Australia’s Matthew Hauser triumphed in an ultra-fast WTCS Hamburg on Saturday afternoon, coming out on top from a fiery race that sets the tone both for a huge Paris 2024 ahead and a serious World Championship challenge come October’s Championship FInals.
It was an incredible 50m03s total time over a tweaked version of this famous sprint-distance course, and the pace was on from the outset as the Australian carved through the water with Vincent Luis and Mark Devay.
Onto the bike, it was Vasco Vilaça having to work hard to catch the lead group around the halfway point and the Portuguese was first into a useful lead on the 5km run before Hauser reeled him in and then put the hammer right down over the final 1km. Behind them, Frenchman Pierre Le Corre continued his fine form with the bronze.
“That was tough out there but I am really happy with the win,” said a delighted Hauser. “I feel good now. Going into Tokyo was a different story, I was praying to Hail Mary to get a good result there, but this year I want to enjoy the experience. I am in some of the best form that I’ve ever been in my career. I don’t fear anyone, I can’t fear anyone. We are best friends on and off the course, but at a race you gotta keep the blinders on and just go.”
Devay and Crociani spearhead the swim
Hauser and Luis flew out of the blocks from the right side of the pontoon, USA’s Chase McQueen right on the heels but losing ground at the turn as Mark Devay of Hungary and the young Italian Alessio Crociani, Britain’s Max Stapley right with them.
A lightning quick transition for the Italian saw him out first, Takumi Hojo and Alberto Gonzalez Garcia close by Geens and Vasco Vilaca 15 seconds back, David Cantero struggling with his helmet and out last plus with a penalty to serve as a result of his issues, Hojo also cost 10 seconds for the same infraction.
Pack mentality as Vilaca and Geens bridge up
A front pack of 14 had managed to develop a 10 second gap over the opening stages, Barclay Izzard with Arnaud Mengal trying to close in on the lead group without success as Stapley and Hauser drove the leaders forward at the end of lap one.
Vilaca and Geens were in a small group 13s back, but by the end of lap three Vilaca had decided to pull across on his own to ensure his place in the front group, meanwhile Morgan Pearson was falling off the back of the chasers along with Darr Smith.
Into T2 it was Lasse Luhrs with Henry Graf and Jan Diener as the German trio lifted the crowd, out first onto the run with Crociani for company, Tayler Reid flying, Geens and Vilaca well placed.
Vilaca and Luis moved to the front, Pierre Le Corre, Emil Holm, Geens and Hauser all on the heels of the early run leaders.
Hauser makes his move
Crociani and Stornes were also going well after the first 2km were clocked, and by the bell it was a tight-knit bunch of nine together. Hauser gradually worked up to the front towards the end of lap one to sit on Vilaca’s shoulder with a 2.5km shootout to go.
Luke Willian and Stapley were 10 seconds back at the bell, Mitch Kolkman 20 seconds and Morgan Pearson with work to do as Hauser then moved to the front before pulling clear with only Vilaca able to stay close.
Le Corre moved into third with Luis on his shoulder but as the pace continued to rise, there was nothing that Luis could do, Hauser dropping the hammer decisively on the way to a 13m40s run to the gold and the perfect pre-Paris performance to leave Vilaca chasing his shadow and Le Corre with bronze.
Jelle Geens edged a sprint for fourth with Casper Stornes, Vincent Luis in sixth, ALessio Crociani a career-best seventh and likewise for Alberto Gonzalez and Max Stapley, Tom Richard in tenth.
Further back, John Reed was the top American finisher on debut in 16th behind Mitch Kolkman in 14th and Germany’s young talent Henry Graf in 15th.
“The biggest goal today was to get a good race and not to crash, getting myself confident again when I’m riding on a big group,” said Vilaca. “I am very happy with the result today. Matt was really the best one out there… I had a bad swim and quite a lot of work to do on the bike but I am happy with where the form is right now and looking forward to the fine tuning towards Paris.”
“I am really happy because we have the Olympics is in two weeks and I wanted to check that all the work has been done,” said Le Corre. “I think I am pretty fit, so now it is only rest until the Olympics.”
