WTCS Hamburg 2025 men’s results: Aussie Matt Hauser rules again as he takes big step to first world title

Australian Matt Hauser repeated last year’s victory at WTCS Hamburg with a brilliant display to see off Vasco Vilaca (POR) in the closing stages.

Hauser was to the fore throughout over the sprint distance race – he led early on the swim before exiting the water in second, quickly moved back in front on the bike and then was in first spot for the entire 5km run.

But it wasn’t until the final kilometre that he put the after burners on to see off Vilaca in stunning style, with the Portuguese star runner-up in Hamburg for the third year in succession.

Alessio Crociani (ITA) rounded out the podium in third but the win for Hauser, his second of the season, means he takes a massive step forward to a first world title – with the final on home turf in Woolongong.

Click here for women’s race report as Periault stuns Beaugrand.

Swim – Crociani sets the pace

The rain started to come down just before the swim start and it was Hauser in the #1 cap who led the way.

But Crociani came past him just before the tunnel, by which point the whole field was in one long line.

Crociani was out of the water first in 8:32, three seconds ahead of Hauser.

Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) was third, Chase McQueen (USA) fourth, Max Stapley (GBR) fifth and Vilaca in sixth, with 21 seconds covering the top 20.

Bike – Challenging conditions in the rain

A terrific transition from Hauser saw him move back into the lead at the start of the bike and by now the rain was hammering down, making for tricky conditions on some narrow roads.

On the first of six bike laps and we had a front group of 12 before local favourite Henry Graf (GER), fourth in Abu Dhabi and winner of T1 Triathlon Indoor World Cup in Lievin this season, chipped off the front and quickly opened up a gap of seven seconds.

However it soon came back together but then Tom Richard (FRA) fell, a spill which would end his race. And another casualty was recent World Cup winner Reese Vannerson (USA), with a flat tyre an unfortunate end to his first WTCS race.

Halfway on the bike and front group was now 11-strong with an 11 seconds lead on the chase group which included the likes of Dorian Coninx (FRA), Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN) and Ricardo Batista (POR).

However by now the rain had started to ease and that coincided with the front group putting the hammer down and stretching their advantage – 13 seconds after four laps was doubled to 26 seconds after five.

Graf moved back to the front on the last lap only to slide out on a corner, though he was quickly back on his bike and still in touch.

All of which meant the winner was surely going to come from the front group as they had 31 seconds on the rest starting the 5km run.

Run – Hauser simply too good

Hauser was at the front from the start of the run and it soon started to splinter as a result.

At the head of affairs we were now down to five – Hauser, Crociani, Hidalgo, Vilaca and the battling Graf.

And by the end of the first of two run laps it was suddenly Hauser versus Vilaca as they powered clear.

They quickly had 14 seconds on the rest and were putting time into everybody, even the faster runners coming from behind.

They were neck and neck until a familiar surge from Hauser with 800 metres to go was enough to snap the elastic as he flew clear.

He crossed the line in 50:07, seven seconds ahead of Vilaca despite slowing down to celebrate.

There was a great battle for third, with Crociani just getting the better of Hidalgo, with Graf in third.

Max Stapley was the best of the Brits in seventh.

WTCS Hamburg 2025 results

Saturday 12 July 2025 – 750m / 20km / 5km

Elite Men

WTCS Standings after Hamburg (which is race 4)