Abu Dhabi will once again host the season opener of the WTCS next month on March 8-9, with strong fields set for the sprint distance event in the Middle East.
On the men’s side, the competition is set to be fierce, with all three of the men’s podium in 2023 – Alex Yee, Vasco Vilaca and Manoel Messias – set to return to race in 2024.
Whilst the start list is always subject to change, with athletes dropping off and rolling on in the weeks leading up to the race, we take a look at who is currently set to compete in the UAE.
All eyes on Yee
Despite missing out on the WTCS title last season once again, both Hayden Wilde and Alex Yee will be hoping to put any demons to bed when they line up to race in Abu Dhabi next month.
Twelve months ago, Yee had the perfect race to spring away for the win, whilst Wilde suffered through the bike with a mechanical issue and finished out of the running.
This time around, both Yee and Wilde will hope to compete against the best version of each other, with the matchup likely to serve as a sneak peek for the main battle in Paris this summer.
Other contenders who will fancy themselves to compete with the two hottest talents in the sport are the likes of Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca, who finished on the podium here last year and Australian Matt Hauser, who showed in 2023 that he is a force to be reckoned with.
![Kristian Blummenfelt Paris Test Event [Photo credit: World Triathlon / Wagner Araujo]](https://www.tri247.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Kristian-Blummenfelt-Paris-Test-Event.jpg)
Olympic champion Kristian Blummenfelt wasn’t at his best over the shorter distances last year, but is reported to be hitting some of his best numbers ever in pre-season training and will be a major threat, as he leads a small Norwegian team with no Gustav Iden on the start list.
Strong European contingent set to start
In Abu Dhabi there is set to be a strong contingent of top European athletes racing in the men’s field, with Germany, Spain and France bringing stacked squads to Abu Dhabi.
Reigning world champion Dorian Coninx is joined by former world champions Vincent Luis and Leo Bergere for Les Bleus, with World #22 Tom Richard also starting to round out a fearsome quartet.
Amongst the Spanish ranks is European Champion David Castro Fajardo, plus Antonio Serrat Seoane and Roberto Sanchez Mantecon, both of whom finished in the WTCS Top 20 last season.
Tim Hellwig, who finished last year with a second place finish at the Grand Final and two World Triathlon Cup victories in Chengdu and Tongyeong, leads a strong German team in the Middle East.
He’s joined by compatriots Lasse Luhrs, Lasse Nygaard Priester and Jonas Schomburg, plus reigning World U23 Champion Simon Henseleit.
Hungary are also bringing a strong squad lead by Joel Filliol coached Bence Bicsak, with Max Studer heading up an equally strong Swiss team as a number of countries ready themselves for a big test in the Mixed Team Relay the following day.
Veterans look to make a mark
With many athletes likely to step up to middle distance racing once this Olympic cycle comes to an end, there’s a chance that we could be seeing a number of big names race for the last time on the Yas Marina circuit.
South African Olympic medalist Henri Schoeman, who has won here before, will be looking to kick off his season strongly in Abu Dhabi, as will multiple time WTCS podium finisher Jacob Birtwhistle of Australia.
Marten Van Riel, who is contracted to the T100 Triathlon World Tour this season, is chasing the Olympic dream for one more year and will look to finally get his Olympic medal this summer in Paris.
