Hayden Wilde may have arrived in Qatar with one hand on the T100 Triathlon World Tour world title, but the New Zealander is adamant he won’t be racing defensively when the men’s Grand Final gets underway on Friday.
Wilde heads into the season finale with a commanding points advantage – which means anywhere on the podium will seal the title – yet his focus is firmly on winning the race itself rather than managing the championship equation.
“I’m not really focusing on the world title,” said Wilde. “For me it’s about going into this race wanting to win. I want to finish the season with maximum points and finish on a high.”
That mindset may sound surprising for an athlete who has been in prime position going into a [WTCS] Grand Final before only to see things unravel, but Wilde insists the lesson from those experiences has been clarity rather than caution.
“The key is just controlling what I can control,” he added. “If I can be flawless in the race dynamics and get to the run leg in a safe position, then I know I’m where I need to be.”
Hunter vs hunted
While Wilde carries the weight of expectation, Jelle Geens arrives in Qatar with little to lose and everything to gain.
The Belgian knows the title permutations are largely out of his hands, but that hasn’t dulled his ambition as he lines up against the series leader.
“I go into this race just trying to win it, like any other race,” said Geens. “Everything else is out of my control. Of course it would be great to end the year with a win, even if that doesn’t come with the world title.”
Geens believes the dynamic between the two leading contenders could play a decisive role, particularly given Wilde’s aggressive approach to racing.
“Hayden is a bit more of a killer than I am,” Geens admitted. “You can really see that in how he races, especially on the bike and the run. It’s a good quality to have and something I really admire.”
Pressure as fuel
For Wilde, that edge is something he has learned to embrace rather than suppress.
“I actually like being hunted,” he said. “I enjoy the pressure and I thrive on it. It builds confidence and gives you a bit of control in the race.”
Recent setbacks have also sharpened his focus. A chaotic day in Dubai – where an extra lap lit a fire rather than delivered a result – proved a timely wake-up call ahead of the final weeks of the season.
“It definitely gave me a kick up the ass,” Wilde admitted. “It made me more hungry for the last few weeks and reminded me how quickly things can change if you put a foot wrong.”
Composure vs fire
If Wilde’s racing is defined by intensity, Geens’ strength lies in composure – something the New Zealander openly admires.
Reflecting on Geens’ 70.3 Worlds win recently in Marbella, Wilde highlighted the Belgian’s ability to stay calm when things went wrong.
“He stayed composed even after crashes and a mechanical,” Wilde said. “It’s a long day, and he showed how to trust yourself and play your cards right.”
That calmness, Geens believes, is also a product of confidence – and of racing in a non-drafting format that plays to his strengths.
“When you’re confident, everything feels easier,” he explained. “In non-drafting races, even if your swim isn’t perfect, you still have a lot of control over the race. That makes a big difference.”
Nothing is guaranteed
Despite his dominant position, Wilde is under no illusion that the title is already secured.
“I’m in really good shape, but I’m not unbeatable,” he said. “Jelle’s beaten me before, so he knows how to do it. If I make a mistake, that can completely rewrite the script.”
It leaves the men’s Grand Final more finely poised than many may think – a clash between confidence and composure, aggression and patience, with a world title waiting at the finish line.
