There were no WTCS debuts in Pontevedra which makes sense given that the WTCS rankings determined the start list.
What was a little more surprising was the fact that only two athletes managed to achieve a personal best WTCS finish at the race. Moreover, there was not a single personal best finish in the men’s event.
All of the men’s podium had hitherto won a race. Coninx had two previous WTCS wins to his name, Tim Hellwig won in Hamburg in 2021 and Pierre Le Corre memorably triumphed in Sunderland earlier in the summer. Some men matched their previous best, such as Miguel Hidalgo who finished 6th.
None, however, managed to surpass their PB.
Both of the personal bests in Pontevedra therefore came from the women’s race.
Although the plaudits rightly went to Beth Potter for winning the women’s WTCS Final, and in doing so earning the world title, Kate Waugh was one of the stars of the weekend.
The Brit earned her first ever WTCS medal by finishing 2nd and delivered a consummate display. Having emerged with Potter from the water, she remained clamped alongside her rival for the rest of the race until Potter’s late surge proved too much. In the first half of the run, Waugh also took on the challenge of setting the pace, showing a confidence and authority in her racing that often takes time to develop.
Waugh ended 2022 as the World U23 champion. To conclude 2023, she has firmly thrown the cat among the pigeons when it comes to the British Olympic team. Although Georgia Taylor-Brown and Sophie Coldwell have won WTCS races this year, Waugh’s silver medal came at one of the most important events of the season, a point that is recognised in the British Olympic selection policy.
Irrespective of the insane race to Paris to come among the British women, Waugh has taken a monumental step forward.
Her previous best WTCS finish was her 5th place from Yokohama earlier in the year. As well as she raced in Japan, she found an even higher level in Pontevedra.
With momentum behind her, Waugh could be set for an intriguing 2024.
Noelia Juan was the second woman to achieve a personal best finish. She finished 9th to earn a place inside the top-10 for the first time.
In the summer, Juan won a World Cup medal in Tiszaujvaros; she was denied the gold in a late sprint finish against Tilda Månsson. With her Pontevedra performance, Juan has cemented herself as the leading Spanish woman. Although Miriam Casillas Garcia can be expected to rebound to her exceptional 2022 levels, Juan is a rising force in the Spanish squad.
She was one of the best cyclists in Pontevedra, logging the third fastest split. From there, Juan pieced together a well-judged run to hold off the likes of Alice Betto, Claire Michel and Nina Eim.
Like Waugh, she could be set for a big season next year.
