TOKYO OLYMPICS – Triathlon: France takes 3rd in mixed relay behind Great Britain and USA

In Tokyo, France won the bronze medal in the mixed relay triathlon event. Great Britain, the favorite, won the gold medal. Silver went to the United States. Vincent Luis, Cassandre Beaugrand, Dorian Coninx, and Léonie Périault thus brought home the very first Olympic medal in the history of French triathlon.

GREAT BRITAIN ?? WIN THE FIRST EVER #Olympics #TriMixedRelay GOLD!

Alex Yee @lixsanyee brings it home after brilliant work from Jess Learmonth, Jonny Brownlee & Georgia Taylor-Brown – it’s a @Olympics medal of ever colour for @jonny_brownlee !#Triathlon
?USA ??
?FRANCE ?? pic.twitter.com/yMsKaTY9pE

— World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) July 31, 2021

After a very average swim (14th at 22 seconds), Léonie Périault exited the bike in 11th position within a chasing group 33 seconds behind the lead group, which consisted of Great Britain, Germany, the United States, and the Netherlands. In good running form at these Games, she handed over the relay in 5th position at 25 seconds, having gained 7 seconds on the leading teams.

Dorian Coninx exited the water 35 seconds behind the leading quartet. At the end of the 6.8 km bike leg, the gap narrowed to 27 seconds. On the run, Great Britain’s Jonathan Brownlee broke up the lead group. American Kevin McDowell tried to stay in contact. At the end of the second relay, Great Britain was in the lead with a 9-second advantage over the United States, 22 seconds over the Netherlands, 23 seconds over Germany, 30 seconds over France, and 39 seconds over Belgium.

Third relay swimmer, Cassandre Beaugrand had a good swim and exited in 3rd place, 26 seconds behind Great Britain’s Georgia Taylor-Brown, the Olympic silver medalist, and only 3 seconds behind American Taylor Knibb. During the bike leg, the Frenchwoman, always uncomfortable in technical sections, lost contact with the American and was caught by her pursuers, including the Netherlands and Belgium. At T2, Georgia Taylor-Brown started the run alone. Taylor Knibb was 2nd at 11 seconds. Cassandre Beaugrand was 5th at 40 seconds. After the 2 km run, the Pisciacaise gained time and handed over the relay in 3rd position, 33 seconds behind the leader and 12 seconds behind the United States in second position.

Vincent Luis was the last French relay runner. After 300 m, Great Britain’s Yee had a 17-second lead over American Morgan Pearson and 19 seconds over Vincent Luis. Unleashed, Luis shook off Pearson and caught Yee alone after the first lap, attacking him directly. At the end of the bike leg, Luis and Yee exited together with a three-second lead over Pearson.

After the transition, Yee had a 3-second lead over Luis. Pearson was 9 seconds behind. As Yee headed for gold, Pearson caught and passed Luis. In the end, Great Britain took the first Olympic mixed relay title. The United States took the silver medal and France the bronze medal. This is the first Olympic medal in the history of French triathlon.

=> VIEW THE COMPLETE MIXED RELAY RANKINGS