Non Stanford of Great Britain, who won the WTS World Title in 2013 and finished 4th at the 2016 Olympics, won her first WTS race in three years on a rainy, slick-streets day in Hamburg by 7 seconds over 2018 Hamburg winner Cassandre Beaugrand of France and 18 seconds over 3rd place finisher Summer Rappaport of the U.S.

Stanford began her day 14 seconds behind top swimmers Beaugrand and Rappaport and lost 9 more seconds to Beaugrand in transition. By the end of the 20 kilometer ride made nerve-wracking by the rain slick streets, Stanford made up of her deficit with a race-best 32:43 bike split. Stanford quickly took a short lead starting the run and gradually stretched her lead to 7 seconds at the finish with a race-best 16:04 split for the 5-kilometer run.

“I really didn’t expect to do that," said Stanford after the finish. “I’ve been trying to edge my way back to the podium and this is a testament to all the hard work behind the scenes.” Stanford’s win was not without nervous moments. “There was a crash behind me at one point and my wheel was slipping and my saddle dropped down too. I’m going to fully focus on preparing for Tokyo now and i want to go there and show the selectors I’m a genuine contender for that team.”

Beaugrand was satisfied to follow her win last year with a silver medal. “I love this race and it’s a great surprise to be on the podium.,” she said. “ It was tough in that weather but i had my best swim and wanted to keep with the pack. Non is very strong and I’m very happy for her with that comeback.”

Rappaport was jazzed with her second podium of the season after her second place in WTS Yokohama. “The conditions were really crazy, my wheel was slipping every time I got out of the saddle but I just wanted to keep focus. I think that’s the first sprint finish [over 4th place Rachel Klamer] I’ve ever won in my life but I just thought ‘we need an American on the podium today’ as we have every race this year. My feet were slipping but somehow I just got it done.”

Katie Zaferes, the WTS series points leader, ran into a crashed rider early on the ride. While Zaferes was unhurt, her chain derailed and she lost two minutes before remounting. Thereafter Zaferes was out of contention and finished 35th.

“When an athlete went down in front of me, I ran into her,” Zaferes told ITU media after the race. “I am fine because she kind of cushioned my fall. But I lost time because my chain was off on the cog and I just watched as several groups passed me. After I got back up, I didn't execute well after that. I was timid on the corners because I caught up to the chase pack. Once we got to the run, I was just trying to finish.”

2012 Olympic gold medalist and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Nicola Spirig of Switzerland appears well on her way to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics as she has eased back into the WTS fray with an 8th place finish, 35 seconds behind the winner.

Because Zaferes’ nearest season points contender Jessica Learmonth of Great Britain did not race, Zaferes maintained her 4925 to 4170 lead on Learmonth while fellow Brit Georgia Taylor-Brown edged closer with a 5th place finish which advanced her 3rd place total to 4121 points. Taylor Spivey of the U.S. finished 6th on the day, maintaining 4th place in the season long championship chase with 3926 points.

WTS Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany
July 6, 2019
S 750m / B 20k / R 5k

Results

Women

1. Non Stanford (GBR) 59:24 S 9:31 T1 00:46 B 32:43 T2 00:21 R 16:04
2. Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) 59:31 S 9:17 T1 00:37 B 33:09 T2 00:22 R 16:07
3. Summer Rappaport (USA) 59:42 S 9:18 T1 00:41 B 33:07 T2 00:24 R 16:13
4. Rachel Klamer (NED) 59:43 S 9:31 T1 00:41 B 32:48 T2 00:21 R 16:22
5. Georgia Taylor- Brown (GBR) 59:49 S 9:27 T1 00:39 B 32:53 T2 00:25 R 16:26
6. Taylor Spivey (USA) 59:51 S 9:24 T1 00:39 B 32:58 T2 00:26 R 16:24
7. Laura Lindemann (GER) 59:52 S 9:25 T1 00:42 B 32:55 T2 00:24 R 16:27
8. Nicola Spirig (SUI) 59:59 S 9:36 T1 00:39 B 32:45 T2 00:24 R 16:37
9. Vicky Holland (GBR) 1:00:03 S 9:25 T1 00:48 B 32:48 T2 00:24 R 16:39 Penalty 10s early start
10. Annamaria Mazzetti (ITA) 1:00:06 S 9”37 T1 00:42 B 32:45 T2 00:22 R 16:41
16. Chelsea Burns (USA) 1:00:58 S 9:33 T1 00:41 B 32:52 T2 00:23 R 17:29
18. Kirsten Kasper (USA) 1:01:02 S 9:27 T1 00:43 B 32:51 T2 00:24 R 17:38
35. Katie Zaferes (USA) 1:01:12 S 9:22 T1 00:40 B 34:24 T2 00:22 R 17:25
41 Taylor Knibb (USA) 1:02:34 S 9:26 T1 00:41 B 33:57 T2 00:28 R 18:02

WTS Points Standings

1. Katie Zaferes (USA) 4925
2. Jessica Learmonth (GBR) 4170
3. Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) 4121
4. Taylor Spivey (USA) 3926
5. Non Stanford (GBR) 3435
6. Rachel Klamer (NED) 2597
7. Joanna Brown (CAN) 2319
8. Summer Rappaport (USA) 2276
9. Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) 2189
10. Vicky Holland (GBR) 2077