Women’s Triathlon World Cup Dubai 2025: Riasova Claims Elite Gold In Historic Finish

The Women’s Triathlon World Cup Dubai 2025 wrapped up on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in the city's sports scene. This event, the first of its kind exclusively for women, attracted top athletes and numerous age group participants to Dubai Islands. Organised by the Dubai Sports Council under the Sheikha Hind Sports Initiative, it was held in partnership with World Triathlon and the UAE Triathlon Federation.

Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council, and Debra Alexander, Vice President of World Triathlon, presented medals to winners across various categories. The ceremony also saw attendance from Issa Sharif, Director of Sports Events at the Dubai Sports Council; Hessa Al Kous, Director of Women's Sports; and Asma Al Janahi, Secretary General of the UAE Triathlon Federation.

Valentina Riasova clinched victory in the Elite race with a time of 58 minutes and 30 seconds. Hanna Maksimava followed closely at 58 minutes and 43 seconds. Hungary’s Peszleg Dominika secured third place in 59 minutes and 4 seconds. The Elite race was fast-paced and competitive, showcasing both depth in women's triathlon and international competitiveness.

Riasova expressed that the atmosphere in Dubai made her win memorable. She highlighted that the event held symbolic importance for female athletes globally and commended the well-organised course.

The Sprint Age Group races saw global participation. Canada’s Kara Moddemann led overall with a time of 1 hour 13 minutes and 29 seconds. Lebanon’s Tonia Makary came second at 1 hour 14 minutes and 39 seconds, while Great Britain’s Tia Watson finished third at 1 hour 16 minutes and 53 seconds.

In team competitions within the Sprint category, RTA team emerged victorious with a time of 1 hour 12 minutes and 3 seconds. They were followed by Claire’s Team and Dubai Police.

Age Group Division Performances

The age group divisions showcased individual excellence across all brackets. In the 18 to 29 category, Watson prevailed with a time of 1 hour 16 minutes and 53 seconds. Spain’s Marina Olalla placed second while Egypt’s Dina Sadek finished third.

Makary dominated the 30 to 39 division with Estonia's Triinu Jõgeda and Sweden's Michelle Lindqvist following her lead. Moddemann's performance also topped her in the overall standings for the 40 to 49 group ahead of Australia’s Amelia Shepherd Smith and Croatia’s Diana Spasic.

Super Sprint Competitions

The Super Sprint events added excitement with individual and team entries. UAE athlete Caterina Mariana Bernal excelled overall with a time of 40 minutes and 28 seconds. Russia’s Polina Gryaznova took second place while Elizaveta Bondareva finished third.

Bernal also led in the Super Sprint's age category for those aged between 30 to 39 years alongside Gryaznova, with UAE's Kalthoum Almaazmi placing third. Bondareva excelled in the younger bracket ahead of UAE athlete Fatma Lenjawi.

Concluding Remarks

The conclusion of this landmark event underscored Dubai's rising status as a global hub for major sporting events. Debra Alexander noted that this event marked a turning point for women’s triathlon by setting an example for inclusive international competition standards.

With inputs from WAM