The tropical battleground of Huatulco, Mexico is ready to host the fifth stop of the 2025 World Triathlon Cup circuit, and promises another fast, tactical, and gruelling showdown in what have traditionally been sweltering temperatures on the Pacific coast.
It was a year ago that Richard Murray rolled back the years here and held off a young and hungry field, and this time around 50 athletes from no fewer than 20 nations will line up in the hunt for medals as the mid-point of the season nears.
A classic sprint-distance challenge awaits, the 750m swim in warm bay waters transitions to 20km bike and 5km run to the tape, and you can watch it all play out over on TriathlonLive.tv from 9.30am local time this Sunday .
Moya means business
Leading the charge and wearing the number one bib will be Chile’s Diego Moya. The 26-year-old has consistently proven himself as a tenacious competitor on the World Cup circuit and scored his biggest win just days ago with the Americas continental title in Colombia on 7 June. Expect him to be fast out at the horn and looking to break some of the big runners as early as possible in pursuit of his first World Cup gold.
Moya's strong swim-bike combination and ability to thrive in hot conditions could be crucial on this challenging Huatulco course. He’ll look to build on previous podium finishes in Americas-based events, where he's historically performed well.
Home hopes with Zuniga and Penaflor
Flying the flag for the host nation is Osvaldo Darell Zuñiga Fierro of Mexico. Zuñiga has steadily climbed the ranks in Pan American and regional competitions and was third behind Moya in Calima, the youngster’s first Olympic distance race. Competing on home soil will no doubt provide an added edge, and he's likely to draw energy from a supportive local crowd and Zuñiga Fierro could be poised for a breakout performance.
Aram Penaflor took the bronze here two years ago in a stacked field and will be another massive medal contender, Antonio Bravo leads the line for Brazil and Spanish hopes lie with the exciting prospect Esteban Basanta.
Australia’s Toby Powers is another one to watch. The young Aussie talent, wearing number three, has made waves in the junior and U23 categories and is now looking to solidify his place among the elites. Known for his aggressive biking and fearless racing style, Powers could be a real contender if a breakaway is able to stick out there.
Canadians ready to unleash potential
Canada boasts strong representation with Liam Donnelly and Martin Sobey starting with numbers four and five, respectively. Sobey, in particular, has a growing reputation for consistency and top-10 finishes and his run finish makes him a real podium threat in conditions where the right tactical decisions will be decisive.
After his silver in Chengdu, expect Shachar Sagiv to be ready to show his bike-run prowess once again. Sixth in his only previous start here back in 2022, Sagiv is a relentless competitor and will know that this weekend represents a great opportunity to secure that as-yet elusive World Cup gold.
Team World Triathlon’s second World Cup gathering of 2025 brings together three young talents in Alvaro Campos (CRC), Tiago Munoz (ARG) and Alejandro Rodriguez (CUB) alongside the experienced figure of Diego Moya, German legend Daniel Unger bringing his expertise to the group for the first time as Team Manager.
Full start list available here.
