As end-of-season statements go, Alex Yee‘s performance in the WTCS Grand Final in Pontevedra was seriously impressive.

After a challenging return to top-level triathlon after last year’s incredible marathon exploits, reigning Olympic champion Yee has now produced two of the sport’s most memorable runs in his last two races.

Last time out in Karlovy Vary he came from more than two minutes back at T2 to fly into second place thanks to a 29:10 10km run on what was a hilly and technical course.

And on Sunday in Pontevedra he topped that in time terms with a 28:46, on a three-lap course that had a climb in the middle of it.

Just to put that into perspective, the next best run on Sunday was Vasco Vilaça’s 29:21 and only the top five went under 30 minutes.

In strict timing terms it isn’t the fastest – Yee himself clocked a 28:31 when winning WTCS Cagliari in 2023 – but in pace terms it probably was as the three 3.37km laps in Pontevedra meant it was actually a 10.1km course whereas Cagliari three years ago was reportedly nearer 9.9km.

‘I had to bury myself to get to the front’

Yee began the run at the WTCS Grand Final 50 seconds behind leader Matthew Hauser but had reached the leaders at the start of the final lap and finished third, just four seconds behind Hauser, after one of the most striking comebacks of the weekend in Pontevedra.

“My goal coming off the bike was just [to] bury myself to get to the front and then see what could happen,” Yee said. “I’m pretty pleased to put myself in the race until about 150 metres to go.”

It helped further animate what was already an incredible race, with Hauser finishing inches ahead of Vilaça, who had the huge consolation of landing a first ever world title.

Yee had emerged from the swim behind the athletes who established the front bike group. He credited the riders around him for working hard enough to keep the gap within reach, even though they could not catch the leaders before T2.

“We just worked bloody hard and did what we could,” he said. “To hold the gap, knowing it was probably about 50 seconds off the bike, you’ve got to take that to a group of strong guys.”

He began the run alongside long-time rival Hayden Wilde. They broke clear of their fellow chasers before Yee moved ahead alone, climbing through the field as Hauser, Vilaça and Ricardo Batista led the race.

Yee was seventh and 21 seconds behind at the end of the first run lap. He reduced that gap to 11 seconds at the next checkpoint and was just four seconds back at the bell. He reached the leaders on the last lap, but Hauser edged Vilaça in the sprint, with Yee crossing the line four seconds later.

On the up

“I guess I’m back at the front, which is really nice,” Yee said. “Still not quite there in the swim, but [I’m] feeling unbelievable on the bike and the run. Hopefully it’s just a matter of time before I can close up and see what can happen.”

The podium lifted Yee nine places to sixth in the final WTCS standings, with 3,089.57 points from four events, some achievement given his limited game time.

He also praised the two men ahead of him on the day: Vilaça, who won his first world title, and Grand Final winner Hauser.

“Vasco has put a lot of time and effort into his craft,” Yee said. “He’s a worthy world champion, and Matt Hauser is a massive role model to me and so many others.”

Yee said the season had taught him lessons, and thanked those who had continued to support him.

“There have been people who have doubted me, but there have also been a heck of a lot of people who believed in me and backed me and trusted in the vision,” he said. “Thank you to them.”