When it comes to the men’s race at the Huatulco World Cup, it seems that wherever one turns a young prodigy waits in the wings ready to strike ahead of an established contender for the win.
The obvious point to start is with the Spanish double threat of Genis Grau and David Castro Fajardo. Castro comes into Huatulco having just won the European Championships in Madrid. He produced an awesome run to seal the win (albeit in a duathlon) and will likely be a factor throughout the race.
Castro also signed off his 2022 with a win at the World Cup in Viña del Mar before opening his 2023 account with a win at the Oceania Cup in Taupo. If winning is a habit, Castro has it.
Meanwhile, Grau won in Huatulco last year and is a phenomenal runner.
However since then a 5th place at the Pontevedra World Cup represents his only venture inside the top-20 of an international race. Grau’s form is therefore not at the same level as Castro’s, which probably tilts the odds in the favour of the European champion.
If Grau comes in hot, he could win this race. To do so, though, he will need to recapture the magic that saw him win last time.
At the same time, Castro and Grau will need to keep an eye on the young gun in the Spanish squad. David Cantero del Campo showed his running speed in Madrid, out-splitting everyone over the first 5km run. With Huatulco taking place over the Sprint distance, it will be tempting to lean towards his speed on foot.
He still has a lot to prove before he can be counted upon to compete at the highest level. In his first year out of the Junior ranks, though, Cantero is on his way to establishing his name.
Canada and Chile are in a similar boat to Spain.
Tyler Mislawchuk is the grizzled veteran for Canada and returns to Huatulco after Grau pipped him to the gold last year. Seeing as he won the event in both 2019 and 2021, this race has effectively become home turf for him and he will be tough to beat. The WTCS medallist has the experience and the speed to win. Moreover his form has been good leading into the race.
He opened his season with a 12th at WTCS Abu Dhabi before finishing 9th at the New Plymouth World Cup. In his last outing, he finished 15th at WTCS Yokohama.
Yet Mislawchuk has also been dogged by elements of misfortune, such as a penalty when well-placed in Abu Dhabi. At several points over the past year, it seems fate has conspired against him. If he can find a stroke of luck, he will be back on the podium. Whereas Castro has the winning habit right now, though, Mislawchuk is looking for it.
His Canadian Junior team mate, Mathis Beaulieu, will also contend. Ostensibly, that is a slightly rogue suggestion. Surely Beaulieu will not actually compete for a medal, you might say. However there is something to him.
He has a Senior win to his name already this year from the Americas Cup in Sarasota. Likewise he was imperious at the Americas Junior Qualification Event in Punta Cana
Such is his running ability, if he is anywhere near the front off the bike he will be a threat. Although there are several talented swimmers on the start list, there are few that can really punish Beaulieu’s inexperience. He can make it through the first two disciplines unscathed. Thereafter, anything can happen. Maybe a podium is not an outlandish prospect.
From Chile, Diego Moya is the older medal contender. He won a hugely entertaining silver medal in Viña del Mar last year and the Sprint distance is a good fit for him right now. He has no real weakness in his skillset physically, although there is a chance he exuberant style of racing saps his energy in the heat.
His compatriot Andree Buc is in a similar boat to Beaulieu. He is the reigning South American Junior champion, although at this stage Beaulieu seems a little further along his development curve, as shown by his result in Sarasota. Having said that, Buc just claimed a bronze medal at the Americas Cup in Chinchiná.
Then there is the home contingent. Crisanto Grajales, Rodrigo Gonzalez and Irving Perez are known quantities and have shared Americas Cup wins among themselves already this year. Grajales looked especially strong at the recent Americas Cup in Ixtapa so it is hard to look past him.
However Aram Michell Peñaflor Moysen feels like the one to watch from the home team. He has not yet hit top gear in 2023 but a fast half marathon showed he has something brewing.
On the Olympic front, a layer of intrigue will be provided by the battle between three Ecuadorian men. Ramón Armando Matute, Juan Jose Andrade Figueroa and Gabriel Terán Carvajal are locked in a race for the Americas new Flag slot at the Paris Olympics. Matute and Andrade have a clutch of recent Americas Cup wins to their name and will be looking to impress. Terán, though, could also have something up his sleeve.
Look for each of them to make the most of their chance to score World Cup points this weekend.
TriStats Predictions
- David Castro Fajardo
- Tyler Mislawchuk
- Mathis Beaulieu
- Diego Moya
- Genis Grau
