WTCS 2025 Grand Final Wollongong men’s results: Aussie rule as Matt Hauser powers to win and first world title

Matt Hauser produced a wonderfully composed and powerful display to win the men’s WTCS Grand Final in Wollongong to close out a deserved first world title after dominating this season.

The big Aussie delighted the home crowds as he took the race by the scruff of its neck on the swim, then led a cohesive seven-man group on the bike before moving to the front early on the run and surging clear.

He knew that after three wins earlier in the season a top-three finish would be enough for the title but he didn’t settle for the podium, kicking away around halfway to become the first person to win a WTCS title with a perfect four-from-four score.

Hauser high-fived his way over the finish line as the emotions started to flow, while last year’s U23 world champion David Cantero (ESP) flew late on to take second, 33 seconds behind and just ahead of Alessio Crociani (ITA).

In terms of the overall picture, Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) was second and Vasco Vilaca (POR) third.

Swim – Statement start from Hauser

All the pressure was on Hauser but he couldn’t have made a better start.

In what was seriously choppy water with plenty of swell, he swam to the front straight away.

He soon had a gap on the rest as well as clear water, in stark contrast to those in the middle of the pack who were losing ground at each buoy in what was a ‘M’ shaped route, the course having been altered due to the challenging conditions.

At the end of the first of two laps, Hauser was out of the water first, two seconds in front of Crociani.

Chase McQueen (USA) was six seconds back in third, Henry Graf (GER) was at +9s in fourth, Dorian Coninx (FRA) +11s in fifth and then it was 15s and more to the rest. Hayden Wilde (NZL) meanwhile was at +1:01 in what was his second race of the weekend after a dominant win in the Wollongong T100.

The pattern continued on lap two, with Hauser, Crociani, Graf and McQueen the 1-2-3-4 exiting the water, closely followed by Miguel Tiago Silva (POR), Coninx and recent Supertri champion Csongor Lehmann (HUN).

Last out of the water was Wilde who was now more than two minutes back.

Bike – Magnificent seven

There was a brief moment of alarm for Hauser when he slipped in transtion when trying to kick off his wetsuit but he was still able to get out with the rest of that front group of seven.

And it became apparent early on the bike that there were all working well together, making it hard for anyone to close the gap.

Three (Hauser, Graf and Lehmann) of the title contenders were among those seven but the two other potential winners Vilaca and Hidalgo both had 18 seconds to make up as they led the chase pack after the first of seven laps.

With those at the head of affairs sharing the workload so well it was no surprise to see the gap slowly start to go out.

By the halfway point it had moved over 30 seconds and meanwhile the gap between the first chase pack and the second – which was being led by Wilde – was nearly three minutes.

Things continued to go to plan for Hauser – with two laps remaining the front seven had extended their advantage to 44 seconds.

The cohesion continued – and was impressive to witness – and when the bell rang before the final lap, it was up to 57 seconds.

They maintained that momentum and going into T2 they had just under a minute on the chasers.

Run – All about Hauser

Given what happened on a dramatic run earlier in the women’s race you couldn’t rule any of the potential contenders out.

Hauser was clearly in pole position as he knew a top three would be good enough but Graf was in a similar position to fellow German Lisa Tertsch at the same point of the women’s race and we all know how that one played out.

It was a lot more tenuous for Lehmann, while Hidalgo and Vilaca needed something special quickly given they were starting 55 seconds in arrears.

It was a brilliantly testing run course but, unlike the women’s race, the heat from earlier in the day had disappeared given what was a 5pm start local time.

On the first first climb Hauser bridged up to pacesetter Crociani and it didn’t take them long to move 12 seconds clear of the rest, who were being led by Silva.

Approaching the halfway point and the front two were now 19 seconds to the good from Silva, with Coninx, Lehmann and Graf now all at +30s in fourth, fifth and sixth.

But Max Studer (AUT), fresh off his first WTCS win in Weihai, was flying and soon swooped past that trio and into fourth. Also making ground was Spain’s Cantero.

Coming down Flagstaff Hill was when Hauser pushed again and this time he dropped Crociani and was now on his own with around 4km to go. Would it be a couple of victory laps or was there late drama to come?

The crowd were going crazy and this must have been the finish that Hauser had dreamed of – if there was pressure then it didn’t show as he stayed remarkably composed until he reached the blue carpet in splendid isolation and the celebrations began for what was a hugely popular winner, both in Australia and beyond.

Cantero collared Crociani late on for second – and clocked a staggering 28:54, the only man under 29 minutes, in the process.

WTCS Grand Final Wollongong results:

Sunday October 19, 2025

Elite Men – Olympic Distance

WTCS Final Standings