Enduro ‘Aquathlon’ dominated by Beaugrand in Jersey
With a $20,000 first prize, I suspect Cassandre Beagrand (FRA) may well have won the most lucrative Aquathlon ever held today in St. Helier. That wasn’t the plan for the final at Super League Triathlon Jersey, but when massively strong winds hit the venue, the bike leg was simply not possible. The result 3x swim-runs back-to-back.
⚠️ Women's Pro Final Update! ⚠️
Due to dangerously high winds today's Women's final has been changed to a swim-run ✖️3⃣ (No Bike)
⏰ Start Time – 2:20pm (BST)
No change to the Men's race as it stands. Full details 👇https://t.co/zvTZsBbRuq
— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) September 29, 2019
The French athlete lead for almost the entire race, taking control on the first run and never being headed, save for a brief pass from Luisa Baptista (BRA), who avoided the elimination (being last across the transition line), by simply by-passing a change of shoes and running barefoot.
Mistake or another innovative race tactic? 😧 Luisa Baptista is stamping her authority on this race with some amazing barefoot racing!#IAMSUPERLEAGUE #IAMLUISABAPTISTA #Racing #Championship #Series pic.twitter.com/in4Qdq7MZG
— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) September 29, 2019
From there on though, it was always a battle for Silver and Bronze as even the legendary strength of ITU World Champion and defending Super League Triathlon Champion, Katie Zaferes, could make no impact on the 22 year old French athlete, who could take her time on the finish straight and enjoy her win.
In some of the strongest winds #JerseyCI has ever experienced, @cassandrebeaugrand finds the win as a strong field of women sprint for the finish!#SLTJersey Podium:
🥇 @CassandreBeaugr
🥈 @KZaferes6
🥉 @rachelklamer#IAMSUPERLEAGUE #IAMCASSANDREBEAUGRAND #Championship #Series pic.twitter.com/erzK1tU8DS— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) September 29, 2019
While she couldn’t win for a third consecutive year in Jersey, Zaferes held of the challenge of Rachel Klamer to decide second and third, while Vicky Holland had an all-out sprint to the line to just pip Taylor Spivey for fourth place.
Super League Triathlon Jersey, Sunday 29th September 2019
‘Enduro Aquathlon’ – 3x 300m swim / 1.6km run (bike leg cancelled due to high winds)
ELITE WOMEN
1st – Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) – 33:48
2nd – Katie Zaferes (USA) – 33:56
3rd – Rachel Klamer (NED) – 34:05
4th – Vicky Holland (GBR) – 34:12
5th – Taylor Spivey (GBR) – 34:12
6th – Sandra Dodet (FRA) – 34:31
7th – Sophie Coldwell (GBR) – 34:39
8th – Olivia Mathias (GBR) – 34:51
9th – Carolina Routier (ESP) – 34:57
10th – Vittoria Lopes (BRA) – 35:18
#SLTJersey CHAMPION! 🏆 @CassandreBeaugr destroys the competition and wins the first race of the @SuperLeagueTri season … No short chute needed 😎🇫🇷 #IAMSUPERLEAGUE #IAMCASSANDREBEUGRAND #SuperLeagueTriathlon #Championship #Series pic.twitter.com/tbBKWL48hI
— Super League Triathlon (@SuperLeagueTri) September 29, 2019
