The lure of Olympic qualification points has once again resulted in a star-studded field of athletes lining up for this month’s WTCS race in Quiberon – however, one huge name in short-course racing will not be there.
As with last week’s thrilling encounter in Alghero, many of the leading men have signed up to do battle, with Hayden Wilde (NZL), Alex Yee (GBR), Vasco Vilaca (POR) and Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) all named on the start list for France on June 20.
The one big name missing, though, is Australia’s Matt Hauser, who, despite recording a DNF in Sardinia when crashing on the opening lap of the bike circuit, has decided against trying to hit back with an immediate push for points.
One of the most scenic venues of the series
A peninsula on France’s Atlantic coast, Quiberon should make for one of the most scenic venues of the series. Yet as gorgeous as the area is, the points on offer – both on the Series front and with regard to Olympic qualification – are what have drawn a full field of men with almost all of the top names in the sport present.
With two wins from two appearances this year, Vilaca will be the man to beat. Both of his victories have come over the standard distance, and so the Quiberon sprint distance course will pose a different test.
However, Vilaca medalled at all three sprint distance WTCS events last year, and the last time he missed a podium over the shorter format was when he placed fourth in Sunderland back in 2023.
Vilaca also heads up a Portuguese team buoyed by a successful Alghero weekend. Ricardo Batista (POR) goes again after claiming a maiden medal, while JoĂŁo Nuno Batista (POR) similarly starts after logging a series personal best finish.
Looking to dish out some revenge
Hidalgo, who stands second overall in the standings after back-to-back silver medals, will look to dish out some revenge against Vilaca. However, last year Vilaca had the better sprint distance record of the pair, as Hidalgo’s sole WTCS medal over the shorter distance was his bronze in the French Riviera.
Meanwhile, an ongoing talking point this season will be the task of simply deciding on the British team to start at WTCS events. Seven contenders will not go into five spots, and someone will have to miss out.
Yee was outside the top five Brits ahead of WTCS Alghero, but his fifth place in Yokohama helped his ranking considerably. Looking to bounce back from his DNF in Alghero, he will start in Quiberon alongside Max Stapley (GBR), Jack Willis (GBR), Hugo Milner (GBR) and Harry Leleu (GBR), with Connor Bentley (GBR) and Oliver Conway (GBR) choosing not to take up the spots afforded to them by being among the five highest-ranked British men.
While Yee has a strong record over the sprint distance, it has not been as good as that of Wilde, who was one of two men to win a shorter WTCS race in 2025 (after multiple golds across 2022 and 2023) and will be on the hunt for another in Quiberon.
Speed to burn over the sprint distance
Sickness put him out of WTCS Alghero, meaning this will be his first Series outing of the year. The New Zealand team will also comprise Tayler Reid, Saxon Morgan and Henry McMecking.
Like Wilde, Olympic medallist Leo Bergere (FRA) is slated to make his series bow on the coast. He will be joined by an in-form contingent; Dorian Coninx (FRA) starts after placing fourth in Alghero, and Yanis Seguin (FRA) will race again on the back of a personal best result of eighth in Sardinia.
Among a five-man German cohort, WTCS gold medallist Henry Graf will look to get back on the horse after crashing out of Alghero. He had a good record over the short distance last year, placing in the top five in Abu Dhabi and Hamburg. His teammate, Tim Hellwig, has the distinction of having won in Hamburg before and has speed to burn over the sprint distance.
Only three Spanish men are in the starting line-up. All three of David Cantero del Campo (ESP), Alberto Gonzalez Garcia (ESP) and Sergio Baxter Cabrera (ESP) are, however, World Cup winners.
With no Hauser, the Australian flag will be flown by Luke Willian, Luke Schofield and Callum McClusky.
