Beth Potter (GBR) and Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA), two of the favourites for the outright title, won their respective heats as WTCS Hamburg hosts the first-ever Super Sprint World Championships.
There were 30 places for Saturday’s three-stage women’s final up for grabs – 10 in each of Friday’s two qualifiers which were followed by the repechages in the evening with a further 10 going through. Here’s how the action unfolded…
Qualifier 1 – Potter eases through
It’s already been a season to remember for Potter, with her first WTCS victories in Abu Dhabi and Montreal respectively.
She started this weekend in good style – a decent 300m swim seeing her out of the water in fourth before Zsanett Bragmayer (HUN) and Vittoria Lopes (BRA) opened up a gap on the 7.5km bike section.
But Potter clocked the fastest time on the 1.6km run to ease to the head of affairs, with Bragmayer second and Taylor Spivey (USA) third.
Qualifier 2 – A breeze for Beaugrand
Things were relatively straightforward for Beaugrand in the second heat.
She led out of the water, with Kirsten Kasper (USA) and Brea Roderick (NZL) just behind.
A big group of 19 formed on the second bike lap, which meant it all boiled down to the run.
Beaugrand was able to coast it from the front, with Sophie Linn (AUS) and Laura Lindemann (GER) coming through for second and third.
Katie Zaferes also worked her way into the top 10 but her fellow Americans Summer Rappaport and Gwen Jorgensen must head to the repechages where the remaining 10 places for Saturday’s final will be decided.
Repechages – Brilliant from Jorgensen
There was lots at stake, which contributed to some great racing.
In the first of the two heats – with five more places up for grabs in both – it was a close call but Belgium’s Jolien Vermeylen came out on top.
And Aussie Emma Jackson rolled back the years with a superb performance to take third. Afterwards she said: “I didn’t know what to expect. I’m glad to have made it through and see what I can do tomorrow afternoon.”
In the second all eyes were on US duo Summer Rappaport and 2016 Olympics winner Gwen Jorgensen as she continues her comeback.
Rappaport would have qualified with ease in the morning but for an issue with her running shoes coming out of T2. But she made the most of that second chance with a smooth transition en route to a heat win.
Jorgensen tried to animate the race from the second group on the bike as she aimed for that final place which would be a big help in terms of her world ranking and bid to make Paris 2024.
However she had a 20-seconds deficit starting the run which looked a big ask. Not for her. In arguably the most encouraging performance of her return so far she reeled in the front group and went through in fine style in fourth.
WTCS Hamburg 2023 qualifying results
Friday 14 July 2023 – 300m / 7.5km / 1.6km
Elite Women – Qualifier 1 top 10:
- 1. Beth Potter (GBR) – 22:05
- 2. Zsanett Bragmayer (HUN) – 22:05
- 3. Taylor Spivey (USA) – 22:06
- 4. Lisa Tertsch (GER) – 22:06
- 5. Nicole Van Der Kaay (NZL) – 22:06
- 6. Cathia Schär (SUI) – 22:06
- 7. Anabel Knoll (GER) – 22:06
- 8. Verena Steinhauser (ITA) – 22:06
- 9. Solveig Løvseth (NOR) – 22:08
- 10. Alberte Kjær Pedersen (DEN) – 22:10
Elite Women – Qualifier 2 top 10:
- 1. Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) – 21:51
- 2. Sophie Linn (AUS) – 21:52
- 3. Laura Lindemann (GER) – 21:52
- 4. Kirsten Kasper (USA) – 21:52
- 5. Annika Koch (GER) – 21:53
- 6. Marlene Gomez-Göggel (GER) – 21:53
- 7. Katie Zaferes (USA) – 22:00
- 8. Ainsley Thorpe (NZL) – 22:00
- 9. Rachel Klamer (NED) – 22:01
- 10. Jeanne Lehair (LUX) – 22:02
Elite Women – Repechages 1 top 5:
- 1. Jolien Vermeylen (BEL) – 21:50
- 2. Selina Klamt (GER) – 21:53
- 3. Emma Jackson (AUS) – 21:53
- 4. Nora Gmür (SUI) – 21:54
- 5. Lizeth Rueda Santos (MEX) – 21:55
Elite Women – Repechages 2 top 5:
- 1. Summer Rappaport (USA) – 21:53
- 2. Julia Hauser (AUT) – 21:53
- 3. Lena Meißner (GER) – 21:54
- 4. Gwen Jorgensen (USA) – 21:54
- 5. Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) – 21:56
