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.
“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.”
