The Italian city of Taranto hosts World Triathlon Para Series racing for the first time this weekend, marking the third stop on the 2025 Series following on from season-opener WTPS Devonport and last month's WTPS Yokohama. The 750m swim in the Mare Piccolo transitions to a fast, 5-lap 21km bike and from there it's just 2 laps and 5km remaining to the tape. 

With the LA28 Paralympic Games venue announced this week and confirmation that medals will be available for all 12 Para Triathlon categories at the Games in three years' time, Taranto's debut as host city on the circuit on Saturday morning could hardly be better timed. 

PTWC

Netherlands’ Geert Schipper is the reigning European Champion and he leads the line in the men’s wheelchair category off the back of his win at WTPS Yokohama last month. British Champion Josh Landmann will take up the pursuit acutely aware of just how much power his rival can throw down on the bike and Italy’s experienced Giovanni Achenza returns to Series racing for the first time since 5th at Paris 2024. 

The women’s race will be a straight shootout between Brazil’s Jessica Ferreira and Eva Moral of Spain. The pair have seen some great battles over the years, with the Brazilian just edging their recent contests, and this should be another tight contest. 

PTVI 

The irrepressible Susana Rodriguez headlines the women’s visually impaired race, the double Paralympic Champion looking to build into yet another world title defence at the end of the year. Beaten just three times since 2019, one of those was at the 2023 world championships in Spain, where Italy’s Francesco Tarantello took the title in Rodriguez’s back yard. How the Spaniard will be eager to redress that balance in Italy this weekend. 

Men’s Paralympic, World and European Champion Dave Ellis returns to the blue carpet for the first time in 2025, but can expect a tough ride from a trio of talent in the form of Frenchman Thibaut Rigaudeau, Australian Sam Harding and Spain’s Hector Catala. 

PTS5

Another Paralympic Champion steps up for the women’s PTS5 in the form of Grace Norman. The USA star has been unstoppable over the run segment in recent outings and will showdown with home favourite Azzurra Carancini and Spain’s Andrea Miguelez Ranz. 

The men’s race sees Australia’s rising talent Jack Howell – only denied victory late on in Yokohama by a soaring Martin Schulz – start as the favourite for gold, albeit against the impressive Portuguese Filipe Marques and Ireland’s latest hotshot Tom Williamson, Oscar Dennis the first man to represent Kenya in a Series race. 

PTS4 

The mighty Frenchman Alexis Hanquinquant will hope to extend his undefeated streak at the highest level (Series and Paralympics) to 22 races, likely leaving the remaining podium places to a battle between Carson Clough, Nils Riudavets, though French newcomer Antoîne Lamarche Poulain will be one to keep an eye on. 

Three athletes will vie for the medals in the women’s race, Turkish newcomer and Samarkand Para Cup champion Kubra Dere, Serena Banzato makes her first Para Series start and Ingrid da Oude races for only her second time at this level. 

PTS3

Women’s PTS3 World Champion Elise Marc (FRA) and Sanne Koopman (NED) are the two starters in their category, fresh from the news that the PTS3 women will be included in their  own race of the Paralympic programme for the first time at LA28. 

The ever-present Daniel Molina begins his 14th season at the top of the sport, but the Paris 2024 champion knows he won’t have it all his own way with British talent Henry Urand making waves since his PTS3 debut two years ago. Cedric Denuziere (FRA) and Diego Lardon (ESP) will also by vying for the medals. 

PTS2

A stacked men’s PTS2 race sees USA’s Paralympic silver medallist Mohamed Lahna once again try and get one over the man who beat him in Paris, Jules Ribstein. In their absence, it was Wim de Paep who took the world title last year, but with the Belgian absent, the likes of Geoffrey Wersy (FRA) and Lionel Morales (ESP) will also be eyeing the medals. 

Finally, the women’s PTS2 will be a straight battle between two athletes at the opposite ends of the experience spectrum: Japan’s triple Paralympian Yukako Hata and the Italian Martina Abaterusso making her first ever World Triathlon start.  

Full start lists available here