There’s no doubt at all it’s advantage Alex Yee this year against Hayden Wilde in what is the sport’s greatest rivalry.
The Brit won the one that really mattered with that incredible finish in the Olympics at Paris 2024 after Wilde looked to have it wrapped up with just 2.5km to go on the run.
But it was a similar story beforehand when they had clashed at WTCS Cagliari – and the trend continued in the opening supertri race in Boston last weekend.
Paris one-two-three all reoppose
Wilde’s open-armed shrug when he crossed the line last Sunday looked to be a reaction to Yee’s ice-cool celebration, but he must also have been concerned at the ease with which his rival sprinted past him in the closing stages.
Now the two are set to resume battle at Queen’s Landing in Chicago this weekend, with Olympic bronze medallist Léo Bergere joining the field after sitting out the opener to add a further layer of intrigue.
But how on earth can Wilde turn things around?
The Kiwi is one of four men representing Crown Racing, backed up by Vincent Luis, who looked back to somewhere near his best a week ago, Max Stapley and Vetle Bergsvik Thorn.
‘We need to get together as a team’
Their team manager is Chris McCormack who knows all about great rivalries and coming out on top.
And he told supertri: “Hayden seems to be collecting silver medals like they are going out of style but I think he is confident enough to do it [beat Alex Yee].
“I thought his performance in Paris, though he came off a little disappointed, was the best attack he’s had at Alex and you see the way he takes it on every time against arguably the greatest runner to ever do the sport.
“Alex is also polished across the swim and the bike, he covers moves, he’s tactically very smart and I think we need to get together as a team and look at Boston again, how people are racing, anticipate what people are going to do during the League and get better.
“Hayden is a winner at heart and he will come back better and stronger.”
