Beaugrand, Nieschlag Tops at Arena Games – London
French star Cassandre Beaugrand soundly beat Munich dominator Beth Potter of Great Britain in Arena Games Round Two, held at the Olympic Park in London. Justus Nieschlag of Germany fell 3 points behind Alex Yee in Stage One, then Nieschlag pushed ahead on Stages 2 and 3 for the win.
Women
In a shocking performance, Cassandre Beaugrand of France was in a league of her own all day as she produced the fastest swims, record-breaking runs and powerful cycling to dominate the women’s category at the Arena Games London event, powered by Zwift.
Beaugrand laid down the law on Stage 1 as she set a new fastest mark of 2:13 for the 200 meter swim, added 3 seconds to her margin on the 4 kilometer bike, and added 3 more seconds to her lead with a record 2:56 1-kilometer run on a self-powered treadmill.
Although Potter cut into Beaugrand’s lead on the transitions, after Stage One, Beaugrand total of 12:05 led the flying Scot by 3 seconds, Learmonth by 17 seconds, Taylor-Brown by 24.5 seconds, Audrey Merle of France and Sian Rainsley of Great Britain by 29.5 seconds
On Stage 2, in run-bike-swim order, Beaugrand turned the tables on scouts who suspected she would surrender time on her supposed weak link – the bike. Instead, Beaugrand killed the bike leg and arrived at the swim with 17 seconds on Potter, and one more each on her heavily favored British teammates Learmonth and Taylor-Brown. After the swim, at the end of Stage 2, Beaugrand led Potter by 21 seconds and 36 seconds on Learmonth.
Easing through the swim on the pursuit start, Beaugrand held a lead of more than 20 seconds starting the bike. While Beaugrand held her own on the final bike leg, Learmonth closed a few seconds on Potter. While Beaugrand could coast home on the run, the French star hammered home and her avatar crossed the line with a 30-seconds margin of victory.
Round Two Women’s Standings
1. Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) Winner
2. Beth Potter (GBR) +32.5 seconds
3. Jess Learmonth (GBR) +43.0s
4. Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) +1:09
5. Audrey Merle (FRA) +1:33
6. Sian Rainsley (GBR) +1.55
7. Petra Kurikova (CZE) +2:08
8. Kate Waugh (GBR) +2:25
9. Annabel Knoll (GER) +2:57
10. Zsannett Bragmayer (HUN) +3:13
Round Two Men
Stage 1
Leading off was in swim-bike-run order. Max Stapley led the 200 meter swim min 2:03 with Alex Yee next just under 2:10. On the bike Nicolo Strada of Italy went to the front and led by 7 seconds at T1, followed by Alex Yee, Justus Nieschlag and Takumi Hojo.
Seeking a comeback, Yee was flying on the running treadmill, at a pace well over 21 kilometers per hour. His 2:36 run took Yee to the front with Nieschlag, (who was 3rd in Munich), still 3 seconds behind.
Stage 2
This stage started with a run and Nieschlag was determined not to let Alex Yee walk away. Justus went all-in on the run and then upped the tempo on the bike, using the non-drafting setting to make up from his Stage One disadvantage and built a lead of 10 seconds on the bike. While Nieschlag is usually better on the swim than Yee, Nieschlag wanted to build a big lead coming into the pursuit start to Stage 3. When the scored were tallied, he began Stage 3 with a 16 seconds lead.
Behind the leading duo of Yee and Nieschlag beginning Stage 3, Strada, Stapley, Hueber and Henseleit were just seconds apart in a fight for third through sixth places. With the swim leg leading off Stage 3, Nieschlag extended his lead to 30 seconds during the bike leg. With that big lead, Nieschlag was immune from the battle for third and out of reach of Yee and assured of the Stage 3 win and clinching the overall Round Two win.
Round Two Results – Men
1. Justus Nieschlag GER Time 11:23 – Winner
2. Alex Yee GBR Time 11:52 – +29.3
3. Nicolo Strada ITA Time 12:16 – 53.2
4. Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger FRA +1:01
5. Simon Henseleit (GER) +1:09
6. Max Stapley (AUS) +1:13
7. Takumi Hojo (JPN) +1:25
8. Jeremy Briand (CAN) +1:38
9. Gordon Benson (GBR) +2:06
10. Harry Leleu (GBR) +2:24
With the London title in his pocket, Nieschlag once again proved that he is one of the most consistent contenders in the Arena Games format. The German won the inaugural event in Rotterdam (2020), took second in London (2021), third in Munich (2022) and now topped the podium in London. Four podiums from four starts.
It is now hard to bet against Nieschlag for the eSports World Championship crown in Singapore on May 7.
