Max Studer storms to World Cup victory in Miyazaki with a powerful run finish. Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger sprints to silver as Great Britain’s Michael Gar earns career best bronze in the 2025 World Triathlon Cup Miyazaki.
A grey, misty morning greeted the men’s field in Miyazaki, Japan, as they prepared to race one of the last World Triathlon Cups of the 2025 season. The sprint-distance course, a 1 lap swim, 4 lap bike and 2 lap run promised fast and tactical racing despite the drizzle and humid coastal air. With valuable late season points on the line, the stage was set for an exciting showdown among a world-class field.
Japan’s Takumi Hojo set the tone early, powering through the 750m swim to lead the field into transition and out onto the bike. Canada’s Tyler Mislawchuk was among the first athletes on the bike, as a huge group of nearly 48 men quickly came together on the course. With most of the field riding in the main group, positioning proved crucial, particularly through the tight corners and dead turns that define the coastal circuit in Miyazaki.
Defending champion Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger positioned himself perfectly within the bunch, conserving energy and keeping the leaders in sight, a smart move given his well known run strength. Out front, Japan's Kenji Nener, Max Studer (SUI), USA’s Darr Smith and Great Britain’s Jack Willis each took turns setting the tempo, keeping the pace high but the group intact.
As the athletes hit the bell lap, the pack remained bunched together, setting up what promised to be a chaotic second transition and an explosive final 5km run to decide the medals in Japan.
As the athletes hit the bell lap, the pack remained bunched together, setting up what promised to be a chaotic second transition and an explosive final 5km run to decide the medals in Japan.
T2 was a frenzy as the field charged into the final transition of the day and out onto the 2-lap run course, with athletes jostling for position as they surged out onto the streets of Miyazaki.
From the outset, Studer, Hueber-Moosbrugger, Israel’s Shachar Sagiv and Great Britain’s emerging talent Michael Gar broke away to set the pace, establishing themselves as the clear front pack. The quartet traded strides and tested one another through the humid, twisting course, with Studer pushing the tempo and Hueber-Moosbrugger biding his time, known for his trademark finishing kick.
As the race entered its closing stages, Studer made his move, breaking away to claim a brilliant victory in Japan in a time of 00:54:51.
“Really happy to come here with the race number one and to conquer the gold medal,” said Studer.
“The bike was quite tough in places with the tricky corners, it was really important to stay in the first few places and then on the run I started fast but controlled a little bit. Sagiv (of Israel) started really strong and I held onto him and then I was like, I don’t want anyone to come back so I pushed the pace and luckily I picked it up and on the last 500 metres I could manage a gap and bring it home,” added Studer.
The defending champion Hueber-Moosbrugger surged home for silver, while Great Britain’s Michael Gar produced the performance of his career to capture bronze, holding off Sagiv in a gripping finish. The 2025 World Triathlon Cup in Miyazaki marked Gar’s debut on the World Cup circuit.
“Finishing on the podium after getting your first World Cup medal here last year is something special for me. Being one of the most consistent French athletes on the World Cup level is a good achievement for me this year and I am really happy with this place,” said Hueber-Moosbrugger.
“I am buzzing, I really didn’t expect that coming into this race. It’s my first ever World Cup so I just wanted to get some good experience and it’s the end of the season so to have a lot of fun and it went amazing,” said Gar.
“I had a good transition and coming out of T1 I thought, why not try and tack on and see how long I can stick. I am just really happy it went my way. Everyone was on the limit the entire race,” added Gar.
It was a thrilling battle that highlighted speed and precision, a fitting showcase of world-class racing as the 2025 season nears its conclusion.
