Previewing a packed 2024 World Cup calendar

In a way, this weekend will represent both the start of something new and the beginning of the end. On the one hand, the first instalment of the 2024 World Cup circuit will take place yet, on the other, the final stages of the race to the Paris Olympic Games will begin.

Once the World Cup action gets underway, then, expect a full-blooded season of action covering the road to Paris and beyond.

24 February – NAPIER
The World Cup season will get underway in Napier (NZL). Lying on the eastern coast of the North Island, it will appear for the first time on the circuit, taking the spot of regular host New Plymouth. Last season, New Plymouth saw a double home victory in the first World Cup of the year, for Hayden Wilde and Nicole Van Der Kaay, respectively. The home crowds will keep their fingers crossed for a similar home triumph this time round.

24 March – HONG KONG
A month later, the World Cup racing will continue in Hong Kong (HKG). As will be the case in Napier, Hong Kong will be contested over the sprint distance. A fast start to the season will therefore be on offer.

Moreover, Hong Kong shares another similarity with Napier insofar that it will be making its debut on the circuit. Having hosted Asia Cup races and the Asia Championships hitherto, Hong Kong will no doubt be ready to put on a show.

31 March - LIEVIN
History will then be made at the third World Cup stop of the season, which falls a week after Hong Kong. For the first time, a World Cup will be contested over the indoor triathlon format. Lievin (FRA) has previously hosted an indoor Europe Cup at the purpose-built venue. This year will represent the first time the format has been transferred to the world stage. An exciting opportunity to participate at an innovative race thus awaits the athletes.

20 April- WOLLONGONG
New events are certainly a theme in the early stops of the World Cup as Wollongong (AUS), another fresh venue, hosts the fourth event three weeks after the stop in Lievin. Notably, Wollongong will welcome the triathlon community for the WTCS Final in 2025. The World Cup will therefore provide a dry-run in a similar manner to how the 2022 Pontevedra World Cup laid the groundwork for the 2023 WTCS Final.

29 April- CHENGDU
A week later, a familiar stop will return. Chengdu (CHN) takes an earlier slot in 2024 after taking place in the autumn of 2023. Tim Hellwig and Bianca Seregni took the wins last time out and both could potentially return. Chengdu will also be the first standard distance World Cup of the season.

19 May – SAMARKAND and HUATULCO
Three weeks later, the second standard distance World Cup will take place in Samarkand (UZB). Another new World Cup location, Samarkand has successfully hosted Asia Cup events before. On the same weekend, the storied race in Huatulco (MEX) will take place. Famed for its hot and humid conditions, Huatulco will be contested over the sprint distance.

David Castro Fajardo and Anahi Alvarez Corral blasted to victory in Huatulco last year. Both relied on rapid run splits to see them home and, if recent history is anything to go, Huatulco may well see another tight running race in 2024.

6th/7th July - TISZAUJVAROS
The race that perhaps has the strongest claim to being the most iconic World Cup stop will then follow, seven weeks after the Samarkand/Huatulco weekend.
Tiszaujvaros (HUN) has a long-standing tradition in the triathlon community and has been a favourite among the athletes for decades. With its unique heats and final format over the sprint distance, the athletes will be put through their paces over two days on the first weekend of July.

Csongor Lehmann rampaged to victory in front of a delighted home crowd last year while Tilda Månsson denied Noelia Juan in the most dramatic of sprint finishes. As the final World Cup before the Olympic Games, expect Tiszaujvaros to come alive once more.

4/5 September – KARLOVY VARY
A nine week pause will then descend over the World Cup events. It will return with a bang, though, at the Karlovy Vary (CZE) stop. Another race steeped in tradition, Karlovy Vary will take place over the standard distance and on a course renowned as one of the toughest in the entire World Triathlon calendar.

The American team took double gold last year in Karlovy Vary as Gwen Jorgensen and Morgan Pearson earned the wins.

12 September - VALENCIA
Jorgensen also took the gold medal at the Valencia World Cup. This year, Valencia (ESP) will follow a week after Karlovy Vary. Unlike last time out, though, it will be held over the sprint distance.

After David Cantero del Campo stormed to a maiden World Cup win in Valencia last year, the home team will also hunt another victory.

28 September – WEIHAI
A fortnight later, Weihai (CHN) will take on the second Chinese event of the circuit. Like Chendgu, the event in Weihai will be contested over the standard distance. Another challenging course will be on offer with several climbs dotted throughout the race.

The race winners last season were Crisanto Grajales and Bianca Seregni and their strength on the hilly run course proved the difference.

6 October - ROME
The World Cup circuit then moves into October. In the two weekends after the Weihai stop, two World Cups will occur. Both will be sprint distance events and both return after making enthralling debuts last season.

Rome (ITA) will be first up, a week after Weihai. Vasco Vilaca and Nina Eim earned maiden World Cup wins in the Italian capital last season and the stop proved highly popular.

13 October - TANGIER
On the subsequent weekend, Tangier (MAR) will host the next race. Pierre Le Corre and Lisa Tertsch came out on top at last year’s event as Tangier became only the third African World Cup host after Cape Town and Richards Bay (both RSA).

26 October – TONGYEONG and BRASILIA
For the second time in 2024, a double header of World Cups is scheduled; this will take place two weeks after the Tangier event.

Tongyeong (KOR) and Brasilia (BRA) will host standard distance races on opposite sides of the planet. Gwen Jorgensen and Tim Hellwig won at the former in 2023, while Miguel Hidalgo and Alcie Betto triumphed at the latter.

As was the case with Rome and Tangier, Brasilia only joined the World Cup circuit in 2023. This year’s event, then, will build upon a successful first outing.

3 November – VINA DEL MAR
As November arrives, the penultimate World Cup of the year is then slated to take place one week after the Tongyeong/Brasilia double header. Vina del Mar (CHI) returns to the circuit for the third time.

The race has already brought about some dynamic performances, not least as Gwen Jorgensen and Manoel Messias won last year. A bravura finale to 2024 may therefore be on the cards.

10 November - MIYAZAKI
Finally, Miyazaki (JPN) returns to conclude the World Cup racing for 2024. As with Vina del Mar, the racing in Miyazaki will be over the sprint distance. Bianca Seregni and Hugo Milner won at the race last time out in contrasting fashion.

The World Cup season thus spans nine months this year and covers no fewer than seventeen events. Follow all the racing throughout 2024 on TriathlonLive.tv and across World Triathlon social channels to stay close to the action.