A powerful front pack set the tone in Tongyeong before a large group merged on the bike to create a thrilling, unpredictable showdown. The men hit the run in a long line, trading blows on the steep hills and tight turns. A dramatic final kilometre sprint saw Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger surge to an unforgettable World Cup victory.
Great Britain’s Michael Gar led the men’s field through the 750m swim in the 2025 World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong, with Australia’s Brayden Mercer right alongside him. Around 15 elite men exited the water together, including Gar, Italy’s Alessio Crociani, Mercer, Spain’s Kevin Tarek Viñuela Gonzalez, France’s Yanis Seguin and Nils Serre Gehri, Japan’s Kenji Nener, Austria’s Thomas Windischbauer and Norway’s Vetle Bergsvik Thorn. Austria’s Alois Knabl and Italy’s Pietro Giovannini pushed the tempo early on the bike, working to organise the front group over the first lap of the three lap 20km course.
A chase group sat 10 seconds back and working hard to latch on, while Switzerland’s Max Studer trailed the leaders by 20 seconds with France’s Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger and Israel’s Shachar Sagiv also in pursuit.
Japan’s Takumi Hojo, usually among the fastest swimmers, struggled today and exited the water near 30th, leaving him with significant ground to make up. France’s Nathan Grayel found himself 45 seconds down after the swim and facing a major chase.
The high swim pace strung the field out early, but by the first half of the 20km bike, a lead group of 17 men had consolidated. Korea’s Sangmin Park rode strongly at the front, thrilling the local supporters.
By the second lap, the gap to the chasers sat at 17 seconds, driven largely by Hueber-Moosbrugger and Spain's Andrés Prieto Villar. On the final lap, the groups merged into one large lead pack packed with dangerous runners, including Hueber-Moosbrugger, Australia's Brandon Copeland and Switzerland's Max Studer setting the stage for a fierce foot race.
A chaotic transition saw a long line of athletes pouring onto the hilly, technical 5km run course. Gar and Spain’s Héctor Tolsa Garcia took early control, with Copeland, Nener, Studer and Sagiv immediately marking the front. The fight for position was intense from the outset.
Hueber-Moosbrugger quickly moved into striking distance as the athletes hit the second lap, with Studer directly ahead of him. Gar and Sagiv continued to trade the lead as the group reshuffled repeatedly in the closing kilometres. Crociani and Thorn tucked in behind, calmly waiting for their moment.
In the final stages, Crociani surged onto the shoulder of Hueber-Moosbrugger and Sagiv, while Copeland fought to move forward through the technical sections. The race was wide open as the leaders powered into the final climb and descent.
The last kilometre delivered a spectacular three way sprint. Ultimately, it was France’s Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger who proved untouchable, storming to World Cup gold in a winning time of 00:51:14 .
'I am very happy about this Asian (World Cup) trip. I didn't expect to win today. I didn't feel amazing but the hill helped me alot, I pushed hard. Just go for it, never look back and I maintained this position and I am so happy to finish this way this season,' said gold medallist Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger.
Norway’s Vetle Thorn kicked hard to claim silver, while Israel’s Shachar Sagiv secured a brilliant bronze.
'This kind of feels like a win from the season I have had so far, it was a close finish. There was a bit too many to get a flow on the bike. I knew the hill (on the run) was going to take alot of energy. It's the last lap that counts. So happy to take the second place. I had a stress fracture earlier in the year so it's nice to finish on a high, it means alot.' said silver medallist Vetle Thorn.
'It's been a great season for me, my breakthrough season. An incredible year for me. I am thrilled. Tongyeong and Miyazaki are amazing, I can't wait to come back here again,' said bronze medallist Shachar Sagiv.
Great Britain’s Michael Gar crossed in fourth, with France’s Nils Serre Gehri rounding out the top five.
