Things We Learnt From supertri E
It was the most intense, close and emotional edition of supertri E World Triathlon Championship powered by Zwift yet.
Chase McQueen completed his ‘redemption story’ in spectacular fashion while other names took their chance to shine.
And the much-hyped battle of Beth Potter v Cassandre Beaugrand probably exceeded all expectations with a head-to-head battle that was not settled until halfway through the last of the nine legs of action at the London Aquatic Centre at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Here we take a look at some of the things we learned from this epic showdown:
The smiling assassin
While Cassandre Beaugrand was all game face throughout the event, Beth Potter had a grin on her face, even managing to break a smile through the pain of competition.
She explained it afterwards: she was feeling good. She was enjoying it and embracing the pain. And, though she didn’t say this, you suspect deep down she thought she was going to win.
Such is the confidence of the Brit right now that even though she ‘hasn’t done any speed work’ for her running yet, she backed herself. That’s what happens when you are World Champion and you have that steely belief. It was etched all over her all weekend in a way it has never been before.
Now the challenge is clear: keep that until the Olympics.
Beth the swim star
Of course when it comes to Beth Potter and Cassandre Beaugrand so much of the talk is about their running battles. Then, particularly in supertri formats, their transitions, with Potter’s just about the quickest the sport has ever seen.
But supertri E told another story that got slightly lost in among the frenetic action. Where this race was really won and lost was the second swim. That is the fatigued swim as it comes at the end of the second stage, so usually the weaker swimmers lose a lot of time.
Potter and Beaugrand got off the bike together. The expectation was that Beaugrand would gain five seconds in the pool and then get the chance to stretch that advantage at the beginning of Stage 3.
Instead, Potter produced one of the swims of her life as she matched Beaugrand’s 2:57 split. It seemed to somewhat break Beaugrand and Potter used it as the platform for her victory.
McQueen: The Redemption Story
Chase McQueen is a World Champion. What a story.
Last year he left London frustrated, upset and struggling to come to terms with what happened as the day unravelled with the famous butterfly swim leg which led to him being the centre of unwanted attention.
Credit where it’s due though. Before the race Tim Don said he had sensed a new level of humility and maturity from McQueen at the supertri League, and the American brought that to bear in London this year.
It wasn't easy. He was being asked about 2023 over and again, reminding him of the world title that slipped away. But he sucked it all up, he showed true grit and steel and he executed big time. He came for that title, and he left with it. Impressive stuff.
Tanja Neubert: The record-setting breakout star?
supertri E is always great for allowing athletes their first chance to shine on a global broadcast to a huge viewing audience.
It was Germany’s Tanja Neubert who took that mantle this time round. She finished just off the podium, but at 24 looks a huge talent ready to step up and deliver on an even bigger stage than she had before arriving in London.
She broke 2023 World Champ Sophie Linn’s bike record of 5:33 by a whopping two seconds and was the only woman to average 5.3 w/kg in setting a 5:31 in the finals, which is a remarkable feat.
