Lisa Tertsch led a brilliant German clean sweep in the first WTCS race of the 2025 season in Abu Dhabi.
Over the sprint distance and on the on all-new Hudayriat island course, the German women could not have started the next Olympic cycle in better fashion as Nina Eim and Laura Lindemann chased home Tertsch in a thrilling finish, with just two seconds between the trio.
It was only the third time a single country has finished first, second and third in a women’s WTCS race (or equivalent), Australia and the United States being the others.
Here’s how an historic day played out…
Swim – Seregni and Vermeylen surge clear
Pre-race favourite Tertsch in bib #1 elected to go to the left for the beach start and she got off to a flyer.
But as things started to settle down – and well before halfway in the 750m test – there was a clear break up front as Italy’s Bianca Seregni and Belgium’s Jolien Vermeylen left their rivals trailing.
They would both exit the water in under nine minutes, Seregni out first in 8:56.
It was fully 18 seconds back to Taylor Spivey in third and 20+ to the rest.
In fifth and sixth were German duo Tertsch and Lindemann, both gold medal winners as part of the Mixed Team Relay at the Paris Olympics last summer.
Locked together at +29 seconds were 2016 Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen (USA) and Tilda Mansson (SWE), with an 18-year age gap between them.
Britain’s sole representative Kate Waugh was at +34 in 28th.
Bike – Jorgensen drops out of contention
Despite their advantage it was always going to be a big ask for Seregni and Vermeylen to stay clear of the pack and the catch came early on in the five-lap test.
But the big news was happening in behind as Jorgensen was in danger of getting detached from the 30-woman front pack.
Starting the third lap she was 12 seconds back along with Julia Bröcker (GER) and Leana Bissig (SUI) and the task for that trio was made even harder when Waugh powered to the front of the main group and started to string things out.
Abu Dhabi of course was where Waugh was crowned World U23 champion in 2022 and her efforts saw Jorgensen’s deficit more than double to 23 seconds by the end of that third lap.
In contrast all the other big favourites were able to stay on Waugh’s wheel and lap four saw a relative settling down for what was now a 29-strong front group. Jorgensen’s chances meanwhile were over as she dropped further and further back.
The status quo remained on the fifth and final lap and we were set for a 5km shootout on the run, with the likes of Tertsch and Mansson no doubt fancying their chances as two of the quickest runners.
Run – Cat and mouse before Tertsch pounces
A brilliant transition from Tertsch saw her start the run at the head of affairs.
But Waugh went with her and we soon had an 11-strong front group which featured no fewer than five Germans, with Annika Koch, and Tanja Neubert joining Tertsch, Eim and Lindemann.
By the end of the first of two 2.5km laps it was France’s Leonie Periault who led the way, with Germany in second, third, fourth and fifth!
And early on lap two Periault started to really push the pace, with Tertsch, Lindemann and Eim the only three now able to stay with her and it suddenly looked like this quartet had the medals between them.
That was underlined as they were locked together inside the final kilometre, with the rest distanced.
All four were sharing the work up front and they all tried digs of their own but the one that stuck with around 400 metres to go was that of Tertsch as she powered down the blue carpet to lead that German one-two-three, with Periault missing out on the podium.
WTCS Abu Dhabi 2025 Results
Saturday February 15, 2025 – 750m swim, 19.1km bike, 5km run
Elite Women
- 1. Lisa Tertsch (GER) – 54:29 (9:18 / 28:07 / 16:06)
- 2. Nina Eim (GER) – 54:30 (9:27 / 27:55 / 16:02)
- 3. Laura Lindemann (GER) – 54:31 (9:18 / 28:07 / 16:02)
- 4. Leonie Periault (FRA) – 54:35 (9:26 / 28:00 / 16:07)
- 5. Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal (MEX) – 54:46 (9:24 / 28:08 / 16:14)
- 6. Tanja Neubert (GER) – 54:46 (9:30 / 27:59 / 16:14)
- 7. Jeanne Lehair (LUX) – 54:54 (9:24 / 28:03 / 16:25)
- 8. Bianca Seregni (ITA) – 54:57 (8:56 / 28:31 / 16:26)
- 9. Diana Isakova (RUS) – 54:58 (9:17 / 28:10 / 16:26)
- 10. Kate Waugh (GBR) – 55:02 (9:30 / 27:52 / 16:38)
