A clash of two World Cup winners will be on the menu as the storied Huatulco World Cup returns this weekend in a race that will pit last year’s champion against the best hosts Mexico have to offer. Over a wavy 750m swim, a four-lap 20km bike with long straights to really drop some power along and a four-lap 5km run with a reputation for throwing up tight finishes, this is a contest that could go down to the wire. Read up on all the contenders below and catch every moment live on TriathlonLive this Sunday, with the women starting at 06:30 (local time).
A head-to-head to savour
After previously experiencing disappointment in a sprint finish for World Cup gold, Maria Carolina Velasquez Soto (COL) enjoyed the other side of the coin with a gritty victory last time out in Huatulco. Her win came off the back of a near-perfect race as she logged top-5 splits in each of the swim, bike and run in an all-round showing that betrayed no weaknesses. As such, anyone looking to deny Velasquez a second win will have their work cut out.
Home star Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal (MEX), however, is more than capable of stepping up. A World Cup winner herself, and indeed a WTCS medallist, Tapia belongs in an exceedingly exclusive club. Last year, her race-leading swim helped to set up the breakaway that launched Velasquez’s pursuit of glory before fading in the closing stages of the run to 7th. Now a training partner of Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand, Tapia will be after the gold that got away.
2025 World Cup medallists
Beyond the Velasquez-Tapia duel, a trio of World Cup medallists from last season will look to make the climb up to the top step for the first time. Danielle Orie (USA), Costanza Arpinelli (ITA) and Rosa Elena Martinez Melchior (VEN) medalled in Saidia, Samarkand and Vina del Mar, respectively, and are each capable of dropping the kind of run split that could upset the two favourites.
Crucially, all three claimed their medals in especially hot conditions, which tend to play a role in Huatulco. Orie has also recently been testing herself with her first steps into the WTCS, while Martinez shared the start line with her at WTCS Samarkand after ending 2025 with gold at the Bolivarian Games.
Experience could pay
At the same time, the women’s field has no shortage of established veterans that could force their way into contention. For the best example, we need look no further than Elizabeth Bravo (ECU), last year’s bronze medallist in Huatulco. Barbara Riveros (CHI) is another experienced campaigner and is finding her way back to top form as she seeks qualification for yet another Olympic Games. Similarly, Cecilia Perez (MEX) arrives in Huatulco after recording some strong recent Americas Cup results.
Finally, the danger posed by Anahi Alvarez Corral (MEX) cannot be overlooked. Although she is further down the start list due to a lower world ranking, Alvarez won in Huatulco in 2023 in what was the event’s most dominant victory of the decade and a day in which she blitzed a one Gwen Jorgensen on the run course. If you were to run this weekend’s race multiple times, chances are the Pan American Games finalist on the track would be the fastest runner. If she can find a way to get into the main pack like in 2023 it is easy to imagine Alvarez back atop the Huatulco podium.