Yesterday we looked at the men that could win their first WTCS medal this season and today we are doing the same for the women.
The same parameters apply here as with the men’s post. To be considered, an athlete cannot have won a WTCS medal previously. In addition, we will also suggest a course that we think could suit each athlete named below.
The list below contains some names that have become consistent figures on the WTCS and also a couple of younger athletes that could also enjoy a breakout performance.
Anabel Knoll GER (1996)
Since appearing for Germany at the Tokyo Olympics, Knoll elevated herself to a new level of consistency.
In 2022, she finished 7th at WTCS Yokohama, 8th at WTCS Leeds and then 6th at WTCS Hamburg. While injury deflated the second half of her year, she showed enough in the first few races to indicate that she could be a medallist in the near future.
Knoll is not weak over the Sprint distance. Indeed she made the German Olympic team via the relay; both that and her showing in Hamburg demonstrate that she has the turn of speed to challenge over the shorter format.
However, it feels like she may have a little more luck this season over the Olympic distance. The main reason for this is that given her well-rounded skillset she would likely benefit from a harder Olympic distance race in which the field breaks up a little more.
With that mind, we suspect Cagliari could be course for her to make the step up at this year. The course offers enough to entice a breakaway for someone with racing nous to exploit. Knoll could just be that athlete.
Miriam Casillas Garcia ESP (1992)
Casillas had her best season yet in 2022 with finishes of 7th at WTCS Bermuda, 5th at WTCS Cagliari and 7th at the European Championships in Munich.
Furthermore, she has four World Cup medals and now possesses the potent combination of momentum and experience. Another good winter could be all it takes for her to make the step onto the podium.
In 2022, she repeatedly showed her strength on the run, especially in Bermuda and Abu Dhabi. Indeed, one thing that stood out was that she enjoyed most of her success over the Olympic distance.
For that reason, we think Yokohama might be her best shot. The course has generally favoured fast runners historically and Casillas falls firmly into that category.
The key will be to limit any losses on the swim as that is what prevented her from medalling in 2022. With her recent improvement and new level of self-belief, it is easy to see her making those small adjustments that will put her in medal contention.
Julie Derron SUI (1996)
The 2021 European champion has been developing into a medal contender for a few years now.
In 2022, she finished 9th at WTCS Leeds, which represented her first top-10 at that level. Like Knoll, she is still young and improving and so will likely chip further into the top-10. Moreover, there is a parallel that can be drawn with Casillas.
Once Casillas established herself as a top-10 athlete, success prompted more success as she began to feel comfortable at her newfound level. To a similar degree, Derron just needs a breakthrough WTCS performance to really cement herself. She has all of the ability to do so; that last big step will therefore likely be as much mental as it will be physical.
Generally, Derron has thrived on tougher courses. She has two World Cup gold medals to her name, in Weihai in 2019 and Karlovy Vary in 2022; both came over the Olympic distance.
On paper, Pontevedra looks to be the toughest race on the circuit on this season’s WTCS calendar.
It will obviously be a challenge to medal at the Final. However if Derron can continue to develop throughout the season, it is entirely possible that she arrives in Spain in her best form yet and exploits a course that plays to her strengths.
Kate Waugh GBR (1999)
Last season, the 2021 World U23 champion, Emma Lombardi, set an unrealistic standard by winning a WTCS medal the year after claiming her world title. It often takes longer for an athlete to make the step up from the U23 ranks and is not as easy as Lombardi made it look.
Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that the 2022 World U23 champion, Kate Waugh, is ready to make the same step up this year.
In 2022, Kate Waugh recorded 12th place finishes at WTCS Hamburg and WTCS Cagliari. To go with that, she has a best WTCS finish of 9th from Hamburg in 2021.
Her results therefore point to incipient consistency at the highest level.
Alongside this, Waugh’s triumph in Abu Dhabi displayed her intelligence within races that will stand her in good stead. At the highest level, being good enough to win a race is one thing. Knowing how to win a race is something different altogether.
This year, Sunderland looks like it will be Waugh’s best shot at a medal. Home support will likely be an important boost over her rivals. Similarly, should the organisers arrange for the course to follow along the template set by WTCS Leeds, it should be a venue that plays to her strengths.
Alberte Kjaer Pedersen DEN (1998)
Pedersen has been the closest of any athlete on this list to winning a WTCS medal. Last year, she narrowly missed out when she finished 4th in Montreal.
That stellar performance was largely driven by her brilliant running and you do not have to look far to find more proof of her ability.
In 2021, she won the silver medal at the World U23 Championships in Edmonton with a run split that beat all bar one of the elite women in the WTCS Final on the same course. Alongside that, she represented Denmark internationally in athletics as a Junior athlete.
When you factor in Pedersen’s running history and track speed, it becomes clear that she has the requisite weaponry to be a factor in the final part of the race. All she needs is the right race to unleash her speed.
Whilst Pedersen finished 8th at the European Championships in 2022, the shorter races seem to suit her better right now.
For that reason we think Montreal will be her best shot of winning a medal. Not only did she race well there in 2022, but Montreal is home to a fast, flat course that will reward the runners. As one of the best runners in the field, Pedersen can head to Canada with high hopes.
