Hong Kong will host the second World Triathlon Cup of the season this weekend, as a number of top professionals look to pivot from the last minute cancellation of WTCS Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago.
With an expanded field in the special administrative region as a result of Abu Dhabi being called off, the start lists for both the men and women’s races are packed for the sprint distance event.
In our preview piece below, you can find all the details on the race, including information on start times, how to follow live and who is likely to be competing for a spot on the podium in both races.
Start time and how to watch live
The action will kick off on Sunday March 24 in Hong Kong, with the women starting first at 09:30 local time. This corresponds to 01:30 in the UK, 02:30 in Central Europe and 17:30 on Saturday March 23 on the West Coast.
On the men’s side, the race will start at 11:05 local time. This corresponds to 03:05 in the UK, 04:05 in Central Europe and 19:05 on Saturday on the West Coast. All the action will be available to watch live via Triathlonlive.tv
Pro Women
The top seed for the women’s race is American Olympian Summer Rappaport, who will race for the first time this season and is one of a number of top athletes fighting for a spot on Team USA.
Joining Rappaport from the States is Kirsten Kasper, who starts wearing #3, plus Tokyo Olympic Individual and Mixed Team Relay medalist Katie Zaferes.
Zaferes, who was a DNF at the Americas Triathlon Championship in Miami earlier this month, was disqualified from her last World Triathlon Cup event at the end of 2023 in Vina Del Mar, Chile.
Joining the Americans on the start line are stars such as Julie Derron from Switzerland, who is racing off the back of an Asia Triathlon Cup win last month, and Spanish World #22 Noelia Juan.
Finally, a quartet of British athletes will make the trip out to Asia, led by Olivia Mathias. The Commonwealth Games medalist, who was third at the first World Cup of the year in Napier, will race alongside compatriot Sophie Alden, who just pipped her to silver in New Zealand.
Olympic bronze medalist Vicky Holland, continuing her return from pregnancy, will race her fifth World Triathlon Cup since October 2023. Third in Vina Del Mar last November, the 38-year-old will be in the hunt for another podium in Hong Kong.
Pro Men
Wearing #1 on the men’s side, Kenji Nener of Japan heads a top class field, with a number of World Cup medalists chasing more silverware on Sunday.
Alongside Nener, WTCS regulars such as German Lasse Nygaard Priester and Hungarian Bence Bicsak are racing, the latter of whom has multiple top tier podiums to his name.
Spaniards Antonio Serrat Seoane and David Castro Fajardo are two more top class athletes who will be in the mix throughout, with Castro Fajardo possessing an unrivalled finishing kick if the race comes down to a sprint finish.
Olympic medalist Kevin McDowell, back racing after some injury struggles, is a welcome addition to the start list, as is his American compatriot Matt McElroy, who picked up two medals at the Pan American Games in his last outing.
Finally, the British team are represented by a trio of young stars, with Dan Dixon, Ben Dijkstra and Max Stapley kicking off their seasons in Hong Kong.
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