Championship Series in Abu Dhabi, on February 15 and 16.

Instead Beaugrand, who reached the pinnacle of the sport last year with Olympic gold at Paris 2024 and a first WTCS title, will sharpen up her run skills ahead of the campaign ahead.

Advertisement

“I can have fun with running races”

She told French outlet L’Equipe: “Racing (in triathlon) in February makes no sense to me. What can motivate me is to go and have fun with other objectives than the pure triathlon. If I can have fun with running races, that can be a cool intermediate objective. Testing myself with the athletes.”

Instead Beaugrand, who is currently training in Girona with Belgian coach Glenn Poleunis after leaving her previous base in Loughborough, is taking her talents back on the road.

She will line up for the 5 km road race in Monaco, an event which has often seen national and world records tumble.

Cassandre Beaugrand supertri London run 2024 photo credit Supertri
Cassandre Beaugrand in action in London in 2024 [Photo credit: Supertri]

French record in her sights?

Beaugrand, who teased her decision on her Instagram account, has never run the distance on the road in a dry race. But she finished in a time of 15:20 in the 4,900m of the Hamburg sprint triathlon last July. And back in 2021 she ran a 15:08 at the European Triathlon Cup in Melilla. The French record for 5km of 14:58 was set in 2022 by Sara Benfares, who was later suspended for doping.

Beaugrand admitted: “I don’t know at all if I can run at these paces”. But she will have one eye on coming as close as possible.

After Monaco, Beaugrand will compete in the T1 Indoor Triathlon World Cup in Liévin (March 22), before kicking off her 2025 WTCS campaign in Yokohama, Japan in May.

RELATED: What is a good 5km time? World records, parkrun records and the average times for amateur runners and triathletes

Paul Brown
Written by
Paul Brown
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
Kat Matthews IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Taupo New Zealand 2024
IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea: Date, start time, who’s racing and how to watch live
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth run 2023 photo credit Challenge Roth
Laura Siddall signs off amazing pro career in fitting place at beloved Challenge Roth
Kristian Blummenfelt wins 703 Aix en Provence 2025
Triathlon rival accepts superstar Kristian Blummenfelt’s challenge with cheeky Insta message
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping line lunge 2025
New European Champion Caroline Pohle suffered ‘hate on social media’ after protest upheld
Alex Yee thumbs up Paris Olympics 2024 photo credit world triathlon
Superstar Brit Alex Yee launches his own triathlon to inspire next generation into the sport
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...