World Triathlon Championship Series kicks off in Abu Dhabi with fast racing
Sprint distance course known for its blazing run splits
The buzz is starting to build as elites, age group athletes and spectators count down to the first World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) sprint distance race in Abu Dhabi, February 15-16.
It will be the first race to implement the new rule changes since they were announced last week. Besides the competition, athletes will get to test the implications of more lax water quality standards and a ban on jewellery and watches in the swim.
Women’s line up missing top athletes
On the elite women’s start line is lone Canadian Emy Legault from Quebec, fresh off of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Winner of the Olympic gold last year, Cassandre Beaugrand will not be on the start line, despite wining the Grand Final and series last year. Fellow countrywomen and winner of last year’s opening race, Leonie Periault from France, will be alongside Sandra Dodet to represent in Beaugrand’s absence.
Also absent will be Paris Olympic medallists Julie Derron and Beth Potter. Last year’s WTCS series bronze medallist Emma Lombardi is also out.
An impressive number of German athletes will be racing with eight in total, lead by two series winners, Lisa Tertsch and Laura Lindemann. Lindemann anchored her Olympic team to win gold in the mixed relay in Paris last year. Tertsch was a standout on the run course during last year’s series, and a top favourite to win in Abu Dhabi.
The second largest cohort of athletes comes from Italy with World Cup winners Bianca Seregni and Alice Betto. Followed by the Italians, the US make up a party of three with veterans Taylor Spivey and Gwen Jorgensen, along with Erica Ackerlund. Spivey was a medalist in 2023, while Jorgensen is on a path to regain her place at top, making a comeback last year after a hiatus following her gold winning performance at the Rio Olympics.
Men’s line up promises as face-off on the run
In the men’s race, 2024 WTCS Grand Final winner and Paris Olympics silver medallist Hayden Wilde is the favourite to win. Spain, Brazil and Australia all have teams of four athletes vying for the title. Matthew Hauser from Australia is one to watch, known for his blazing performance on the short course run.
Last year’s winner of the kick off race in Yokohama is also ready to race. Morgan Pearson from the US recently made headlines for a 1:01:01 in the Houston half marathon. He is sure to give the others a run for their money on the flat and fast run course.
Canada is sending a single male athlete, Charles Paquet, also fresh off of last year’s Paris Olympics.
Paris gold medallist and winner of last year’s series, Alex Yee, will not be racing. He also won the Abu Dhabi race the last time it was held there in 2023. He has been publicly vocal about his current priority being the London marathon in spring. Last year’s series runner up and Paris Olympics medallist, Leo Bergere will also be absent, choosing to focus on the PTO’s T100 World Tour.
Without the Olympics influencing race schedule decisions the 2025 promises to see a lot of top names going head to head.
The event was cancelled last year due to poor weather conditions.