A majestic setting in the heart of Paris, sunshine and a temperature as mild (22.5°C) as that of the water (20.5°C), a crowd at the rendezvous and a swimming event in the Seine which went perfectly. One year before the Olympic Games, Paris has had its big dress rehearsal with the first triathlon event reserved for women on Thursday morning. Friday and until Sunday, it will be the men’s round, then the paratriathletes and finally the mixed relays to take the route designed for the future Olympics (July 26 to August 11).
Paris 2024 knew it was in the spotlight after the failure at the start of the month when the organizers were forced to cancel the open water events due to a pollution peak in the Seine following the violent storms over the city that caused overflowing the sewers (the waters then flowed into the river).
The quality of the water deemed “again satisfactory” by the organizers (even if the water still lacks clarity), 65 women stormed the Seine at 8:00 a.m. at the foot of the Alexandre-III bridge to cover two loops totaling 1,500 m before chaining 40 km by bike and 10 km of running. A route winding through the streets of the capital, weaving between the Petit and the Grand Palais, taking the Avenue des Champs-Elysées with the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and the Invalides in the background before a finish judged on the Alexandre-III bridge covered with a gigantic blue carpet. Grand.
“It was undoubtedly the most beautiful event in which I took part”, enthused the Frenchwoman Cassandre Beaugrand, second in the opening race of this life-size “test event”. The victory went to Beth Potter (who is also ahead of her for the leadership of the World Championship this season), winner in 1h51’40”. The women will hand over to the men on Friday (departure 8:00 a.m.) with less clement weather forecast and some risk of showers in the morning and a Seine whose quality will remain under close surveillance until Sunday.
