The final of the 2025 World Triathlon Championship Series was nothing short of dramatic - and that only heightens the anticipation ahead of the start of the new campaign.
With all eyes on the two former champions, GB's Beth Potter and French star Cassandre Beaugrand, it was Germany’s Lisa Tertsch who delivered the performance of a lifetime to take last year's title.
It means that this season is tastier than ever as all three athletes return to chase the top honours and Olympic qualification points finally come back into play. And it all kicks off this weekend in Uzbekistan.
A strong British squad are taking to the start line in the women's race and newcomers are threatening to shine in the men's.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the first WTCS event of the season.
Women
Beth Potter has become one of the circuit's most consistent performers in recent times.
With two Olympic bronze medals and a full set of world medals, including gold in 2023, the former track runner knows what it feels like to stand on the podium.
Following silver in 2024, Potter and Olympic champion Beaugrand were favourites to take the title in a dramatic 'all or nothing' final last season but both were pipped to the post by Tertsch.
For Potter, it came down to injury and exhaustion on the day, but she was still able to hold on for overall bronze.
A return to the top spot will be on her mind as she takes to the start line in Samarkand this weekend.
Joining her in the women's field will be three-time Olympic medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown, who returns after a strong showing in the T100 Series last season.
Taylor-Brown won the overall crown in 2022 and has a further silver and two bronze world medals to her name.
Elsewhere, Olivia Mathias, Jess Fullagar and Tilly Anema are all capable of blowing the race apart early on in their own right and will be eyeing up victories themselves.
With five world champions, two Olympic individual and three mixed relay champions, plus a host of WTCS and World Cup medallists lining up, the women's race is set to be an all-time season opener.
Men
Oliver Conway is quickly emerging as a major threat in men's Olympic-distance triathlon.
The U23 world champion could become the youngest ever male winner of a WTCS race if he takes the tape this season - the record is currently held by none other than Alistair Brownlee - and his current form, including victory at the Haikou World Cup last month, puts him in a strong position.
A former cross-country runner, it is something he has in common with teammate Hugo Milner, who will also look to finish strongly on the run leg.
With reigning world champion Matt Hauser of Australia competing in the first T100 race of the season in Singapore alongside Britain's Sam Dickinson, and Olympic champion Alex Yee on London Marathon pacing duty, Brazil’s Miguel Hidalgo and Portugal’s Vasco Vilaça will be marked men in Uzbekistan.
British interest also comes from Max Stapley, Harry Leleu, Jack Willis and Michael Gar.
Sportsbeat 2026