2024 World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS): Yokohama (May 11 - 12)
Following the cancellation of WTCS Abu Dhabi caused by severe weather conditions of heavy rain and thunderstorms in May, Yokohama’s race officially kicked off the 2024 World Triathlon Championship Series. The race was crucial to the athletes; it allowed them to secure their Olympic qualification points.
In the elite men’s race, Morgan Pearson from the USA dominated the course and claimed the first WTCS victory in his career, solidifying his status as a potential Olympic contender. Matthew Hauser and Luke Willian, both from Australia, came in strong behind finishing at second and third place securing their Olympic spot.
In the elite women’s race, Leonie Periault from France emerged as the winner catching the attention of many with an impressive running speed finishing more than half a minute ahead of second place. Taylor Knibb from the USA claimed second place, while Emma Lombardi of France rounded out the podium at third place securing her place in the Paris Olympics.
The WTCS Yokohama served as a thrilling preview of what to expect in the lead-up to the Olympic Games.
2024 World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS): Cagliari (May 25)
With only two months leading up to the Paris Olympic Games, the race in Cagliari, Italy was critical for athletes to secure their place for the Paris Games.
In the men’s race, Alex Yee and Hayden Wilde engaged in a fierce battle with them never being apart by more than a second throughout the entire race. Yee from the UK prevailed in the end securing his Olympic spot, followed by Wilde from New Zealand, then Csongor Lehmann from Hungary claiming the bronze.
The women’s race was on par with the men’s in terms of excitement. Cassandre Beaugrand from France secured her first WTCS victory by delivering a remarkable performance by overtaking Beth Potter, Lisa Tertsch, and Emma Lombardi. Tertsch from Germany claimed silver, while Potter from the UK finished third.
Following the WTCS Cagliari, Luke Willian and Emma Lombardi took the lead in the overall standings, surpassing Morgan Pearson and Leonie Periault.
2024 World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS): Hamburg (July 13-14)
Hamburg, Germany hosted the only sprint distance race of the 2024 season. With the Olympic Games just weeks away, both the athletes and fans were eager to see who will come up on top and qualify for the Paris Games.
In the men’s race, Matthew Hauser secured his first gold medal of the season as an addition to his silver from Yokohama.Vasco Vilaca of Portugal claimed the silver medal, while Pierre Le Corre of France claimed bronze securing his Olympic spot. Luke Willian maintained his lead in the standings over Hauser by finishing 11th.
The women’s race had the same outcome on the podium to Cagliari with Cassandre Beaugrand claiming gold, Lisa Tertsch taking silver, and Beth Potter with bronze. Emma Lombardi finished 5th which allowed her to maintain her lead in the overall standings.
2024 World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS): Paris Olympics (July 13-14)
Finally, the Paris Olympics Games arrived. The event offered athletes the opportunity to etch their names in Olympic history and advance their world title hopes.
In the men’s race, Alex Yee and Hayden Wilde engaged in an intensive battle throughout the entire race. With just a few hundred meters ramining, Yee made a theatrical comeback by overtaking Wilde securing the gold medal. Leo Bergere of France claimed bronze by holding off Pierre Le Corre in the final lap.
The women’s race saw an unexpected outcome. Julie Derron of Switzerland, who had never been on the podium in the WTCS before, delivered a spectacular performance to claim the silver medal. Cassandre Beaugrand of France won the gold medal, producing a memorable hom team moments of the game and Beth Potter claimed her third consecutive bronze medal.
2024 World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS): Weihai (September 27)
Alex Yee continued his dominance, securing his third victory in three appearances and maintaining his perfect record heading into the Series finals. This exceptional performance by Yee reinforced his position as one of the leading triathletes in the world. Leo Bergere claimed the silver medal, and Miguel Hidalgo of Brazil finished third, earning his first-ever WTCS medal.
In the women's race, Lisa Tertsch claimed her first WTCS victory. Beth Potter finished second, securing her best finish of the season. Georgia Taylor-Brown of Great Britain completed the podium, taking her first medal of the 2024 Series.
While Alex Yee and Cassandre Beaugrand maintained their lead at the top in overall rankings, the results of WTCS Weihai led to notable shifts in the rankings behind them.
2024 World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS): Current Rankings
The 2024 Torremolinos-Andalucia World Triathlon Championship Finals is set to be a thrilling conclusion to the 2024 season. With Alex Yee and Cassandre Beaugrand dominating the series, it's difficult to imagine anyone dethroning the Olympic champions. However, the competition for the remaining podium spots remains in question.
Men’s
Image credit: World Triathlon Championship Series, Athletes, Series Leaders, Men
Leo Bergere, the 2022 world champion, is the closest challenger to Yee. Despite his strong performances throughout the season, Bergere is facing a serious points deficit. Hayden Wilde is also in contention, Wilde has shown the ability to produce stunning results in the past, but he will need to produce an extraordinary performance to overcome the deficit and claim the world title.
Beyond the world title race, Matthew Hauser, Luke Willian, and Pierre Le Corre are all eyeing a podium finish. Based on past performances, Hauser in particular, has a strong chance. Willian and Le Corre are also capable of producing strong results which positions them as strong challengers for a podium finish.
Women’s
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In the women's standings, Cassandrew Beaugrand is positioned strongly to win the crown; her perfect season has earned her a significant points lead over other contenders. However, Beth Potter and Lisa Tertsch are still in the game and will be posing a challenge for the title. Emma Lombardi is also in contention, but she would need a very strong performance to catch the leaders.
The upcoming World Triathlon Championships Series Final that will take place next week (October 17 - 20) in Torremolinos-Andalucia, Spain, promises to be an exciting event with plenty of drama and a dash of uncertainty. Anything can happen in the final race. Stay tuned for our upcoming article covering the schedule, course, and more on the event. Lets ride to Mars Together!
