The format may be unchanged, the calendar may look similar, but everything about this year’s World Triathlon Cup slate is shaping up to be something totally different to last year. Whereas much of the racing in 2024 was marked by the late dash to qualify for the Paris Olympic Games, the 2025 World Cups will likely be characterised by the opportunity for the next generation of triathlon talent to step up to the world level.

To look back to 2022 and the post-Tokyo Games season is illustrative. Paris women’s silver medallist Julie Derron struck silver at the opening World Cup of the year in Arzachena, rising Spanish star Sergio Baxter Cabrera powered to a maiden win in Pontevedra and Tilda Månsson stunned the world by winning in Bergen as a junior. Elsewhere, Csongor Lehmann scooped a first World Cup win of his own in Karlovy Vary. Come the end of the Olympic cycle, he developed into a WTCS medallist and bona fide Olympic podium contender. As such, expect multiple new faces to dazzle in this year’s World Cup.

22^nd-23^rd February – NAPIER

In a repeat of last season, Napier (NZL) launches the World Cup action. A successful first edition of the event in 2024 yielded double Australian gold for Callum McClusky and Sophie Linn. Might the home New Zealand team strike back this year with contenders ranging from Hayden Wilde, Nicole van der Kaay and Dylan McCullough looking to impress? Navigating the sea swim and unleashing a fast final kick will likely prove decisive in the sprint distance affair.

22^nd March – LIEVIN

The action then moves to the other side of the world with the Indoor World Cup in Lievin (FRA). Like Napier, Lievin made its debut on the circuit last year to great fanfare and the indoor event was one of the highlights of the season. With its multi-round format consisting of super sprint triathlons within one arena, energy management and sprint finishes will be two crucial elements. Vetle Bergsvik Thorn and Laura Lindemann came out on top last year but expect a formidable French team to star before rapturous home crowds.

12^th-13^th April – VINA DEL MAR

Vina del Mar (CHI) then returns to the World Cup plan for the third time. In 2022 and 2023, the event took place at the end of the season in November. This year, the racing will come much earlier in April. Whether this shift in date will impact the racing remains to be seen. What can be expected, though, are a pair of lightning fast races. Home star Diego Moya has illuminated the race previously while the women’s race in 2023 saw a breakaway pack tear the field apart on the bike.

19^th-20^TH April - BRASILIA

In a South American double header, the Brasilia World Cup follows a week later. Like Vina del Mar, the race has been moved from its previous autumn slot; this may provide the perfect window for domestic heroes like Manoel Messias, Vittoria Lopes, Miguel Hidalgo and Djenyfer Arnold to race before their compatriots. Hidalgo and Messias have won the two previous men’s races in Brasilia (BRA). Will anyone break their stranglehold on their home event in 2025?

10^th May – CHENGDU

The familiar venue of Chengdu (CHN) then returns for a sprint distance event in May. Last season, the event was contested over the standard distance and saw successful breakaways in both the men’s and women’s races, with Olympic medallist Julie Derron winning the latter. The change in format may shake up how the racing plays out this time around. Notably, the race also falls a week before WTCS Yokohama and may therefore provide a perfect hit-out for several big names.

24^th-25^th May – SAMARKAND

Samarkand (UZB) saw plenty of firsts in 2024. At the first edition of the eponymous World Cup, Connor Bentley and Lena Meißner scored maiden World Cup victories. Perhaps this year the second time of hosting might result in second victories for Bentley, Meißner or others. The same taxing standard distance course will be on offer and so the event will likely be among the toughest of the calendar.

21^st-22^nd June – HUATULCO

Some athletes like it hot and few races bring the heat like the Huatulco World Cup. The iconic Mexican seaside race is often among the most challenging races of the year simply due to the conditions. The sprint distance course generally holds few surprises but managing the weather is a trial with which plenty have previously struggled. Richard Murray nailed a comeback victory at the race last year in a nod to the value of experience but, in the heat of Huatulco, upsets are never far away.

28^th-29^th June – SAIDIA

At the end of June, we then come to the first new venue of the World Cup season (as things stand). Saidia (MAR) has previously hosted an African Triathlon Cup and will make its bow on the world stage. In 2023, Morocco appeared on the circuit for the first time with the event in Tangier and the Saidia race will look to build upon that encouraging start. Look for home star and WTCS medallist Jawad Abdelmoula to carry the local hopes for gold at the sprint distance competition.

5^th-6^th July – TISZAUJVAROS

From the youngest venue to the oldest: the great dame of triathlon, the Tiszaujvaros World Cup, will be back in its customary early July slot. As always, the racing will take place over two days with a semi-final and final made up of a sprint distance triathlon apiece. Csongor Lehmann starred in the men’s race last year and any young guns looking to nab gold will have an almighty challenge in unseating him. The man from Tiszaujvaros (HUN) has four straight wins at the event (the first two of which came in European Triathlon Cup races). Will it be win number five on the trot for Lehmann this year? Or will someone finally dethrone the King of Tiszaujvaros?

20^th-21^st September – VALENCIA

After a summer break on the World Cup front, the circuit returns for its autumn swing, starting with Valencia (ESP). In a similar fashion to Lehmann, David Cantero del Campo has claimed two wins on the bounce at the event and will look to complete the hat-trick this year. On a flat course that plays to his running strengths, it will take something special to beat the World U23 champion.

4^th-5^th October - ROME

For the third consecutive event of the year, another athlete will look to complete a World Cup hat-trick. On each of her two previous appearances in Rome (ITA), Nina Eim came, saw and conquered. In each previous iteration of the event, the racing has taken place over an undulating sprint distance course which the German athlete has mastered. Should the same course be on offer in the Italian capital, few will bet against her making it three wins in a row.

1^st-2^nd November – TONGYEONG

Part one of the season-ending double header then takes place in the familiar destination of Tongyeong (KOR). Dylan McCullough’s rip-roaring breakaway victory was the major talking point from last season’s edition and Tongyeong is famously a course that offers something for everyone. Maybe the runners will get their revenge this year, or maybe McCullough’s blueprint for victory will prove unbeatable once more.

8^th-9^th November – MIYAZAKI

Finally, the World Cup calendar concludes in Miyazaki (JPN) almost nine months after the opener in Napier. With much of the field likely to be comprised of those that raced in Tongyeong a week earlier, there will likely be a variety of narratives to track, ranging from athletes hunting double podiums to others seeking a slice of redemption. In the last couple of years, Miyazaki has been won by renowned runners like Gwen Jorgensen and Hugo Milner. Should tired legs after a long year come into play, though, anything could happen.

Follow all the action throughout 2025 on TriathlonLive and across World Triathlon social channels.