When given the chance to predict this year’s women’s world champion ahead of the WTCS Final, most respondents plumped for Beth Potter.
The Brit took 53% of the vote. She arrives in Pontevedra having won the Paris Olympic Test Event, the biggest race of the year so far, in addition to two WTCS wins earlier in the season.
Meanwhile, the Series leader, Cassandre Beaugrand, came away with 35% of the vote. Beaugrand took the silver medal behind Potter in Paris. Aside from that race, she has been the fastest runner at all of her WTCS races this season. As a result, she has claimed two WTCS wins. A return to that top form in Pontevedra would see her become world champion.
Beaugrand’s compatriot, Emma Lombardi, received only 2% of the vote. The French athlete sits in 3rd place in the rankings. However, she has the best part of 400 points to close to catch Beaugrand, making her shot at the world title a particularly difficult one.
Lombardi was the World U23 champion in 2021 but has not yet won a WTCS race. That could change in Pontevedra, although her share of the vote is in some way a reflection of her inexperience.
Finally, “someone else” ended up with 10% of the vote. Sat less than 10 points behind Lombardi in 4th place, Taylor Spivey is the obvious pick here. Summer Rappaport is in 5th place but with 2357 points she is almost 1000 points behind Beaugrand. A win in Pontevedra is worth 1250 points.
In comparison to the men’s poll, the women’s results were a little less clear-cut. Whereas Alex Yee received over double the vote of the next man, Potter and Beaugrand were considerably closer.
A tense finale, then, will be in store at the WTCS Final. The majority have backed Potter. Will she be able to complete a near-perfect season?
