Search
shop

World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong 2023: Start time, preview and how to watch live

We preview Saturday's important action in South Korea
Staff Reporter
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong kicks off an Asian double header this weekend, as the best in the world head over to South Korea to compete over the sprint distance as the 2023 season begins to draw to a close.

With a number of big names in the field, the competition will be fierce, and with valuable Olympic qualification points on the line every position matters.

We have everything you need to know about the race, from start times and streaming to a preview of the field, which includes our predictions on who you should keep an eye on.

Advertisement

Start time and how to follow live

The Elite Women will race first in South Korea, with the gun set to go off at 08:00 local time on Saturday October 21. This corresponds to 00:00 UK time, 01:00 in Central Europe and in the United States it corresponds to Friday, October 20, 19:00 on the East Coast and 16:00 PST. 

For the men, racing will kick off at 10:30 local time on Saturday, which is 02:30 UK time and 03:30 in Central Europe. For American fans, this corresponds to 21:30 on the East Coast and 18:30 on the West Coast on Friday.

All the action will be available to watch live via Triathlonlive.tv

Elite Women racing in Tongyeong

In the women’s field, recently crowned Asian Games champion Yuko Takahashi of Japan will wear the #1, as the Tokyo Olympian looks to end her season in style, having previously finished on the podium here in 2015.

World Triathlon Cup Karlovy Vary 2023 Gwen Jorgensen finish
Photo Credit: Ben Lumley / World Triathlon

Representing Team USA, Ericka Ackerlund comes into this race ranked #2 and will have teammate Gwen Jorgensen for company on the start line, after the 2016 Olympic Champion opted to miss the Pan American Games to race in South Korea.

Having picked up World Triathlon Cup podiums in her last two outings on the circuit, Jorgensen will be one of the main favourites for the win in Tongyeong. A victory here could be a big boost to Jorgensen’s Olympic ambitions, as the 37 year old currently sits #65 in the Olympic rankings.

The Australian trio of Sophie Linn, Kira Hedgeland and Jaz Hedgeland are all ranked highly coming into this event, as is Belgian Claire Michel, who last week finished second behind Italian Bianca Seregni at the World Triathlon Cup in Chengdu.

World Triathlon Cup Tangier 2023 - Elite Women - Vicky Holland
Photo Credit: World Triathlon / @by_wout

British star Vicky Holland continues her return after childbirth, and will plan to build on her two previous performances this month in Tangier and Rome.

Elite Men racing in Tongyeong

On the men’s side, WTCS Finals podium finisher Tim Hellwig wears #1, as the German rising star aims for back-to-back World Triathlon Cup wins having top the podium last week in Chengdu.

Dorian Coninx, Tim Hellwig, Pierre Le Corre - World Triathlon Championship Finals Pontevedra

Accompanying Hellwig in South Korea will be Jonas Schomburg, Lasse Nygaard Priester and Valentin Wernz. All ranked inside the Top 10, it would be no surprise if the strong German contingent swept the podium in Tongyeong.

2019 winner Matthew McElroy, training out of Flagstaff Arizona along with Canadian Tyler Mislawchuk, will look to replicate his victory here from four years ago, while Mislawchuk also chases another win on this stage after coming up short in a sprint finish at the World Triathlon Cup in Huatulco.

Representing the UK is a group of five men – Harry Leleu, Jack Willis, Hugo Milner, Samuel Dickinson and Cameron Main. Milner interestingly races here off the back of the Izumo Ekiden Championship in Japan, where he was competing for the Ivy League team.

Finally, Norwegian Casper Stornes continues on the road to fitness with his fifth World Triathlon Cup since the beginning of September. Having finished sixth in Valencia and eighth in Rome, the former WTCS Bermuda winner looks to be on the verge of a breakthrough race.

Tomos Land
Written by
Tomos Land
Tomos Land is a triathlon & running journalist whose expertise lies in the professional world of short course & long distance triathlon, though he also boasts an extensive knowledge of ultra-running.
Discover more
TRI247 podcast p/b Challenge Family episode 2
Go behind the scenes at Challenge Roth with the latest episode of the TRI247 podcast
Cadomotus Chronos triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Challenge Family Roth
Five things you need to know about the Challenge Roth bike course
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
latest News
Kristian Blummenfelt Kristian Hogenhaug Casper Stornes IRONMAN Frankfurt 2025
Triathlon GOAT Mark Allen sends “great champions” message to red-hot superstar Kristian Blummenfelt
Zachary Josie bike
Age-group athlete with dwarfism says INCREDIBLE goal is “in his grasp” at Challenge Roth
Joe Skipper finished fifth at Challenge Roth 2023
Challenge Roth 2025: Triathlon star Joe Skipper comes back from the brink for another shot at iconic race
ironman hamburg 2025 podium laura philipp kat matthews solveig lovseth beer
Challenge Roth 2025: Laura Philipp backed to make triathlon history by crashing through magical time barrier
Challenge Roth press conference 2025
Challenge Roth 2025: Date, start times, how to watch live and who’s racing
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...