Search
shop

Hayden Wilde beats current world champion Bergere in Bordeaux

Hayden Wilde reacts to his win at the French Grand Prix in Bordeaux.
Staff Reporter
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Kiwi Hayden Wilde continued his fantastic run of form this season as he took down a stacked field that included current WTCS champion Leo Bergere to win the second round of the French Grand Prix in Bordeaux.

Along with Britain’s Alex Yee, the Olympic bronze medalist seems in a different class to everyone else this season, with wins at WTCS Yokohama and the World Triathlon Cup New Plymouth indicative of his billing as one of the favourites for the gold medal in Paris next year.

Having opted to miss WTCS Montreal to focus on preparing for WTCS Hamburg and the Paris Test Event, Wilde took a small break from training to win in Bordeaux. However, according to the 25 year old, it wasn’t all plain sailing on race day.

Advertisement

“A tired body makes racing way harder”

Whilst it was all smiles at the finish line in Bordeaux as Wilde took the tape, leading his club Lievin Triathlon to third place in the team standings, the New Zealander admitted it took a lot to get his body ready on race day.

Hayden Wilde New Plymouth 2023 photo credit Cameron Mackenzie / World Triathlon
[Photo credit: Cameron Mackenzie / World Triathlon]

Writing on Instagram, he said: “Man, a tired body makes racing way harder, whilst also racing at 33 degrees celsius. Pre-race the body didn’t feel amazing, needed a very long warm up to start the engine but as the horn went the body reacted surprisingly well.”

Despite ‘only’ being a French Grand Prix race, the field in Bordeaux possessed some incredible quality, with the frantic tempo, especially in the swim, one thing that Wilde enjoys so much about the series.

“French GP is ruthless and that’s why I love it! Got smashed on the first buoy and did some breast stroke and had to reset. Was actually in a good position until then but lost a lot of time around that first turn. Got back into the rhythm, then sent it on the bike with Pierre Le Corre.

“Nearly got taken out by the motor bike in the last 100m of the ride, got into the run, felt good in the first 1500m then the legs started battling. Once again, a pleasure to race against the best French athletes in the world. There is so much talent in this country it’s kinda scary.”

Next, the World #3 will head to Andorra for a block of training, before then racing in Germany at WTCS Hamburg, which takes place in less than a month and also features the World Triathlon Relay Championships.

Tomos Land
Written by
Tomos Land
Tomos Land is a triathlon & running journalist whose expertise lies in the professional world of short course & long distance triathlon, though he also boasts an extensive knowledge of ultra-running.
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
Kristian Blummenfelt wins 703 Aix en Provence 2025
Kristian Blummenfelt eyes IRONMAN World Championship 1-2-3 for Norwegians
Kat Matthews vs Laura Philipp
IRONMAN Hamburg pro women’s start list: Laura Philipp vs Kat Matthews in World Championship rematch
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
Triathlon superstar Lionel Sanders says he went to a “dark place” to fuel his latest IRONMAN win
The PTO's CEO Sam Renouf
PTO reveal ambitions of matching Roth and Kona as French Riviera T100 triathlon course details unveiled
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘No No No’ – Sam Long says he felt ROBBED by swim cancellation at ‘69.1 Chattanooga’
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...