Search
shop

WTCS Abu Dhabi start lists: Olympic champions set for an early-season blockbuster

There's no Cassandre Beaugrand but the women's WTCS opener has still attracted a whole host of big names to the UAE.
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

American stars Gwen Jorgensen and Taylor Spivey are both on the provisional start list for the first WTCS race of the 2025 season in Abu Dhabi.

The action takes place over the weekend of 15-16 February and there’s then a three-month break before the next race in Yokohama, Japan.

At present there are six WTCS races scheduled before the Grand Final in Wollongong, Australia in mid-October.

Advertisement

Looking for a fast start

Following time away from triathlon, 2016 Olympic champion Jorgensen has worked hard over the last couple of seasons to get her ranking heading towards previous levels and it now means she is able to map out her season with much more certainty.

And anyone who follows her regular updates on YouTube will know that the last couple of months have all been geared to Abu Dhabi.

She rounded off 2024 with top 12 places at WTCS Weihai and the Grand Final in Torremolinos before closing it out with a win at the World Triathlon Cup Miyazaki.

Gwen Jorgensen World Triathlon Cup Miyazaki 2024 Results
Gwen Jorgensen of of the USA beats Alissa Konig to win World Triathlon Cup Miyazaki 2024 (Photo – World Triathlon).

All of which means she’s now back in the top 10 of the world rankings and will start as one of the main contenders in Abu Dhabi.

Quality and quantity for Germany

Spivey, silver medallist in the Mixed Relay at last summer’s Olympics, made her T100 debut last season and this year the Triathlon World Tour will be a big focus as she’s one of the T100 ‘Hot Shots’.

In common with Hayden Wilde on the men’s side it looks like she’s going to tune up for that with a return to short course.

Plenty of other big names are set to line up in Abu Dhabi, including an incredibly strong German contingent, with no fewer than eight athletes including Laura Lindemann and Lisa Tertsch, who were part of the winning Mixed Relay team in Paris last summer.

Mixed Relay Paris Olympics podium 2024 Germany United States Team GB photo credit World Triathlon
Spivey, Tertsch and Lindemann are all set for Abu Dhabi [Photo credit: World Triathlon}

France’s Leonie Periault is slated to start, but not reigning Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand.

Britain meanwhile has just one entry at the moment in Kate Waugh, who was second in the 2023 WTCS Grand Final and also the overall supertri champion that year. Like Spivey she too is then moving up in distance as a T100 ‘Hot Shot’.

And another with designs on a podium spot is Luxembourg’s multiple supertri winner Jeanne Lehair.

Click here for the full provisional start list.

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
tri-fit vortex tri suit review
TRI-FIT VORTEX tri suit review – race day approved performance
Maja Stage Nielsen Kat Matthews Jocelyn McCauley IRONMAN Texas 2023 podium photo credit IRONMAN
PremiumRacing to keep up: Is social media making us train harder?
Cadomotus chronos aero triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Wahoo ELEMNT RIVAL
PremiumTraining to heart rate vs power on the bike
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
latest News
Jonny Brownlee with bike transition Supertri Toronto 2025
WATCH LIVE NOW: Supertri Chicago 2025 as Brownlee looks to bounce back
Tim Don Supertri Toronto 2025
Tim Don: Watch out for Jonny Brownlee bounce back and Fanni Szalai at Supertri Chicago
Morgan Pearson run T100 San Francisco 2025
Morgan Pearson born to run – ‘maybe I’m the T100 X Factor with a lot to prove’
Georgia Taylor Brown smiles Supertri Toronto 2025
‘It might take a miracle but I’ll give it my best shot’ – can GTB repeat Supertri Chicago win?
Sam Renouf CEO of the PTO
T100 Valencia replacement announced as PTO chief acknowledges “challenges” with 2025 calendar
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

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...