Neutral athlete Diana Isakova delivered under the scorching heat of the Moroccan coast to claim victory at the inaugural 2025 World Triathlon Cup Saidia, showcasing a powerful run to break away from the field and cross the finish line solo. Danielle Orie (USA) celebrated her first World Cup podium in second, while Ilaria Zane (ITA) rounded out the top three. 

The Saidia World Cup debuted on the circuit with 30 women lining up for a standard distance race under a scorching sun. The athletes began with a beach start for the 1500m swim, contested over two laps with an Aussie exit in between. Kiwi athlete Eva Goodisson established an early lead from the first strokes, then made a strategic decision upon exiting the water. She dove back in as far to the right as possible, a move that proved advantageous as the rest of the field, swimming a more direct line to the buoy, were dragged left by the strong current, adding extra meters to their swim.

Goodisson emerged from the water with a 35-second advantage over a chase group that included Danielle Orie (USA), Diana Isakova (AIN), Marta Kropko (HUN), Ainsley Thorpe (NZL), and the Italian trio of Ilaria Zane, Verena Steinhauser, and Angelica Prestia.

The Kiwi extended her lead in the first two laps of the 40km bike, but after the second lap, with Goodisson 47 seconds ahead, the chasers, spearheaded by Barbara Riveros (CHI) and Steinhauser, began to organize. Halfway through the bike, Goodisson was caught, and the leading group of 14 athletes eased off the pace, conserving energy for the 10km run, anticipating the impact of the high temperatures.

They entered T2 together, and Isakova and Orie immediately surged to the front, with only Zane, Steinhauser, and Kroptko able to maintain their pace.

Isakova, a late addition to the start list after a visa issue prevented her from racing the Aquathlon World Championships in Pontevedra, proved her ability to perform in the extreme heat of Morocco, never relinquishing her lead during the five-lap run. Orie, a relative newcomer to the World Cup circuit - this was only her second World Cup appearance after a 10th-place finish in Samarkand - showcased her track background but ultimately yielded to Isakova with one lap remaining.

Orie was nonetheless thrilled with her silver medal, holding off Zane, who secured third place, marking her return to the podium since 2023.

Steinhauser finished fourth, while Kropko took fifth. The third Italian, Prestia, finished sixth, and Goodisson's early breakaway resulted in a seventh-place finish overall, with Charlotte Derbyshire rounding out the top eight. Isakova crossed the finish line in first place, with the fastest run split of the day.