IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Results: Hayden Wilde suffers more last-gasp agony as Geens swoops for dramatic victory

The 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship was just like Paris 2024 – Hayden Wilde looked set to win, right up to the moment he didn’t.

The local hero was hot favourite to take a famous victory in his native Taupō, New Zealand, and for 99 percent of an epic triathlon day it looked as if he would do just that. He was absolutely faultless.

But then the Olympic silver medallist started to flag in the final kilometres and Belgium’s Jelle Geens, a relentless pursuer throughout the half-marathon, suddenly started to take big chunks out of a 55-second deficit. Within a couple of kilometres he was in front and now romping clear to a famous victory.

Wilde plugged on gamely for second as what he hoped would be a very special day ended ultimately tinged with disappointment. His great short-course rival – France’s Léo Bergère – would claim the final podium spot.

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship 2024 Jelle Geens — Belgium’s Jelle Geens wins the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupo, New Zealand (Photo – Fiona Goodall, Getty Images for IRONMAN).

Swim – Harper rockets and Wilde starts well

US Olympics trials swim qualifier Greg Harper used his pool prowess to great effect as he blasted off to lead by 12 seconds as he exited the waters of Lake Taupō in front. He was followed by a chase group of three athletes – Aussie Josh Amberger, France’s Olympic bronze medallist Bergère and another American in the shape of Marc Dubrick.

Defending champion Rico Bogen (GER) was 30 seconds off the pace in sixth place, just ahead of two more short-course stars Henri Schoeman (RSA) and hot favourite Wilde (NZL). Kyle Smith (NZL) was right with compatriot Wilde and Belgian danger man Geens was in close attendance as well.

Italy’s Gregory Barnaby – heading the IRONMAN Pro Series standings heading into this season finale – came out of the water in 14th place, just over a minute away from the lead.

Bergère was fastest through the long transition and first out onto the bike course, closely followed by Dubrick and Harper. Wilde meanwhile had also made his way swiftly through transition to lie fourth onto the bike course – just 13 seconds away. Geens, Bogen and Smith were all perfectly poised too as we prepared for the meat of this race to start in earnest.

Bike – Wilde surges, Margirier pays the penalty

There was big news early on the bike leg, but it was not good news for American star Matthew Marquardt. The IRONMAN Pro Series contender saw his hopes of claiming that $200k bonus apparently disappearing fast as he suffered with cramps in both legs. It was painful to watch as he fell way behind his rivals early – 7:35 down within 8km and down in 41st position.

Up front though we had all of the big runs assembling to fight it out – with a lead pack of nine comprising Bergère, Wilde, Geens, Bogen, Dubrick, Schoeman, Amberger, Justus Nieschlag (GER) and Smith.

There was more early pain for an American star as Dubrick dropped his chain to lose touch with the front group, meanwhile home favourite Smith had made his way through the group to the very front of the race by the 20km mark. He led from surging Frenchman Mathis Margirier, Wilde, Bogen, Bergère and Geens – they were the big guns in a front pack which now numbered eight athletes.

As the field passed through 40km of the 90km bike leg, Geens led what was still an eight-man front pack, separated by just 11 seconds. Further back, Marquardt was still desperately trying to get himself back at least into that Pro Series battle, but he was still down in 40th position and more than 10 minutes behind his big standings rival Barnaby.

That front pack of eight continued to dominate the race, and as they entered the final 20km of the leg they were starting to drop the chasers – who were led by Kristian Høgenhaug. The gap was now more than two minutes.

As the leaders headed towards T2 the race was set up absolutely perfectly with all of the big guns in contention. And Wilde delighted the home crowd by surging to the front to arrive in transition in the lead by 13 seconds. Now though the lead pack was down to six after Margirier picked up a devastating five-minute drafting penalty, and Schoeman was dropped in those closing kilometres.

Wilde headed out onto the run course having set the day’s fastest bike split at 1:58:51. Now could he live up to that pre-race ambition of a 1:05:00 half-marathon to close the show?

Run – Geens swoops for an epic victory

Wilde wasted no time in starting to extend his advantage, and he led Geens by 32 seconds at the front as the field went through 3km on the run. Smith was a further 22 seconds back with Bergère now just over a minute back from the leader. Then came the German pair Bogen and Nieschlag at c. 1:30 back – it was looking good for a home win right now.

Hayden continued to put on a show as he gradually tightened his grip on the race, just winding things up as the gap to Geens grew little by little. As the 27-year-old local boy hit the 10km mark – pretty much halfway through this run leg – he was 55 seconds clear with great short-course rival Bergère now more than two minutes back in third. He was also still pretty much on course for that 65-minute half marathon as well, but still plenty of work to do.

It was a terrific battle for the win with Wilde – constantly looking at his watch to maintain that relentless pace – controlling things from the front. But Geens was still looking strong in second and holding the gap at around 50-55 seconds. It was still all to play for, with Bergère now looking booked for the final spot on the podium. He had more than a minute in hand over Smith in fourth.

While Wilde was still leading the way with just under 6km left, it was by no means over with Geens now starting to eat into that gap – it was down to 41 seconds. Could the Belgian – a brilliant winner at T100 Lake Las Vegas recently – produce another stunning finish to net a massive prize?

With less than 5km to go those nerves for Wilde fans must have been alarm bells now with Geens closing to within 25 seconds. It was nerve-tingling stuff – could the home favourite hang on for a famous win or would it be a repeat of Paris 2024 when Alex Yee spoiled that golden dream?

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship 2024 Hayden Wilde — New Zealand triathlete Hayden Wilde finishes second in the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupo (Photo – Fiona Goodall, Getty Images for IRONMAN).

The answer was confirmed within a matter of seconds as Geens steamed up to a clearly flagging Wilde to take the lead with just under 4km remaining, and it looked like a pass which would not be coming back. Jelle was looking strong as Hayden puffed out his cheeks in frustration and the Belgian quickly built a commanding advantage.

There was no stopping Geens now as he surged 50 seconds clear with just over a kilometre remaining, while Wilde had no answers. Hayden was safe though in second with Bergère claiming the final podium spot after a thrilling race.

Geens closed the show with a 1:07:34 run for a spectacular and richly-deserved victory, while Italy’s Barnaby came home in 9th to clinch top spot in the IRONMAN Pro Series standings and that fantastic $200k bonus.