Annika Koch headlines field in Yeongdo after brilliant results in Hamburg and Sunderland

by courtney.akrigg@triathlon.org on 03 Aug, 2023 06:58 • Español

Some of the world’s best triathletes will arrive in South Korea this week to race in the first-ever 2023 World Triathlon Cup Yeongdo. Athletes will chase valuable points in the Olympic qualification period as the 2023 World Cup tour continues in Yeongdo across a sprint distance race format. 42 Elite women will line up on the coast of Busan and you can watch the action from 7am local time this Saturday 5th August on TriathlonLive.tv.

ELITE WOMEN’S PREVIEW

WEARING NUMBER ONE
Germany’s Annika Koch is currently 13th in the women’s World Triathlon Championship Series Ranking after a brilliant 4th place in the recent World Triathlon Championship Series Hamburg and securing her first Series medal with bronze in last weekend’s race in Sunderland, Great Britain. Koch will be looking to continue her medal momentum in the first-ever World Triathlon Cup Yeongdo on Saturday.

ONES TO WATCH
Mexico’s Anahi Alvarez Corral will be wanting to continue her fantastic form and showcase her dominant run strike after securing her first World Triathlon Cup victory in the 2023 World Triathlon Cup Huatulco. Alvarez Corral will prove a threat to the entire field if she can run away from the masses on the 5km run course.

Japan’s Yuka Sato and Niina Kishimoto, Austria’s Lisa Perterer and Sara Vilic, as well as Hungary’s Márta Kropkó are all names on the start list to watch out for and could all be in medal contention if they execute to perfection. Each athlete has delivered strong race results across their sprint distance careers and will be aiming to step on the podium in South Korea on Saturday.

ROAD TO PARIS 2024
The 2023 World Triathlon Cup Yeongdo is positioned in an all-important Olympic qualification period for Triathlon ahead of Paris 2024, athletes are fueled with motivation to earn valuable points.

EXPERIENCE ON THE START LINE
Ecuador’s Elizabeth Bravo is a consistent athlete in World Triathlon Championship Series and World Triathlon Cup line-ups. Bravo recently scored silver in the 2023 Americas Triathlon Cup and South American Championships Lima and gold in the 2023 Americas Triathlon Cup and South American Championships Lima. Bravo has had 143 starts in World Triathlon races across multiple levels and will be aiming for a top performance in Yeongdo.

Mexico’s Cecilia Perez equally brings an exceptional amount of experience to the start line in Yeongdo. Perez has had 113 race starts at a World Triathlon level and will be aiming for the podium in Yeongdo. Perez claimed gold in the 2023 Americas Triathlon Cup Ixtapa in May.

RISING STARS
The likes of Australia’s Charlotte Derbyshire and Canada’s Sophia Howell and Desirae Ridenour on the start list in Yeongdo, could see the rise of a new generation of talent moving through the World Cup scene.

TEAM KOREA
11 Elite women will be on the start line, ready to represent Korea in Yeongdo, the new World Cup destination on the map.

TEAM WORLD TRIATHLON
Bermuda’s Erica Hawley, a member of Team World Triathlon secured the biggest win of her career in July’s 2023 Americas Triathlon Cup Montreal and will look to remain with the leaders on Saturday to deliver a strong race result. Ivana Kuriackova will wear number 2 and represent Slovakia in Yeongdo. Kuriackova earned gold in the 2023 Asia Triathlon Cup and Central Asian Championships Samarkan.

Review the start list and follow the athletes. Watch the women’s race from 7am local time, Saturday 5th August, on TriathlonLive.tv