When it’s Rome, everyone’s attention perks just that little bit more. It therefore follows that this weekend’s World Triathlon Cup will be one of Italy’s most hotly anticipated races of the season. Just a few kilometres removed from the Colosseum will be a contest of a different kind to the Roman era: a sprint distance event around Laghetto dell’EUR consisting of a single-loop 750m swim, a five-lap 20km bike and a two-lap 5km run.
Looking to impress, the home team have selected a strong women’s squad; despite the late withdrawal of WTCS medallist Bianca Seregni, Team Italy will have the top two seeds as part of a host of athletes that have logged high World Cup finishes in 2025. Yet Rome has attracted a stacked international field, and medals will not come easily. Moreover, with the winner of the previous two editions, Nina Eim, absent this time around, we are guaranteed a new victor. Catch all the racing on TriathlonLive on Saturday 4th October, with the women’s race getting underway at 09:30 (CEST), and find out the names to watch below.
Team Italy ready to go
With Seregni out, Verena Steinhauser (ITA) is the top seed. She comes into the race in good form after finishing 15th at WTCS Karlovy Vary and 12th at WTCS Weihai. Earlier in the summer, she also narrowly missed a medal at the Saidia World Cup, finishing 4th.
Next on the start list is multiple World Cup medallist Ilaria Zane (ITA). Since the start of 2024, Zane has finished outside the top-6 at a World Cup race on only one occasion. Among her 2025 highlights have been beating Steinhauser to the bronze medal in Saidia, placing 11th at WTCS Alghero and finishing a whisker off the podium at the Samarkand World Cup in 4th place.
Just as Zane beat Steinhauser to bronze in Saidia, so too will the woman that denied Zane the Samarkand bronze race in Rome. Costanza Arpinelli (ITA) hit a career-best finish with her 3rd in Samarkand and will now push for another visit to the podium. Also racing for the Italian team is Beatrice Mallozzi (ITA), who placed 4th at the World Cup in Huatulco earlier in the season. Across the board, then, the home team is flush with contenders.
World Cup medallists aplenty
Nevertheless, Rome has lured plenty of other World Cup medallists that could challenge for gold. Cathia Schär (SUI) is back after claiming bronze at the race in 2023. World Cup winner, 2025 Oceania sprint triathlon champion and multiple WTCS top-10 finisher Nicole Van Der Kaay (NZL) is likewise on the start list.
From the French team, Sandra Dodet (FRA) is a proven quantity with plenty of World Cup medals to her name, including wins. Her compatriot and fellow World Cup medallist Mathilde Gautier (FRA) is another to watch as she will almost certainly try to drive a breakaway. Then there is the newer member to the cohort: Danielle Orie (USA) won a first medal in Saidia and will look to get the better of Zane and Steinhauser once more.
Rising stars
Elsewhere on the start list, Franka Rust (GER) will look to live up to Eim’s winning ways in Rome and is the third seed. Rust has been a surprise package in 2025, racing well in the WTCS (with a personal best of 13th place) and scoring the bronze medal at the European Sprint Championships. Joining her will be Selina Klamt (GER), the 2023 World U23 champion.
Finally, Manon Laporte (FRA), a medallist at both the 2023 World Junior Championships and 2024 European Junior Championships, will be worth keeping an eye on. This will be Laporte’s World Cup debut. However, with plenty of experience racing World Cup-calibre fields in the French Grand Prix, she will no doubt be well-prepared for the challenge ahead.
