Taylor Knibb of USA and Kate Waugh of Great Britain lead Sophie Linn of Australia during the Women’s Individual Triathlon at Pont Alexandre III, as part of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, in Paris, France. Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
Kiwi triathlete Ainsley Thorpe succumbed to the slippery surface during her race in Paris, which ultimately cost her a shot at a podium finish.
Thorpe crashed on the cobblestones part way through the cycle leg, sending her to the back of he field and crushing her Olympic dream.
It would be a local to claim the race, Cassandre Beaugard storming home during the run to win gold.
Beaugard was caught in a quartet in the final stretches, before she powered clear to get home in one hour 54 minutes and 55 seconds.
Fellow Kiwi Nicole Van der Kaay finished in 31st, six minutes and 39 seconds behind with Thorpe crossing in 44th nine minutes back.
Thorpe suffered a nasty scrape on her arm and she was one of about three or four athletes to go down in the collision.
Many athletes struggled on the wet terrain, numerous crashes coming from the bikes.
Defending champion Flora Duffy from Bermuda, made a strong start in the Seine, emerging from the water eight seconds in front.
However, her lead was quickly whittled away as the Netherland's Maya Kingma overtook Duffy on the back end of the second leg.
World champion Beth Potter was right in touch and made up ground on the run, which soon saw four front runners emerge.
Switzerland's Julie Derron took the lead, followed by Beaugard, Potter and Emma Lombardi, the leading quartet with a 10-second gap.
Derron held the front heading into the final 2500m, but Beaugard pulled ahead with one lap to go, followed by Derron, Pooter and Lombardi.
Van der Kaay admitted she had a bit of an average start.
"I didn't know where I was until I came out of the water, and all of a sudden I see I wasn't too far off the front group, and I was around good enough girls, so I was really happy with that. I really tried to hang in there for the second lap and play it smart."
She said she had a few gnarly crashes in her time, so played the bike on the cautious side.
"I've been practising cornering a lot with my squad, so that has helped a lot.
"Unfortunately there was a crash right in front of me, I do hope those athletes are all right. But I'm really disappointed with how I finished that race."
Van der Kaay said the atmosphere in Paris was "unreal".
"I've experienced nothing like it. It was good to get a little preview for mixed relay. I really hope I can bring it home on the relay."
