This is a preview of what proved to be a highly-dramatic day as Gwen Jorgensen was eventually named the winner of the women’s race while Manoel Messias took the men’s title.
The short-course season reaches a conclusion this weekend on the Chilean coast, with the second edition of the World Triathlon Cup Vina del Mar.
Last year, the races were won thanks to sprint finishes by Spaniard David Castro Fajardo and Frenchwoman Sandra Dodet. This season, the fields are just as competitive.
In our preview below, you can find everything you need to know about the race, including start times, how to watch live and a preview of the men and women’s fields.
Start times and how to watch live
The Elite women will race first in Vina del Mar, with the gun set to go off at 09:45 local time on Sunday November 12. This corresponds to 12:45 UK time, 13:45 CET time and 04:45 on the West Coast.
For the men, racing will kick off at 11:30 local time on Sunday, which is 14:30 UK time, 15:30 CET time and 06:30 on the West Coast.
All the action will be available to watch live via Triathlonlive.tv
Elite Women racing in Vina del Mar
Leading the way in the women’s race in Chile are a trio of Americans, with Olympic medalist Katie Zaferes wearing the #1 a month after finishing on the podium at World Triathlon Cup Brasilia.
Next up wearing #2 is 2016 Olympic champion Gwen Jorgensen, who will set out in search of a sixth World Triathlon Cup podium of the season when she lines up in Vina del Mar on Sunday.
Both Olympic medalists will be joined by teammate and recent Pan American Games medalist Gina Sereno, the NASA employee who finished second here last year.
Finally, Vicky Holland, who shares being an Olympic medallist and returning from childbirth in common with both Zaferes and Jorgensen, will line up for her fourth World Triathlon Cup of the year.
The Brit, whose best result so far was seventh at the World Triathlon Cup in Tangier, could challenge the likes of Sereno for the third spot of the podium in Chile, given that Zaferes and Jorgensen seem to be in a league of their own based on recent form.
Elite Men racing in Vina del Mar
On the men’s side, Pan American Games double gold medalist Miguel Hidalgo wears #1, as the Brazilian star chases a fourth consecutive win having also taken the tape at the World Triathlon Cup in Brasilia.
His teammate Manoel Messias, who also picked up Pan American Games gold last week in the Mixed Team Relay, finished on a WTCS podium at the start of the year but has struggled to discover that form since.
Defending champion, Castro Fajardo, will back his kick if it comes down to a sprint finish like it did last year, where he took down home favourite Diego Moya for a big upset in front of the Chilean’s home town supporters.
Representing Great Britain, Samuel Dickinson and Daniel Dixon have a great opportunity to finish off their season with a bang and some valuable Olympic points. Dickinson recently picked up a podium in Tongyeong whilst Dixon was a consistent performer throughout the Super League Series.
Finally, South African Henri Schoeman makes the long trip over from Australia, where just last weekend he finished third at the Noosa Triathlon, to take on a good field in Vina del Mar.
