A rollercoaster of a men’s season reaches its Championship Finals zenith on 20 October in Torremolinos, when Spain’s coastal oasis welcomes the world’s best for an almighty Olympic-distance showdown for the world title.
After the race-cancelling storms of Abu Dhabi, the build-up to WTCS Yokohama – and the racing – became all the more dramatic. Since then, ranking points have been on the line at WTCS Cagliari, WTCS Hamburg, the Paris Olympic Games and WTCS Weihai, all leading up to the decisive Championship Finals Torremolinos-Andalucia.
Britain’s Alex Yee stands top of the pile, but there are more points available, more nerves on the line and more team tactics to come in, all playing their part in who emerges with the honour of being crowned 2024 World Champion.
Three race results plus the Finals count towards the final point totals. Use this handy points simulator to work the outcomes, and read on for the essentials of who needs what to win, as well as where to watch!
ALEX YEE IN THE PLACE TO BE
Maximum points. Three from three. Each one an Olympic distance, including the Olympics themselves. Alex Yee is sitting pretty on 3000 points, more than 425 points ahead of his nearest rival Leo Bergere (FRA), 525 ahead of Hayden Wilde (NZL). Can he be stopped?
To put the numbers into perspective, in 2023 Yee was also in first place going into the Finals but his advantage was just 57 points to Wilde in second place. Of course, it was Dorian Coninx (FRA) who won the sprint finish to gold and, ultimately, the world title, gobbling up a 511 point deficit with one spectacular lunge for the line.
In 2022 it was Wilde in pole position heading to the Abu Dhabi Finals. At 118 points ahead of Yee, 357 ahead of Bergere, the outcome chopped and changed over a crazy final lap as late bursts from Morgan Pearson (2), Jelle Geens (3) and Matt Hauser (5) ended up having a huge impact on the outcome and Bergere left with the title.
The bottom line: Yee can afford to finish anywhere in the top six and the title will be his.
The footnote: At the Championship Finals, we have come to expect the unexpected.
THE CONTENDERS
Should Leo Bergere win the race and Yee finish 7th or lower, it will be a second world title for the Frenchman. And, just as it was in 2022, it would be all thanks to a first win of the year, compared to his rival’s three golds. Were Bergere to take silver, Wilde the gold and Yee finish 8th or lower, Bergere would win the title by a single point over the New Zealander.
Also on the receiving end of that remarkable smash-and-grab in Abu Dhabi two years ago was Hayden Wilde. If there is a positive to be taken away from that incredible finish in Paris on top of his Olympic silver, it is the reminder that anything can happen in this sport.
Wilde will not want to leave anything to chance as he looks to ramp up the pressure on the two men in front of him, and it could give us the race of the century. If Wilde can win he moves onto 3726 points. Should Yee finish 8th or lower and Bergere 3rd or lower, the kiwi will be crowned World Champion.
THE CHASE FOR PODIUMS AND PRIZE MONEY
The odds lengthen from there for the other realistic contenders for the title. Matthew Hauser (AUS), Luke Willian (AUS), Pierre Le Corre (FRE), Csongor Lehmann (HUN) and Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) all need to win, and the results of those above them in the rankings to go their ways in fairly spectacular fashion, if they are to be in with a shot.
Gold in the Championship Finals is worth USD30,000, silver $20,000, bronze $15,000. Winning the Series and the world title is worth a whopping $70,000. The Series runner up receives $40,000 and the third place $26,000. In short, every single one of these athletes will know that a medal in Torremolinos is worth much more than its weight in gold.
Join us on 20 October when the start horn sounds at 5pm local time in Torremolinos. It’s going to be one for the ages, and you can get your Pay-Per-View pass for the four-day Championship Finals HERE.
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