WTCS 2026 Final: Cassandre Beaugrand back on top of the world for a second time in Pontevedra

The Paris 2024 Olympic champion only needed a third-place finish in the final round to become 2026 world champion, but she wanted to do it in style. Cassandre Beaugrand left her rivals in her wake, winning by more than a minute over the first chasers.

She capped a perfect WTCS season with five wins from the five rounds she had marked on her calendar. It is the best possible launchpad for her bid to defend her Olympic title in Los Angeles in 2028.

© Wags.photo / Worldtriathlon

© Wags.photo / Worldtriathlon

© Wags.photo / Worldtriathlon

Cassandre Beaugrand negotiated every danger in Pontevedra, unlike several of her rivals. 

© World Triathlon

© World Triathlon

Sixth out of the water, just under 30 seconds behind Britain’s Tilly Anema and Italy’s Bianca Seregni after the pair had opened a gap, the Frenchwoman made it into the 17-athlete breakaway that formed at the start of the bike leg. That group was shaken up when Poland’s Roksana Slupek crashed, followed by Britain’s Sophie Evans. The two incidents split the field, affecting American Taylor Spivey and Germans Selina Klamt and Lisa Tertsch in particular. They were eventually reeled in by the group containing Frenchwoman Léonie Periault, along with Germans Franka Rust and Tanja Neubert, as well as the third Frenchwoman, Emma Lombardi, who had exited the water more than a minute off the lead.

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Halfway through the 40km bike leg, the lead group had been whittled down from 13 to seven. Cassandre Beaugrand was still alongside her main title rival, Britain’s Beth Potter. The breakaway hit T2 with a 1:47 advantage, an ideal scenario for Beaugrand given her running strength.

Cassandre Beaugrand took control from the opening strides of the final 10km. No one could match the Olympic champion’s pace as she quickly built a substantial lead. The outcome was soon clear. The Frenchwoman covered her 10K in 32:35 to claim a lucky 13th win on the WTCS circuit and her second world title, following her 2024 triumph. A historic result for a French triathlete. 

© World Triathlon

© World Triathlon

I’m emotional. Everyone sees the easy part. Winning is difficult, and staying at the top is even harder. I want to thank my whole team. Today was my best race. The course was really tough and I still have memories of 2023, when I was constantly cramping. I’ve done a huge amount of work on climbs, but also on flat courses. I feel strong now. I can hold the pace, manage the pressure, and today everything came together.

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It took 1:05 for the runner-up, Britain’s Georgia Taylor-Brown, to arrive. Fresh from her victory in Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic), she still had enough in her legs to take second and secure a bronze medal in the 2026 Series standings, a result that had looked unlikely. Lisa Tertsch finished ninth, while Tilda Mansson was 22nd after exiting the water at the back of the field.

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I was really determined to have a good swim. When I found myself out front and we opened up a small gap, I thought that on a course like this it would be difficult to stay away. But I also knew that if it hurt me, it would hurt the girls behind as well. So I pushed hard and managed it. I didn’t know what was happening behind me. I just focused on my effort and what was ahead. I didn’t know how my legs would respond on the run, but I ran with my heart rather than my head. Cass was incredible today and I’m so happy.

The other Brit, Kate Waugh took bronze in Pontevedra, offering a glimpse of what she could achieve next season after an injury-disrupted 2026.

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My only other WTCS podium came here three years ago. I only found out 10 days before the race that I was on the start list because I had been on the waiting list. So simply being here was already a bonus. It felt strange to start, because my training volume is only half of what it normally is at this point in the season. I had a really difficult year with my injury, so it’s incredible to be back. It shows that you should never give up and have to keep pushing. I’m back racing short-course and hard efforts now. It’s really good to be back, and results like this keep motivating me.

Her compatriot Beth Potter was clearly not at her best during the first half of the run, but she fought back to fourth and claimed a remarkable fourth consecutive Series podium, earning her the silver medal in the 2026 overall standings.

After a superb run, Léonie Périault moved into the top 10 in eighth, just ahead of reigning German champion Lisa Tertsch. Emma Lombardi also finished strongly to take 14th in the final.

© World Triathlon

© World Triathlon

With the points from this final boosted, the 2026 WTCS podium features Cassandre Beaugrand in first, followed by Britain’s Beth Potter and Georgia Taylor-Brown. Two more Frenchwomen finished in the circuit’s final top 10: Léonie Périault in fifth and Emma Lombardi in ninth.