Beth Potter is the new queen of the World Triathlon. The Championship, in the women’s category, arrived very evenly matched at this last stop of the World Series, so Pontevedra was going to decide who relieved Flora Duffy as the best triathlete of the moment. This is what happened with the crowded streets that did not stop cheering on the triathletes throughout the race.
With Duffy and Georgia Taylor-Brown, gold and silver in Tokyo respectively, out of action due to injuries, the spotlight fell on the figures of France’s Cassandre Beaugrand and Potter, who depended on themselves to occupy the world center, since any of the two would become World Champions by winning in Pontevedra.
With the cards on the table, the battle began on a sunny afternoon in Pontevedra. And at 16:45 all the triathletes jumped into the waters of the Lérez river next to the Ponte dos Tirantes bridge.
The German Olivia Mathias was the first to leave the water, with little time difference from her rivals. Seven seconds later Cassandre Beaugrand appeared and a little further back, Potter at 16 seconds, waiting for her chance on the bike. It was the only moment in which the Scot saw her hopes of becoming world champion in jeopardy, but started the run race after the transition ahead of Cassandre and alongside the rest of the favorites, the Italian Lombardi and her compatriots Kate Waugh and Sophie Coldwell.
And this is when her time came, on the run. She needed the first two laps to recharge her batteries, still commanding the top group, but on the penultimate lap she pulled away and Potter disappeared from the sight of her rivals. No one could follow the Scot until the last five kilometers and when the bell rang, Potter could enjoy the fans present in the Pontevedra stadium who cheered her on as she crossed the finish line first, Champion in Pontevedra and World Champion.
After Potter, Waugh entered the finish line and Cassandre Beaugrand finished third. Noelia Juan was the best of the Spanish athletes finishing in ninth position, with Miriam Casillas 18th, Anna Godoy 26th and Marta Pintanel 42nd. Sara Guerrero was unable to participate after suffering an untimely fall before the race.
