Out into the 750m sprint-distance swim, it was fast and furious into the Pacific Ocean with stunning sea conditions and a slight swell, as 34 elite men launched into the first World Cup of the 2025 season in Napier, New Zealand.
AUSSIES SET THE PACE EARLY
Australian’s rising star Brayden Mercer, renowned as a strong swim specialist, found himself at the front of the race in the swim. Fellow Australian Jack Crome was right up there with Mercer to set the pace early on in todays’ race. A lot of the athletes saved their kick in the swim towards the end, as a congested field of men made their way into shore, through transition and onto the bike course.
Coming out onto the bike we had four packs form early on. The leaders worked so hard to try and stay away from the field. Austria’s Tjebbe Kaindl had a turn leading the charge and featured as one of the key athletes towards the front.
BRAVE ATTACKS
At the mid stage of the bike, packs came together with a lot of athletes trying to make breakaways stick. An interesting development unfolded, Panagiotis Bitados (GRC) and Kaindl managed to get a slight break. A brave attack from New Zealand’s Ivan Abele managed to catch on to these the front riders.
It was at this stage of the race where Bitados, who was looking to be a main contender in the race, lost his bike chain ring and was swept way behind the field. Abele and Kaindl sat up and let the huge pack of athletes form one huge group who came together, across the remainder of the 20km bike course. This is the way it stayed, a few attacks and mini breaks took place before rolling on into the final transition of the day.
THE HUSTLE FOR POSITIONS
30 athletes together and the jostling of positioned meant it was going to lead into a huge 5km running race. Kazushi Jozuka of Japan was the first athlete to strike the pavement followed by pre-race favourite Luke Willian, then Spanish athletes David Castro Fajardo and Roberto Sanchez Mantecon. USA’s Reese Vannerson, a young gun in Project Podium, showed signs of contention as he attacked to the front.
10 athletes came together stride for stride at this stage the two Spaniards applied the pressure on the pack and stated to whittle the pack down.
THE SPANISH ATTACK
A lead group of five men were in, including the two Spaniards with David Castro Fajardo and Roberto Sanchez Mantecon taking turns surging at the front in attempts to break the field apart. The likes of Mercer then tagged onto the back of the leading men with 400 metres to go and the final stage of the race took charge.
The podium was sorted in the strides that followed, but the order had to wait again until the blue carpet and it was Castro proving the quickest, in front of his coach and legendary triathlete Javier Gomez Noya, running away from a flying Mercer in his first ever World Cup podium and 2024 winner Callum McClusky (AUS).
New Zealand's Tayler Reid lost touch with the medals but was the first home of New Zealanders in 7th.
ATHLETE REFLECTIONS
David Castro Fajardo
“I am very emotional, the last year was very hard for me. I was injured and didn’t compete for nine months. Now, start of the season, new coach, I need a refresh on my mind and I can’t believe that I started the year with a win here. I love New Zealand, I am very very happy.”
“My coach Javier (Gomez Noya) told me, you are very confident, when you start the run you push and if you’re in a big group, you think in the last 300 metres you can sprint and win. It’s my tactic and I am very happy.”
“I looked at the start list and the birth year of all participants, I am the grand father, I feel like Peter Pan in my body. The year has started, I have no words.”
Brayden Mercer AUS
“First ever World Cup podium and first race of the year, I am obviously very stoked. I pushed hard out there to the line, huge effort. Super happy, I got onto that run and sort of fumbled into T2 so I knew I had to do a bit of work so I kept calm. I knew I could do it and one by one was picking them off and by the U-turn, I was on that front pack and I wanted to be the one to make the move. I just fell short and got second but I am so stoked.”
“Came out of the water first and I wanted to break the race up, having the swim as my strength. I got onto the bike and it was split into half the field, we did try and get away and we couldn’t get organised. I knew I had to stay calm and fall back on my training.”
“This is the start, bigger and better from here.”
Callum McClusky AUS
“Probably not as happy as last year, I don’t think you can match the feelings of last year, first World Cup win but I was happy to back up with the podium again, after last week in Abu Dhabi.”
“I felt pretty good, we were playing a bit of cat and mouse. I just didn’t have the legs for the win today. But the two guys up front were just really strong so congratulations to them.”
“It’s a lovely place. It’s been really good to me. I might have to move here.”
“I have Devonport next and you never know what he selectors are going to do and hopefully we will be on a WTCS start line soon.”
Race photos can be found HERE.
Race replay can be watched on TriathlonLive.tv.
Full results can be found online.