Tri NZ Media Release
• Reigning Olympic champion Alex Yee and women’s world No.1 Beth Potter named on World Triathlon Cup Tauranga start lists
• Seven Kiwi men and seven Kiwi women make the cut
• Final lists to be confirmed nearer the November 22 race date per World Triathlon protocol
Wilde and van der Kaay headline Kiwis challenge for opening leg of Tauranga’s Triple Crown of World Triathlon events
October 21, 2026 (Auckland) – Hayden Wilde v Alex Yee in a rematch of their epic Paris Olympic Games gold medal showdown? Nicole van der Kaay and Kiwi co. v world No.1 Beth Potter, fellow British star Georgia Taylor-Brown and Luxembourg Olympian Jeanne Lehair?
Don’t jump to giddy conclusions just yet. But do get thoroughly excited about start lists that ooze quality and maximum quantity following release overnight for next month’s World Triathlon Cup Tauranga, the first leg of the city’s triple crown of World Triathlon events culminating in the global governing body’s showcase T50 Triathlon World Tour Grand Final in 2028.
Reigning Olympic champion Yee, fellow Brits Potter and Taylor-Brown and Lehair are the household names on start-lists which have maxed out at 60 athletes apiece on both the men’s and women’s sides. They sit alongside a who’s who of modern day Kiwi swim, bike, run talent, headlined by double Olympic medallist and freshly minted Ironman 70.3 world champion Wilde.
The start lists do come with their usual early release caveat: they are subject to change. It is common practice for nations to nominate their highest ranked athletes to guarantee starts in big events and then substitute them out nearer race day – in Tauranga’s case on Sunday, November 22 – to give other athletes in the country’s HP programme big race exposure.
It’s not to say Yee, Potter, Taylor-Brown and Lehair (or a combination therewith) won’t race in Mt Maunganui but the initial release does come with “to be confirmed” caution.
What is not in question is the Kiwi talent keen to shine on home soil. Wilde, also the reigning T100 Triathlon World Tour champion and current 2026 T100 series leader, heads the Team NZL men’s contingent alongside fellow Paris Olympic Dylan McCullough, Tokyo Olympian Tayler Reid and regular World Triathlon circuit performers Saxon Morgan, Henry McMecking, Robbie White and Joel Lange.
On the women’s side, two-time Olympians van der Kaay and Ainsley Thorpe are joined by fellow LA28 hopefuls Eva Goodisson and Brea Roderick and rising talents Phoebe Carter (daughter of 2004 Olympic champion Hamish Carter), Sophie Webber and Amara Rae.
The initial men’s start list includes world top 20 triathletes David Cantero Del Campo (Spain/World No.5), countryman Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (Spain/No.16) and Callum McClusky (Australia/No.18) as well as Yee who is ranked at No.10.
Top 20 women’s entries include Potter, Lehair and Taylor-Brown who are ranked first, fifth and eighth respectively, plus Bianca Seregni (Italy/No.13) and Marta Pintanel Raymundo (Spain/No.17)
You can view the full start lists via World Triathlon here:
Men
Women
Tauranga Triple Crown Event Director Shanelle Barrett is justifiably excited by the quality of fields released.
“In the history of SB Events’ involvement in delivering World Cups in New Zealand, we have never had such a deep waitlist or interest in the first year of a World Cup in a new location,” Barrett said.
“Everything is shaping up really nicely for a globally significant start to the three World Triathlon events we’ve brought to Tauranga.”
Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale says the calibre of athletes confirmed on the start list is fantastic.
“This is an outstanding line-up,” Drysdale said.
“To have so many elite kiwi and international athletes competing in Tauranga is fantastic and sets the stage for world-class racing. We can’t wait to welcome competitors, supporters and visitors from around the world and show them everything our city and region have to offer.”
The World Triathlon Cup Tauranga races (women 2pm / men 4pm) are the climax of a day of wall-to-wall triathlon action. Earlier on November 22, age groupers will contest the Tri NZ Suzuki Series Standard Distance Championships while New Zealand’s next gen of swim, bike and run talent will compete in the opening round of the Tri NZ Junior Series.
Those events are part of the iconic, mass-participation and community focused Marra Tinman Triathlon hosted annually by Triathlon Tauranga.
World Triathlon Cup Tauranga is proudly supported through the Government’s Major Events Fund. Tauranga City Council, ASICS New Zealand and House of Travel are the other major event partners with Port of Tauranga, Barfoot & Thompson, Bay Radiology and Suzuki New Zealand on board as supporting partners.
