TRIATHLON – 2019 French Grand Prix Triathlon Final La Baule: a high-level field with Vincent Luis and Mario Mola –

With the international deadlines behind them, the best French and international triathletes are back with the French 1st division clubs for the 2019 Triathlon Grand Prix Final, which will take place this Saturday, September 21, on the La Baule embankment. This last stage of the circuit is all the more important as its coefficient is 1.5 and the gaps are tight for a podium finish. Also, the return of recent international medalists to the clubs’ ranks promises a final rich in twists and turns.

In the women’s category, Poissy Triathlon, with three victories in the Championship this season (Châteauroux, Muret, Quiberon), took the lead in the general classification during the 3rd stage, just ahead of Metz Triathlon. The two clubs are only a few points apart, and the final will be decisive. Poissy Triathlon has chosen to field its shock trio (Taylor Spivey, Cassandre Beaugrand, Sandra Dodet), back from the World Championships. In the absence of Léonie Périault – resting for this last stage – Justine Guerard and Kristelle Congi will complete this Poissy team. After remarkable individual and collective results, the Poissy women will want to end their season in style by winning both the stage title and the circuit title.

Metz Triathlon does not intend to give up and will fight to the end. In this last stage, we will find Jeanne Lehair (3rd in Dunkerque), the British Non Stanford (1st – WTS Hamburg), the Hungarian Zsanett Bragmayer, and the Belgian Claire Michel in blue and orange colors. Note the return of Margot Garabedian to the circuit.

Issy Triathlon and Tri Val de Gray, respectively 3rd and 4th in the provisional ranking, will be battling it out for a spot on the final podium. With two stage podiums each, the two clubs are now only 2 points apart. This last stage (coefficient 1.5) will therefore be decisive for both clubs. In terms of composition, Issy Triathlon will be led by the recent U23 World Champion, Emilie Morier (also a member of the French Mixed Relay World Champion Team). Alongside her will be the Spanish Carolina Routier, the Austrian Sara Vilic, the Russian Elena Danilova, and her French teammate Blandine Guilloteau.

Tri Val de Gray – which finished 2nd in 2018 – hopes to get back on the podium this year. To do so, the Franche-Comté club has called on its best French athletes, including Jessica Fullagar (Bronze medalist at the Junior World Championships), Emmie Charayron (French Triathlon Champion), Clémence Tedesco, and Mathilde Gautier (3rd – Holten European Cup). The French quartet will be reinforced by the Japanese Yuko Takahashi, who surprised everyone in Quiberon by finishing 4th in the stage.

At the bottom of the table, Triathlon Toulouse Métropole, Autun Triathlon, and T.C.G. 19 Parthenay will fight to keep their place in the 1st Division next year.

A Grand Slam for the Poissy men?

In the Men’s category, Poissy Triathlon has had a flawless season, with 4 consecutive victories in this 2019 Triathlon Grand Prix! Dominating the circuit since the beginning of the season, the Poissy team intends to leave its mark by achieving a “Grand Slam” with another victory in this final stage. To do so, a strong team has once again been announced – identical to the one in Quiberon – with Dorian Coninx, Anthony Pujades, Tom Richard, Aurélien Raphaël, and Antoine Duval. But the club will have to be wary of the reigning French Champions, the men of Saint-Jean de Monts Triathlon, who will play all their cards in this final with the arrival of World No. 2 Mario Mola in their ranks! The announcement of his signing last August had attracted all eyes to the club, currently 5th overall. Indeed, the Spaniard will reinforce the already strong Montois team, as he will be accompanied in this final by Léo Bergère (member of the French World and European Mixed Relay Champion Teams), the Portuguese Joao Pereira (Silver medalist at the European Championships), the Spanish Francesc Godoy, and the young Louis Vitiello (French U23 Champion).

As for Les Sables Vendée Triathlon, which has had a remarkable 2019 season with 4 consecutive podiums (2nd in Châteauroux and Quiberon; and 3rd in Dunkerque and Muret), the objective will clearly be to maintain its place on the final podium despite a less strong team than in previous stages. Nevertheless, we will find the Belgian Jelle Geens (Winner of the Montreal WTS and 3rd at the European Championships in Weert), the Azerbaijani Rostyslav Pevtsov (2nd – Dnipro European Cup), and the Ukrainian Ivan Ivanov. The French Jocelyn Mourier and Antoine Muller will complete this team.

The Triathlon Club de Liévin, currently 3rd in the provisional ranking, will try as best it can to maintain its place on the podium. With this announced rain of champions in La Baule, the Liévinois will have to be no more than two places behind the Montois in this last stage if they want to keep their place on the box. The team will be composed of Raphaël Montoya (2nd – Karlovy Vary World Cup), the Austrian Alois Knabl (2nd in Quiberon), the Australian Brandon Copeland (5th – U23 World Championship), the Swiss Andrea Salvisberg, and the Belgian Christophe De Keyser.

Finally, on the Montpellier side, we can count on a 100% French team led by its 2018 European Champion, Pierre Le Corre (winner of the Quiberon Grand Prix). He will be accompanied by his French compatriots Simon Viain (6th – Madrid World Cup) and Quentin Barreau. Not to mention Cenzino Lebot, who will make his Grand Prix debut, and Paul Dellong, who joins the starting lineup for this last stage.

Also noteworthy is the presence in La Baule of the 2019 World Champion: Vincent Luis, who will be keen to win the individual stage and allow his club (Ste Geneviève Triathlon), currently 12th in the provisional general classification, to move up the rankings.

The clubs in danger are Tricastin Triathlon Club, CRV Lyon Triathlon, and Vitrolles Triathlon, in relegation positions.

PROVISIONAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION BEFORE THE FINAL

Women’s Classification
Men’s Classification

PROGRAM

Saturday, September 21
5:00 PM – Grand Prix Final – Women
6:30 PM – Grand Prix Final – Men

(Source: FFTRI press release)