The World Triathlon Cup tour lands in an all-new destination this week and the southeast tip of the Korean Peninsula, Busan. Yeongdo showcases an idyllic coastal and cultural setting to host the next stage of the 2023 World Cup calendar and features a sprint distance race (750m swim/20km bike/5km run) with hot and humid conditions. 54 of the world’s best triathletes will line up to race in the inaugural Elite men’s World Triathlon Cup Yeongdo. Watch the race on Saturday 5th August from 9pm local time on TriathlonLive.tv.
ELITE MEN’S RACE PREVIEW
WEARING NUMBER ONE
Japan’s Takumi Hojo will wear number one and headline of varied talent from emerging athletes to experienced athletes on the World Triathlon Cup and World Triathlon Championship Series levels and Olympians in action. Hojo is a consistent athlete on the World Triathlon Championship Montreal circuit having recently placed 24th in Montreal.
THE HUNT FOR POINTS
Germany’s Valentin Wernz is next on the start list and will be one to watch in the men’s field. After crossing the line in 11th place in last week’s World Triathlon Championship Series Sunderland. Wernz has performed consistently at the World Triathlon Championship Series level, having secured a top 20 result in Sunderland, Hamburg and Cagliari this season.
Oscar Dart is an emerging talent out of Australia who secured the gold medal in the 2023 Asia Triathlon Cup Lianyungang in June. Dart didn’t finish in Sunderland last weekend and will be looking for redemption this week in South Korea.
Japan’s Jumpei Furuya will no doubt be looking to put the hammer down early in the race and breakaway from the field in Yeongdo. Furuya, renowned for his bike power, was awarded the gold medal in 2023 Asia Triathlon Cup Taizhou in May, 2023 Asia Triathlon Cup Osaka also in May and recently in 2023 Asia Triathlon Cup Lianyungang in June.
26-year-old Martin Sobey, of Canada, earned a top-20 finish in the 2023 World Triathlon Cup Tiszaujvaros and if he can stick with the leaders on the early stage of the 5km run, could prove a real contender in South Korea.
Max Stapley of Great Britain secured a silver medal in last weekend’s Elite mixed relay in Sunderland has showcased incredible talent across the sprint distance race format and will be aiming for his first World Cup medal in Yeongdo. The course is undulating and the conditions are humid and both Stapley and his compatriot Daniel Dixon are chasing points in an all-important Olympic qualification window. Stapley produced a strong race set up in the 2023 World Triathlon Cup Tiszaujvaros, crossing the finish line in 12th.
A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO THE START LINE
Mexico is well represented with Olympians Irving Perez and Rodrigo Gonzalez among the top 10 on the men’s start list. Perez and Gonzalez bring an incredible depth of race experience to the start line and will be looking to fire across the sprint distance race format. Perez and Gonzalez continue to chase crucial points in this Olympic qualification period for Paris 2024.
Luxembourg’s Bob Haller, Gregor Payet and Stefan Zachäus are familiar names on World Triathlon Championship Series and World Cup start lists who bring a wealth of experience to the start line, all chasing valuable points as they aim for the next Olympic Games in Paris 2024.
TEAM KOREA
11 Elite men will be on the start line, ready to represent Korea in Yeongdo, the new World Cup destination on the map.
TEAM WORLD TRIATHLON
Ramón Armando Matute is on the 2023 Team World Triathlon team and will be representing Ecuador on the start list in Yeongdo. Matute secured gold in the 2023 Americas Triathlon Cup and South American Championships Lima Elite men’s race as well the Mixed Relay.
Review the start list and follow the athletes. Watch the men’s race from 9am local time, Saturday 5th August, on TriathlonLive.tv