The World Triathlon Championship Series returns to Alghero for the Italian leg of the premier triathlon circuit. On Saturday, May 30th, the Catalan city will host some of the world's top multi-discipline athletes in a day that promises to be spectacular in both technical and competitive terms. Alghero will be the fifth WTCS held in Italy, a date that in previous Italian editions had always been held in Cagliari before moving to the Catalan city in Sardinia last year.
The event, entirely organized by the Italian Triathlon Federation and coordinated by Secretary General Valerio Toniolo, is realized in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and Youth, the Region, the Municipality of Alghero and the Alghero Foundation.
The Alghero stage is also part of the Triathlon Experience project, an initiative promoted and funded by the Ministry of Tourism that aims to showcase the beauty of our country through the promotion of triathlon and major sporting events throughout the country. After the inaugural event in Padola, the project will continue in the Sardinian city before stopping in Taranto and Rome.
The start list for the Italian leg of the World Triathlon Championship Series confirms itself as one of the most competitive on the international circuit, with 107 athletes from 28 nations: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, the United States, South Africa, Switzerland, Hungary, and Venezuela.
The elite of international triathlon will compete over the Olympic distance: 1,500 meters of swimming, 40 kilometers of cycling, and 10 kilometers of running.
In the men's field, top-level protagonists are expected such as Australian Matthew Hauser, the reigning world champion, New Zealander Hayden Wilde, Spaniard David Cantero Del Campo, Frenchman Dorian Coninx, Portuguese Vasco Vilaca and Brazilian Miguel Hidalgo, winner of the 2025 edition in Alghero.
Among the Italian athletes present on the start list will be Alessio Crociani (Fiamme Azzurre), Nicola Azzano (Carabinieri) and Euan De Nigro (CS Carabinieri/Bressanone Nuoto).
The women's race also boasts excellent quality, with two Paris 2024 Olympic medalists: France's Cassandre Beaugrand, Olympic champion, and Britain's Beth Potter, Olympic bronze medalist. Also expected at the start are Germany's Lisa Tertsch, reigning world champion, and Laura Lindemann, and Luxembourg's Jeanne Lehair.
Representing Italy will be Verena Steinhauser (Fiamme Oro) and Bianca Seregn i (Fiamme Oro).
The program will open on Friday, May 29th with the course trials. On Saturday, May 30th, the competition day begins at 11:00 a.m. with the women's race. The men's race begins at 2:00 p.m.
Minister of Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi stated: "The World Triathlon Championship Series is once again stopping in Sardinia, further demonstrating the island's and Italy's ability to serve as a premier stage for major international events, enhancing local communities and generating sporting, social, and economic benefits. This year's competition takes on added value as it is a stage in the qualification process for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. It will therefore provide us with maximum effort from all the athletes present, both men and women, and I hope they will give their best in this competition and enjoy Sardinia's bountiful nature."
The President of the Italian Triathlon Federation, Riccardo Giubilei, said: "We return to Alghero, building an ideal bridge to Los Angeles 2028. This year, the race inaugurates the Olympic qualifying window for the WTCS and offers valuable ranking points, a return that propels us into the future. International triathlon organized in our country has played a crucial role in the race to Paris, and today Alghero is firmly entrenched in the launch of this new Olympic cycle. This journey is the result of the work of a Federation that has carved out a leading position for itself on the global stage: in its event organization, in the development of athletes and coaches, but above all in its awareness of a strong and cohesive community that today swims, cycles, and runs ever faster. I would like to thank everyone who worked as a team with us to create an event that has become a benchmark on the international calendar, capable of providing incredible excitement to all fans of this multi-discipline. We thank the Italian Government, the Minister of Sport Andrea Abodi, the Ministry of Tourism, the Sardinia Region, the Municipality of Alghero, and the Alghero Foundation for this synergy that continues to ensure quality and growth for our movement.
