Search
shop

WTCS Abu Dhabi men’s results 2025: Hayden Wilde starts year in style with thrilling win

Results from the season-opener, where Hayden Wilde kicked off the year with victory over Matt Hauser
News Director
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

A new season, a fresh start but some things don’t change and Hayden Wilde began 2024 with another WTCS victory in the opening race in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

The New Zealander, runner-up to great rival Alex Yee at the Paris 2024 Olympics, went on to take gold in the WTCS Grand Final at Torremolinos.

There was no Yee to beat in Abu Dhabi – the Briton is instead focused on the London Marathon right now – but Wilde had to battle hard to get the better of Australia’s Matt Hauser in a super-quick time of 48:21, just two seconds separating them.

Vasco Vilaca (POR) rounded out the podium in third, a further 16 seconds back.

Advertisement

Swim – Hauser sets the pace

Over the sprint distance and on the on all-new Hudayriat island course, there was a bit of chop for the 750m swim and it was Hauser who led it out.

Wilde had to go quite wide at the halfway buoy and was going to have a bit of a deficit to claw back.

Up front Hauser was out of the water first in 8:38, with Miguel Hidaldo (BRZ) his closest challenger four seconds back.

Wilde meanwhile exited in 32nd at +29 seconds.

Bike – Wilde wastes no time

Onto the bike and after first of five laps there was a 16-man front group which included Hauser, Vilaca plus British trio Ben Dijkstra, Max Stapley and Harry Leleu.

Wilde by now led the chase group at +13 seconds and was animating the pursuit. So much so that most of the first two groups joined up on lap two to make it 24 up front.

But missing out were Morgan Pearson (USA) at +15, Casper Stornes (NOR) at +24 and Hugo Milner (GBR) at +31 and they would never be able to get back in touch.

Late on the bike, Wilde, Simon Westermann (SUI) and Tjebbe Kaindl (AUT) briefly broke clear but it was all back together by T2.

Advertisement

Run – The Falcon swoops again

It didn’t take long for the run to boil down the super-select front three of Wilde, Hauser and Vilaca.

Vilaca was the first to be dropped but Hauser wasn’t letting Wilde get away and it was only just inside the final kilometre on the second of two laps that the elastic snapped.

Even then the Aussie conjured up a sprint finish and got back to within two seconds by the line.

It was the perfect start to the year for Wilde, who will now step up in distance as he turns his attention to the T100 Triathlon World Tour.

WTCS Abu Dhabi 2025 Results

Saturday February 15, 2025 – 750m swim, 19.1km bike, 5km run

Elite Men

  • 1. Hayden Wilde (NZL) – 48:21 (8:28 / 24:42 / 14:13)
  • 2. Matt Hauser (AUS) – 48:23 (7:59 / 25:14 / 14:13)
  • 3. Vasco Vilaca (POR) – 48:39 (8:17 / 24:56 / 14:31)
  • 4. Henry Graf (GER) – 48:55 (8:05 / 25:08 / 14:43)
  • 5. Adrien Brifford (SUI) – 48:55 (8:27 / 24:49 / 14:38)
  • 6. Ricardo Batista (POR) – 48:56 (8:24 / 24:53 / 14:43)
  • 7. Roberto Sanchez Mantecon (ESP) – 48:56 (8:25 / 24:58 / 14:39)
  • 8. Ben Dijkstra (GBR) – 48:57 (8:15 / 24:56 / 14:43)
  • 9. David Cantero Del Campo (ESP) – 48:59 (8:29 / 25:31 / 14:05)
  • 10. Miguel Hidalgo (POR) – 49:04 (8:03 / 25:15 / 14:49)
Hayden Wilde wins WTCS Abu Dhabi 2025 photo credit World Triathlon
Hayden Wilde wins WTCS Abu Dhabi 2025 [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
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
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
Alistair Brownlee - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
Olympic triathlon legend Alistair Brownlee completes iconic Gralloch race in latest gravel test
Jeanne Lehair Beth Potter WTCS Yokohama 2025
From Olympic heartbreak to joy of first WTCS win as emotions flow for Jeanne Lehair
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...