Lisa Tertsch celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the women's race at the World Triathlon Cup in Tangier by 12 seconds ©World Triathlon

German Lisa Tertsch and France’s Pierre Le Corre triumphed as the World Triathlon Cup circuit arrived at Tangier in Morocco, the first time an African country outside of South Africa had hosted a triathlon event of this level.

Victory in the women’s race, held over the sprint distance, went to Lisa Tertsch, a week after she qualified to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Tertsch waited for the run to reach the blue carpet before a late burst of speed gave her victory in a time of 58min 46sec.

Tertsch recorded the fastest run split of 16:32, winning by 12 seconds from Spain’s Noelia Juan.

Juan built on an impressive display from last month’s World Triathlon Championship Series Finals on home territory in Pontevedra, when she placed inside the top ten, taking second in Tangier in 58:58.

The podium was completed by Tilda Månsson of Sweden in 59:02, after she beat Belgium’s Jolien Vermeylen, who clocked 59:04, in a sprint finish.

Pierre Le Corre followed up a third-place finish at the World Triathlon Championship Finals with victory at the World Triathlon Cup in Tangier ©World Triathlon
Pierre Le Corre followed up a third-place finish at the World Triathlon Championship Finals with victory at the World Triathlon Cup in Tangier ©World Triathlon

The top five was rounded off by Rachel Klamer of the Netherlands, another athlete who has already booked a Paris 2024 spot, in 59:09.

In the men’s race, France’s Pierre Le Corre followed up his third place at the World Triathlon Championship Series Finals with victory in Tangier.

Le Corre, who had already secured a Paris 2024 Olympic place, broke clear in the latter stages of the run as he triumphed in 53:55.

The silver medal went to Spain’s David Cantero Del Campo in 54:08, who earlier this season won on home soil at the World Cup in Valencia.

Vetle Berqsvik Thorn of Norway, a double European Games gold medallist in Krakow earlier this year, completed the podium in 54:18.

Fourth place went to Britain’s Harry Leleu in 54:26, a career-best performance, while the top five was completed by Louis Vitiello of France in 54:28.