This is a preview of the race – click here to read about impressive victories for Australia’s Matt Hauser and Britain’s Jess Fullagar.

Newly-crowned world champions, the reigning Olympic gold medallist and a defending champion headline the elite fields for this Sunday’s 42^nd running of the world-famous Garmin Noosa Triathlon.

WTCS Wollongong heroes Matthew Hauser and Richelle Hill, Paris 2024 winner Cassandre Beaugrand and reigning Noosa Triathlon men’s champion Brayden Mercer will all race for the top step of the podium across a 1.5km swim, 40km ride and 10km.

In our preview piece below, you can find all the details you need on start times, how to watch live and a preview of the professional women and men’s races on Sunday.

Start times and how to watch live

The racing takes place in Queensland on Sunday November 2. In Noosa, the men will start first at 06:15 local time. This corresponds to 20:15 on Saturday November 1 in the UK, 21:15 in Central Europe and 12:15 on the West Coast.

For the women’s race, the action will kick off two minutes later at 06:17 local time. This corresponds to 20:17 on Saturday November 1 in the UK, 21:17 in Central Europe and 12:17 on the West Coast.

And you can watch it all unfold without leaving this page via the embed below.

Course, distance and format

It’s an Olympic distance triathlon – so swim 1.5km, bike 40km and run 10km – and starts with an anti-clockwise 1500m oblong swim in the beautiful clear waters of Laguna Bay off iconic Noosa Main Beach.

The key difference to nearly every other Olympic-distance triathlon is that it is non-drafting on the bike over an out-and-back course which features a 2km climb which comes 10km into the ride.

The run then is on fast and flat roads along Noosa Parade.

Elite Men racing at Noosa 2025

Matt Hauser delighted the huge Aussie crowds when lifting a first senior world title just a couple of weeks ago in brilliant style in Wollongong.

That makes him the huge favourite here but he won’t have things all his own way as after a stunning debut win in 2024, Brayden Mercer is back to defend his title.

Alongside Hauser and Mercer, the men’s start list features an array of quality names including former champions and Olympians Luke Willian and Aaron Royle, plus internationals Valentino Agnelli (ITA), Ben Dijkstra (GBR) and Chase McQueen (USA).

Click here for Hauser’s pre-race thoughts and a more in-depth preview of the men’s race.

Elite Women racing at Noosa 2025

Aussie star Ashleigh Gentle has won the famous event 11 times in the last 12 years but she’s not there this year.

However there could hardly be a better headline act that reigning Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand.

She has some unfinished business with Australia too after she went from being right in the mix to defend her world crown in Wollongong to a DNF in a matter of minutes.

Click here to read about Beaugrand’s mindset ahead of the race.

One person who had much happier memories of the WTCS Grand Finals was Aussie star Richelle Hill who produced that stunning sprint finish to snatch the U23 title.

Joining Hill on the start line will be fellow Australians Sophie Malowiecki, who was second in 2023, Tara Sosinski and Danielle De Francesco, along with Great Britain’s Jess Fullagar, who raced so well in Wollongong, and Australia-based Dutch athlete Lotte Wilms. Watch out for Fullagar especially who looks like she’s stepping up into the top echelon and will likely animate plenty of races in the next couple of years.

Recent Noosa winners

Ashleigh Gentle first triumphed at Noosa in 2012 and her record since then is astonishing but there will be a new name on the roll on honour in 2025.

• 2024 – Brayden Mercer (AUS) | Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
• 2023 – Hayden Wilde (NZL) | Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
• 2022 – Charlie Quin (AUS) | Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
• 2021 – Luke Willian (AUS) | Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
• 2019 – Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) | Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
• 2018 – Aaron Royle (AUS) | Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
• 2017 – Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) | Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
• 2016 – Dan Wilson (AUS) | Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
• 2015 – Joe Malloy (USA) | Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
• 2014 – Aaron Royle (AUS) | Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)
• 2013 – Aaron Royle (AUS) | Emma Moffatt (AUS)
• 2012 – Peter Kerr (AUS) | Ashleigh Gentle (AUS)

Prize Money: What’s on the line?

The prize purse on offer this weekend is A$75,000 – with the winner collecting a A$15,600 share of that total.

The total funds will be paid ten-deep, as follows:

• 1. A$15,600
• 2. A$9,100
• 3. A$5,200
• 4. A$1,930
• 5. A$1,270
• 6. A$1,140
• 7. A$1,010
• 8. A$880
• 9. A$750
• 10. A$620