The 2025 World Triathlon Cup Huatulco delivered a thrilling double-header of racing under unpredictable skies and tricky conditions, with history made in both the men’s and women’s events.
In a gutsy, solo masterclass, Israel’s Shachar Sagiv stormed to his first ever World Cup victory – and the first for his nation – breaking away on the bike and never looking back. Earlier that morning, Colombia’s Carolina Velasquez had already battled the elements and a stacked women’s field to edge out a seven-woman finish and claim a career-defining gold.
Sagiv’s men’s race win was forged through a perfectly timed move just out of T1. After a solid swim, he capitalized on a helmet mishap by Chile’s Diego Moya to find himself alone on the road at the start of the 20km bike leg. With wet conditions working against the chasing pack, Sagiv powered ahead, opening up a lead that stretched to nearly a minute by the bell lap.
Behind him, chaos brewed in the chase. Cuba’s Alejandro Rodriguez, on World Cup debut, ran a searing 14:57 5km to secure silver, while Poland’s Kuba Gajda held strong for bronze. Both men celebrated breakthrough podiums. Mexico’s Aram Penaflor thrilled home fans with a close fourth, while Moya faded to seventh after his early error.
The women’s race unfolded under persistent rain, a leftover challenge from Hurricane Erick. Canada’s Sidney Clement and Mexico’s Rosa Maria Tapia led out of the water, with Tapia making an aggressive move to lead early on the bike. A front pack of 15 soon formed, but no one could break free, setting up a run showdown.
The run turned into a war of nerves and legs, with Tapia again surging early before fading as Velasquez, Ackerlund, Bravo, Sereno and others surged past. It was Carolina Velasquez who navigated a near wrong-turn in the final kilometre before holding off USA’s Erika Ackerlund in a thrilling sprint finish. Ecuador’s Elizabeth Bravo closed hard to secure third.
