Brilliant WTCS Alghero winner Cassandre Beaugrand revealed she almost didn’t start the race in Sardinia.

The French Olympic champion suffered a nasty bike crash last time out at WTCS Yokohama a fortnight ago and her recovery from that was further complicated by a sickness bug.

But she made the call to line up and from the moment she bridged up to a breakaway group on the bike, the result never looked in doubt.

She eased clear on the run and went on to win by 39 seconds from Italy’s Bianca Seregni, with Britain’s Olivia Mathias in third – first-ever WTCS podiums for that pair.

‘I just wanted to give it a chance’

Speaking afterwards to World Triathlon it was clear how much it meant to Beaugrand after what had been a difficult build up.

She said: “It’s very emotional. In the morning I didn’t even know if I was racing. I called my coach and said ‘do you think it’s worth it?’

“I only trained two days last week because I was coming back from the crash and then I got the virus that everyone got after Yokohama and was in bed all last weekend.

“But I love what I do and I just wanted to give it a chance because I was so upset after my crash in Yokohama – the people who are around me know why it means so much to me.”

Digging deep

She even revealed that she’d contemplated a bit of time away rather than head to Sardinia and race, adding: “Honestly I was thinking should I just take a break right now?

“But I’m very fortunate to be back on the top [step of the podium].”

Beaugrand twice had to dig deep to close the gap on the front group – and it proved decisive. The first time was on the swim and then again at the start of the bike.

She explained: “I remembered my second swim lap in Torremolinos (when she got herself back in contention after veering off course and went on to win the world title). I was like ‘come on Cass, you’ve got this’.”