Photos – World Triathlon
After a grueling 20km bike segment in Miyazaki, USA's Gwen Jorgensen seemed poised for another World Cup victory in the Saturday morning sun. However, a tumble threatened to derail her efforts, setting her back over 15 seconds from the leaders. Undeterred, she fought her way past 15 competitors, finally overtaking Switzerland's Alissa Konig in a thrilling sprint to secure gold in Japan.
Konig had started the run quickly alongside Belgium’s Jolien Vermeylen, but as Vermeylen dropped back, Konig surged forward, appearing to secure her lead. Yet Jorgensen’s determination saw her reel in the Swiss athlete at the final stretch. Afterward, Jorgensen reflected, “I made this race harder than it needed to be. I kept telling myself not to give up. I collided with someone at T2 and fell, but then I reminded myself to race hard. Alissa really made me work for it and sprinted early, but I stayed in it and gave my all. I’m proud I never gave up.”
Earlier in the race, Marta Kropko and Beatrice Mallozzi set a fast pace from the right side of the beach, quickly joined by Vermeylen. The group exited the water closely packed, with Jorgensen just behind. Nine athletes led at the end of the first lap, but soon Vermeylen and Erin McConnell dropped back, anticipating the merging of packs that followed soon after.
The third lap on the bike brought chaos as Great Britain’s Katie Rodda made a break, only for the pack to catch her again before transition. McConnell exited her bike first but took a spill, with Jorgensen also losing precious seconds. Jessica Fullagar emerged from T2 in the lead, while Jorgensen worked to regain her position. As Konig made an early kick toward the finish line, Jorgensen’s last-minute push allowed her to pass Konig at the tape, with Vermeylen following close behind to secure bronze.
Konig expressed her excitement about the duel with Jorgensen, saying, “I feel very honoured to have had a sprint finish with Gwen. I could hear her coming! This season exceeded my expectations, and I worked so hard to reach this point. I’m thrilled for next season!” Vermeylen also reflected on her race, noting, “The swim was strong, but the bike was tough. I avoided the crashes and am ready for the off-season!”
For the men’s race, Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger of France delivered a sprint-distance masterclass to secure his first World Cup win in Miyazaki, ending a demanding season on a high note. After dictating the run pace, he broke away from Britain’s Ben Dijkstra, who celebrated his first podium with a silver, while Kenji Nener claimed bronze in front of the delighted home crowd. Hueber-Moosbrugger shared, “First gold, first podium—I’ve chased this since I started triathlon. I felt great throughout the race, took the lead, and pushed to the line. It was the perfect end to my season.”
Japan’s Takumi Hojo and Nener had started strong in the swim, with Reese Vannerson recovering from an early stumble to close in on the leaders. Hojo, Valentin Morlec, and Igor Dupuis led out of T1, while a crash on the bike soon disrupted the field, leaving 16 athletes at the front. Jack Willis and Yanis Seguin took turns driving the pace, widening the gap to 30 seconds over the chase pack.
However, a 10-second penalty for Seguin would prove costly as the leaders approached the finish line. Hueber-Moosbrugger surged ahead in the final stretch, leaving Dijkstra in pursuit. Seguin’s penalty allowed Nener to secure third, rounding out a thrilling race. Dijkstra reflected on his podium finish, saying, “It feels amazing. I’ve been working for this. Max was strong, and I’m glad to end the season with a silver that feels like gold.” For Nener, it was a bittersweet conclusion, as he said, “After a tough season, I wanted to end strong in front of the home crowd. I’m grateful for everyone’s support and thrilled to share the podium with Ben and Maxime.”
Full Results here
