Search
shop

Super League Triathlon Neom results: Beaugrand wins the race but Kate Waugh grabs title

Cassandre Beaugrand and Kate Waugh were the big winners in Neom.
News Director
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

France’s Cassandre Beaugrand made it two wins out of two this Super League season as she ran away from her rivals in Neom.

But the overall title went to Britain’s Kate Waugh thanks to her second place, crowning a superb season which has seen her go from strength to strength.

Waugh had been in a three-way battle with Jeanne Lehair (LUX) and Emma Lombardi (FRA) for the overall crown but that pair were just run out of it as they finished third and fourth respectively in what was an Enduro format race, featuring three back-to-back triathlons (all in swim-bike-run order), with no breaks in between.

Advertisement

Stage 1 – Sharks bite early

Sharks manager Stuart Hayes had promised a fast start and how his athletes delivered!

Olivia Mathias led the way with a power-packed swim to win them the first short chute and early on the bike she was joined in the leading group of eight by teammates Waugh, Sophie Coldwell and Jess Fullagar.

But also in that pack were Santara Eagles pair Lehair and Lombardi, both in title contention along with Waugh and Coldwell, as well as Malibu winner Cassandre Beaugrand and Taylor Spivey.

Waugh ‘won’ the second short chute to deny the other teams and the aggressive tactics saw the race break up dramatically and by the end of the first run eight had become four, with Lehair, Lombardi, Waugh and Beaugrand opening up 18 seconds on the rest.

Lehair then surged clear on the run to earn what could prove to be a crucial short chute for the Eagles.

Stage 2 – Set up perfectly

Straight into stage two and the four out in front had a significant advantage beginning the swim.

It was Beaugrand who swept past the other three but it always looked likely they would join forces on the bike and so it proved.

However Spivey and Mathias had done superbly to bridge up on the bike so four had become six starting the run.

Also at that point the potentially all-important short chutes were allocated – Waugh taking the Sharks’ one while Tim Don opted for Lehair for the Eagles, putting that pair in pole position for the overall title.

A win for either of them would seal it, as it would for Lombardi. The fourth contender was Coldwell but she needed other things to go her way too.

The six stayed together during a markedly steadier run than stage 1 and everything was set up perfectly for the finale.

Stage 3 – Final reckoning

The final swim split things up more than expected, with Beaugrand leading the way and compatriot Lombardi on her feet.

And it was Lombardi, very much in contention for the overall title, who was quickest through transition and suddenly she had a 50-metre gap early on the bike over the other five.

The windy conditions potentially worked against her but she held her advantage initially and knew that, unlike Eagles teammate Lehair and Waugh, she didn’t have a short chute to come on the run.

But they were all back together going into transition, meaning the race and the season all came down to the ninth and final component.

Lehair inexplicably lost several seconds in transition which meant her short chute only got her back into the group whereas Waugh jumped clear along with Beaugrand.

Beaugrand, just as she had in Malibu, was proving the strongest but Waugh in second knew the title was beckoning as she was clear of the rest.

And that was how it finished – the race win for Beaugrand, the title for Waugh and Lehair a fast-finishing third and left to rue that final transition.

Waugh and Lehair actually both finished on 44 points in the final standings but the Brit took it thanks to the most recent result proving the decider.

In terms of the team standings, that went the way of the Eagles following a dramatic men’s race.

Kate Waugh Cassandre Beaugrand Jeanne Lehair Neom 2023 photo credit Super League
[Photo credit: Super League]

Super League Triathlon Neom 2023 results

Saturday 21 October 2023 – Enduro – Elite Women

  • 1. Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA)
  • 2. Kate Waugh (GBR) +11s
  • 3. Jeanne Lehair (LUX) +21s
  • 4. Emma Lombardi (FRA) +26s
  • 5. Olivia Mathias (GBR) +37s

Final standings after Neom (round four of four)

  • 1. Kate Waugh (GBR) – 44pts
  • 2. Jeanne Lehair (LUX) – 44pts
  • 3. Emma Lombardi (FRA) – 41pts
  • 4. Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) – 35pts
  • 5. Olivia Mathias (GBR) – 34pts

Final team standings

  • 1. Santara Tech Eagles – 425pts
  • 2. Bahrain Victorious Scorpions – 407pts
  • 3. RTP Sharks – 390pts
  • 4. RTS Warriors – 220pts

Series Discipline winners

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
Mark Allen aging up quote
How to adjust your triathlon training as you get older – Mark Allen on the 7 ways to make aging a less slippery slope
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
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!)
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
latest News
Jonny Brownlee supertri Neom 2024 run photo credit supertri
Challenge Family’s The Championship 2025: Date, start time and how to watch live
Kona scenic shot IRONMAN World Championships photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
IRONMAN say women split 50/50 on whether Kona age-group spots should be proportionate or equal
Paul Findlay on the run at T100 San Francisco 2024
Can Findlay extend winning run on home soil as INCREDIBLE women’s line-up is announced for T100 Vancouver?
Beth Potter Cassandre Beaugrand Olympic Games Paris Test Event Triathlon August 2023
WTCS Yokohama 2025: Date, start time and how to watch live as Olympic stars head to Japan
Sam Long bike leg IRONMAN 703 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
“I think he’s a sneaky little guy” – which fellow pro got under the skin of Sam Long at 70.3 St. George?
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...