📺 Seven Kiwis, two debutants, one new venue and the first Mixed Relay of the LA28 Olympic Games cycle. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of WTCS Quiberon, where Hayden Wilde’s absence reshapes the entire weekend for Team NZL.
WHY IT MATTERS
The first sprint race of the WTCS season at a venue new to World Triathlon’s top flight but familiar to those who have raced French Grand Prix. For the assembled Kiwis, a chance for world ranking advances with anything inside the top 16 key to pressing individual Olympic Games claims. Critically the first Mixed Relay in the LA28 window. Read our LA Olympic Explainer for more context.
WATCH
Triathlonlive.tv (All NZ Time)
Sprint
- Men – 8pm Saturday
- Women – 10pm Saturday
Mixed Relay
- 3am Monday
THE KIWIS
Men
With Hayden Wilde out on medical advice, Saxon Morgan is the highest ranked Kiwi male in the #19 bib and out to eclipse his 27th at WTCS Alghero last month. A debut for fellow Cantab Henry McMecking who wasn’t happy with his swim last time out en route to 8th at Asia Cup Osaka Castle. Just Tayler Reid’s 3rd start of 2026 and the Gisborne Olympian’s first WTCS race since placing 10th at Karlovy Vary last September.
RELATED: McMecking on WTCS debut: “Brisbane is probably more realistic, but I’m not counting LA out’
Women
Eva Goodisson is the top-ranked Kiwi female in bib #36 and knows she can better her 27th at Alghero, a blistered right foot permitting. Nicole van der Kaay looks to return to the pointy end of WTCS racing after her mid distance focus. Brea Roderick is ranked just a place below NVDK in bib #47 in her first WTCS start since placing 43rd in Hamburg last July. A bonus WTCS debut for Phoebe Carter after being called into Quiberon as injury cover for Goodisson. The daughter of 2004 Athens Olympic champion Hamish has nothing to lose in France but plenty of experience to gain.
RELATED: Mind blown. Opportunity accepted. Phoebe Carter is ready for her bonus WTCS debut
THE SPRINT CONTEXT
Men’s Race
Sadly we don’t get the first post Paris Wilde v Alex Yee showdown as promised but the men’s race shapes as a doozy with Portugal’s Vasco Vilaça looking for his third successive win. Add Olympic champion Yee, reigning WTCS champion Matthew Hauser (AUS), Miguel Hidalgo (BRA), Henry Graf (GER), any number of others, plus the expected heat, and this remains appointment viewing.
Women’s Race
With Beth Potter (GBR), winner of the season opener in Samarkand, absent, and Lisa Tertsch (GER) a late withdrawal, could this be a duel between the season’s two other WTCS victors, Alghero champion Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) and Yokohama winner Tilda Månsson (SWE)?Our money is on French Olympic champion Beaugrand but forget not Jeanne Lehair (LUX), Emma Lombardi (FRA) and Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR).
SUNDAY’S MIXED RELAY
Make that Monday’s MR, 3am NZT.
Regardless of the time difference, this is a key moment for Team NZL given qualifying a team for the LA Olympics relay promises two men’s and two women’s individual slots as a result. McMecking has been drafted into the six-strong Team NZL squad given Wilde’s withdrawal. The final quartet will be named after Saturday’s individual races, with results in the sprint part of the selection criteria. Carter was drafted in as cover but will only start the relay if two of Goodisson, NVDK or Roderick suffer misfortune. Goodisson is expected to be passed fit for Saturday’s individual though a final decision won’t be made until closer to the start hooter.
