After the unfortunate cancellation of WTCS Abu Dhabi, the WTCS season will begin in earnest with the classic race in Yokohama. An institution of the World Series, Yokohama is one of two standard-distance stops scheduled before the WTCS Final. As such, it will award 1000 points for the win and is one of the most valuable races, in terms of points, on the calendar.

In addition, the event will likely prove pivotal for the Olympic aspirations of several athletes. The USA and France are two examples of teams that could see places settled in Japan on 11 May. With the world title and Olympic qualification both in play, it is no surprise that the event has attracted an awesome field. Before you catch all the action on TriathlonLive, check out some of the headlining stars and major stories to follow below.

Former Olympic champions on the hunt

No fewer than three past Olympic champions start in Yokohama. Ready to check her race-readiness after missing the whole of last year with injury, Flora Duffy (BER) is due to make her long-awaited return to the blue carpet. As her first race since winning the 2022 world title title in Abu Dhabi, it will be a fascinating feel for form for the Bermuda star.

Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR), the 2020 Olympic champion, and Gwen Jorgensen (USA), the 2016 Olympic champion, could be in the mix for medals in Japan.

Whereas Blummenfelt has already sealed Olympic qualification and can look ahead to defending his gold medal, Jorgensen will need a big result to boost her hopes of starting in Paris after multiple World Cup wins across her comeback season last year.

World title candidates on show

The reigning men’s world champion Dorian Coninx (FRA) will look to bring some of the Pontevedra magic to add another gold medal to his collection, wile teammate Emma Lombardi (FRA) took third on the overall WTCS podium in 2023 and will look to secure valuable points and form.

The woman that pushed Flora Duffy all the way in 2022, Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) will be sadly absent as she focuses on the British Olympic qualifier in Cagliari, but the mighty Taylor Knibb (USA) starts. The former winner in Yokohama and Series bronze medallist in 2022 will no doubt fire things up on the bike.

Further WTCS gold medallists from 2023 will also look to press their world title claims. Sophie Coldwell (GBR) will attempt to repeat her dramatic win here last year, while WTCS Montreal top-dog Matthew Hauser (AUS) will also be one to track.

Recent WTCS medallists lurking

The past two WTCS seasons (2022 and 2023) have seen a number of athletes, new faces and old, step upon the podium at races. A swathe of such medallists will be starting in Yokohama and any one of them could power to the gold.

Kate Waugh (GBR) and Leonie Periault (FRA) have both medalled at WTCS Finals; Waugh memorably claimed silver at last year’s edition in Pontevedra while Periault matched the feat at the 2021 Final in Edmonton. Periault also won silver in Yokohama in 2022 and in Montreal in 2023. She will certainly be a threat as she seeks to lock in her place on the French Olympic team.

Germany will have a trio of WTCS medallists starting in the form of Laura Lindemann, Annika Koch and Lisa Tertsch. Of that trio, only Lindeman has won a medal over the standard distance. She earned the bronze medal in Paris last summer.

Similarly, the USA will be well-represented by WTCS medallists chasing Olympic starts. Taylor Spivey nabbed two WTCS medals in 2023 while Summer Rappaport also returned to the podium in Montreal. Then there is Rosa Maria Tapia Vidal (MEX). After shocking the world on her way to silver in Yokohama last season, she could upgrade that to gold this year.

Double world champion Vincent Luis (FRA) will look to make his first WTCS podium since winning in Bermuda in 2022 while, after winning four WTCS medals in 2023, Vasco Vilaca (POR) will also be confident of breaking onto the podium once more. Manoel Messias (BRA), a double WTCS medallist over the sprint distance last year, could make an impact too.

Former WTCS race winner Jelle Geens (BEL) is another 2023 medallist to watch while Antonio Serrat Seoane, Roberto Sanchez Mantecon and Morgan Pearson will look to return to their medal-winning heights of 2022.

The form candidates

Among the starters in Yokohama will also be several names that have gotten their 2024 seasons off to lightning starts.

Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (ESP) is one such athlete. After winning the bronze medal at the Napier World Cup, Gonzalez powered to his first World Cup win in Hong Kong. Similarly, Vetle Bergsvik Thorn (NOR) will look to take Yokohama by storm after winning the Lievin World Cup.

As already noted, Lindemann is racing and she will look to build upon her win in Lievin. Meanwhile, her teammate Tertsch beat Beaugrand and Taylor-Brown on the way to the gold medal at the Europe Cup in Quarteira. While the two German women claimed gold in Lievin and Quarteira between them, Luis managed to take home the silver medals in the two men’s races. He should therefore not be discounted in Yokohama.

Although her female teammates are all WTCS medallists, Olivia Mathias (GBR) could also be a dark horse after making the podium in Napier. Serrat will also look to get one over Gonzalez after winning the silver medal behind him in Hong Kong.

From the home nation, Takumi Hojo (JPN) took the silver medal at the Asia Championships over the sprint distance and will look to impress alongside Kenji Nener (JPN), who won maiden World Cup medal in Hong Kong.

Throw in a clutch of rising talents like Csongor Lehmann, Miguel Hidalgo, Bianca Seregni, Cathia Schär and more, and a truly spectacular race could be in store.