In just her debut appearance on the Supertri circuit, Belgian triathlete Jolien Vermeylen made a massive statement by clinching a stunning victory at Supertri Toronto, toppling an elite field that included Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand and fellow French star Leonie Periault.
Toronto’s Supertri format featured three intense rounds of 300m swim, 4km bike, and 1.6km run, each separated by six-minute rest intervals. Cumulative times from the first two heats determined the staggered start order for the third and decisive round. Vermeylen impressed early, winning the opening heat, but a slightly slower second heat saw her start the final heat three seconds behind Periault, with a tightly packed chase group that included Beaugrand, Emma Lombardi, Georgia Taylor-Brown, and Jeanne Lehair all within 20 seconds.
In the final heat, Beaugrand quickly swam up to the leading duo, forming a front pack with Periault and Vermeylen on the bike. Yet the intensity of the race drew the chase group back in, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown over the last 1.6 kilometers on foot.
It was Vermeylen who boldly surged to the front, setting a searing pace. Beaugrand responded like a bullet train, flying past her after 500 meters and momentarily looking like the winner. But the French champion’s move proved premature. Vermeylen wasn’t done – and with a fierce second acceleration, she reclaimed the lead. Periault briefly tried to follow, but the Belgian was simply untouchable.
Vermeylen crossed the line first, with Periault two seconds behind and Beaugrand finishing third, six seconds adrift. Speaking post-race, Beaugrand admitted she had misjudged the final run distance, as she thought she had to complete one lap in stead of two.
