Search
shop

Hayden Wilde ends Abu Dhabi jinx – and says he’s “rooting” for great rival Alex Yee at London Marathon

Kiwi sends out a good luck message to arch rival ahead of his London Marathon bid
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

He loves Abu Dhabi but the races themselves there hadn’t gone Hayden Wilde‘s way – until now.

The Kiwi picked up where he left off last year in the WTCS as he followed his 2024 Grand Final success in Torremolinos with victory in the season opener over the sprint distance.

While much of his focus in the coming months is going to be on middle-distance racing, especially the T100 Triathlon World Tour, he showed none of his speed has been blunted by a new training regime with an impressive victory in the UAE.

‘We had good fun out there’

He made light of a 29-seconds deficit after the swim by animating the bike, so much so that he even had time to drive a three-man breakaway before it all came back together on the run.

Aussie Matt Hauser did his best to stay with him until deep into the run but Wilde kicked late on to start his season in perfect style and round off a long spell of acclimatization in the UAE.

He just missed out on a world title in Abu Dhabi in 2022 and a flat tyre on the bike derailed his hopes of a 2023 race victory there so this was some long-overdue compensation.

Hayden Wilde wins Abu Dhabi 2025 finish line photo credit World Triathlon
Hayden Wilde celebrates the win [Photo credit: Tommy Zaferes | World Triathlon]

And afterwards he said: “I feel like this is now my second home. I’ve been here for about three or four weeks and, you know, they just welcome me with open arms and I’ve been loving it here.

“I just went out there and had a bit of fun – I got a breakaway with my breakaway mate again [Simon Westermann] and it didn’t really stick, but we had good fun out there! I’ve been riding this course nearly every day for a month now.

“I know with Matt, Morgan [Pearson], all those guys, that I had to push hard on the bike to drop a few of the good runners and it looks like we did that and got away.”

‘Get yourself a sub 2:10’

All of which meant it boiled down to a duel in the sun with Hauser, once they’d distanced Vasco Vilaca in third.

And Wilde added: “I’ve raced Matt over the 5K many times and I know for sure he’s got one more push, so I just had to hold the pace on, and he was coming hot, and I was just happy to hold on.

“It’s good to be back and getting a win for the first time here – I’ve always had bad luck here.”

Wilde has always said that he’ll race some WTCS events this season when they align with his schedule and he confirmed: “I don’t know how many of the World Series I’ll do this year – T100’s up next in Singapore so I’m looking forward to racing the long and middle course boys.”

And he signed off with a lovely shout out for Alex Yee.

The two have enjoyed an incredible rivalry in recent years which has elevated the sport – and their battle at last summer’s Olympics took it to new heights.

Asked by World Triathlon’s Doug Gray if he wished Yee could have been in Abu Dhabi, Wilde answered: “100%. But he’s prepping up for the London Marathon – good luck out there mate, get yourself a sub 2:10, we’re all rooting for you.”

Hayden Wilde Alex Yee Olympic Games Triathlon Paris 2024
Hayden Wilde congratulates great rival Alex Yee after the British star beat him to win Olympic gold [Photo credit: World Triathlon]
Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
Ruth Astle finishing IRONMAN Vitoria 2024
PremiumHow to cope with a DNF: Elite athletes share their stories
PremiumIs your evening workout routine wrecking your recovery? Expert physiologist on how to improve recovery and what NOT to do
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
03/07/2025 - Tour de France 2025 - Grand départ Jour 2 - Lille - Présentation des équipes -Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike)
PremiumWhat triathletes can learn from the Tour de France pro peloton
latest News
Alex Yee supertri Neom 2024 win Photo credit: Darren Wheeler | supertri
Supertri Toronto 2025: How to watch live as Alex Yee makes his triathlon return
Dan Lorang Head of Performance BORA - hansgrohe
Touching and heartfelt tribute from Anne Haug’s coach after she announces triathlon retirement
Sam Long - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
‘No No No’ – culture shock and bike crash for American star Sam Long in Italy
Georgia Taylor Brown wins supertri Chicago 2024 photo credit supertri
Georgia Taylor-Brown on enjoying her busy “year off” and wanting “to go out on a bit of a high”
challenge roth race ranger
Challenge Roth publish RaceRanger anti-drafting data from both pro races in a first for triathlon
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

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...