TOKYO JO – Triathlon: France 3rd in the mixed relay behind Great Britaintagand the United States

In Tokyo, France won the bronze medal in the mixed relay triathlon event. Great Britaintagne, the favorite, won the gold medal. The silver went to the United States. Vincent Luis, Cassandre Beaugrand, Dorian Coninx and Léonie Périault thus brought the very first Olympic medal in the history of the 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 color 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), Leonie Periault places the bike in 11th position within a chasing group 33 seconds behind the race leader made up of Great Britaintagne, from Germany, the United States and the Netherlands. In form in running at these Games, she passed the baton in 5th position at 25 seconds, or 7 seconds taken from the leading teams.

Dorian Coninx comes out of the water 35 seconds behind the leading quartet. At the end of the 6,8 km bike ride, the gap is reduced to 27 seconds. On the run, the Briton Jonathan Brownlee blows away the leading group. The American Kevin McDowell tries to keep in touch. At the end of the second relay, Great Britaintagis in the lead with 9 seconds ahead of the United States, 22 seconds ahead of the Netherlands, 23 seconds ahead of Germany, 30 seconds ahead of France and 39 seconds ahead of Belgium.

Third relay runner, Cassandre Beaugrand performs a great swim and comes out 3rd, 26 seconds behind the British Georgia Taylor-Brown, the Olympic vice-champion, and only 3 seconds behind the American Taylor Knibb. During the bike, the Frenchwoman, still uncomfortable in the technical parts, loses contact with the American and is caught by her pursuers, including the Netherlands and Belgium. At T2, Georgia Taylor-Brown sets off on foot alone. Taylor Knibb is 2nd, 11 seconds behind. Cassandre Beaugrand is 5th, 40 seconds behind. After the 2 km run, the Pisciacaise makes up time and passes the baton in 3rd position, 33 seconds behind the leader and 12 seconds behind the United States in second position.

Vincent Luis is the last French relay runner. At the end of the 300 m, the British Yee is 17 seconds ahead of the American Morgan Pearson and 19 seconds ahead of Vincent Luis. Unleashed, Luis gets rid of Pearson and comes back alone on Yee after the first lap and attacks him directly. At the end of the bike, Luis and Yee pose 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 raced toward gold, Pearson closed in on Luis and passed him. In the end, Great Britaintagwon the first Olympic mixed relay title. The United States took the silver medal and France the bronze medal. It was the first Olympic medal in the history of French triathlon..

=> SEE THE COMPLETE MIXED RELAY RANKING