The 2025 World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) Grand Final in Wollongong began with tight standings, knowing that every second would count in the race to World Champion. Pre-race, Cassandre Beaugrand and Beth Potter were tied atop the standings with 2,925 points each. Beaugrand, the reigning Olympic and World Champion, arrived with victories in Alghero and on the French Riviera. Potter countered with back-to-back wins in Weihai and Karlovy Vary.
Behind them, Jeanne Lehair, Lisa Tertsch, and Leonie Periault had all claimed WTCS titles this season, and were in the running – but it would take a more dominant margin for any of them to tip the season standings.
The Race Action
Rachel Anema led the field out of the water, followed closely by Cassandre Beaugrand and Lisa Tertsch. Beth Potter exited just eight seconds behind, with Leonie Periault 27 seconds back and Jeanne Lehair at 40.
On the seven-lap bike course, six women quickly formed a breakaway: Lombardi, Beaugrand, Potter, Tertsch, Seregni, and Fullagar, staying clear of the chasers. All six entered transition together, setting up a thrilling 10km run. Lombardi took the early lead out of T2, but within moments the group bunched up again.
Then came the first surprise: Beaugrand began to fade, clearly struggling. The defending world champion’s day was done – she would later withdraw from the race, unable to continue.
By the second lap, Potter had also lost contact, leaving Lombardi, Tertsch, Seregni, and Fullagar at the front. Midway through lap three, only two remained, Lombardi and Tertsch, who were running stride for stride on the last lap.
In the final kilometres, Lisa Tertsch surged clear, powering away to take the tape and the 2025 World Champion title.
Seregni finished second with Lombardi rounding the podium in Wollongong for third place.
As for the series standings, Tertsch finished at the top followed by Leonie Periault in second and Beth Potter in third.
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