Matthew Hauser and Vasco Vilaça crossed the line in the same time after a thrilling finish to the WTCS Grand Final in Pontevedra on Sunday – and both had huge amounts to take from the race and the season as a whole.

Hauser won the sprint and the race in 1:39:31; Vilaça took second and secured his first world title.

“I was just telling myself, ‘I can’t lose this one. I can’t lose this one,’” Hauser said. “I’ve been so up and down this year and so inconsistent. I think I just really wanted it out there today.”

The sprint brought the rivals into contact, and Hauser apologised afterwards.

“Credit to Vasco, what a champion,” he said. “It got a little bit pushy-shovy in the end. I gave him a bit of a bump on the way through, so apologies to him. I was just that desperate to get to the line first.”

For Vilaça, the title had yet to sink in. He finished the season on 5,006.25 points, ahead of Hauser on 4,745.76, with fellow Portuguese athlete Ricardo Batista third on 4,071.45.

“What got me through this race was just staying in the moment,” Vilaça said. “I’m mostly happy to be able to handle the pressure. This is what the Olympics will be all about. This is what the big races are all about.”

Their contest began in the water

Hauser and Vilaça chose opposite sides of the swim start. Hauser later explained that he had hoped to gain time there, believing Vilaça would be difficult to shake once they were together.

“Probably the only way I could get a gap on him was in the swim,” Hauser said. “I tried to distance myself as much as I possibly could, but credit to Vasco: he swam really well and made that front group.”

Vilaça found the opening lap difficult but recovered to make the decisive bike group.

“Matt played his cards, went to the opposite side of me so as not to take me with him,” he said. “I knew I was by myself, but that’s what I’ve been working for. I didn’t want to need anyone else’s help.”

Once on the bike, Vilaça had Batista and Miguel Tiago Silva (POR) alongside him. Hauser praised their work at the front of the race, as well as the efforts of Dylan McCullough (NZL) and Márton Kropkó (HUN).

Batista then joined the title rivals at the front of the run. For Vilaça, racing beside someone he had grown up with added to the occasion.

“What a dream, having a teammate like that, someone I grew up together with,” he said. “First and third in the world, I couldn’t be happier.”

One finish, two prizes

Hauser attacked as soon as he left T2, but Vilaça and Batista caught him. Alex Yee (GBR) subsequently made up a 50-second deficit to join the leaders. Vilaça kicked first on the final lap, with Hauser and Yee responding as Batista lost contact.

Hauser edged Vilaça at the line, Yee finished four seconds back in third and Batista was fourth, five seconds behind the winner. Hauser knew Yee was closing before he reached them.

“I heard a few ‘Go Yee!’ towards the end and I knew he was there,” he said. “What a champion. It’s great to see him back on the podium again today.”

Hauser missed out on a second successive world title, but left Pontevedra satisfied with his Grand Final victory. Vilaça thanked those who had helped him through what he described as a difficult year, and spoke of the relief of finally winning the championship.

“I feel like I’ve had this weight on me for so long and just pretended it’s not there,” he said. “It’s so good to finally get it off my back.”

For Hauser, Vilaça and Yee it only underlines what what a journey it will be to LA2028.