Australia’s Matt Hauser has extended his stunning World Triathlon Championship Series form, powering to silver in Alghero for his third consecutive podium finish.
The result sees the 27-year-old extend his lead at the top of the world-title deciding series standings with the Championship Finals looming on home soil in Wollongong this October.
Despite illness in the lead-up, Hauser dug deep to headline a standout day for Australia, as all four men landed inside the top 20 and Emma Jeffcoat delivered a promising return to World Triathlon Championship Series racing after three years away.
‘I’m really happy with that, I had a bit of sickness post Yokohama so I’m stoked to have put that together,” Hauser said.
“It was really tough out there today. We always knew it was going to be challenging conditions with the heat, and the hills on the bike; and on the run everything was really challenging.
“All the Aussie boys, and the girls, showed a lot of grit out there today. Some PB performances and some really strong races, so overall we can be really proud and happy as a group.”
With poor coastal conditions forcing a move to a water standing start, Hauser wasted no time surging to the front, dominating the ocean swim before settling into a nine-deep bike breakaway that opened up a 90-second lead on the chasing pack.
The brutal run course, marked by punishing hills and searing heat, proved decisive, with Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) unleashing a blistering pace out of transition. While the Brazilian surged ahead for gold, Hauser dug deep to hold his ground, reeling in Leo Bergere (FRA) in the closing stages to secure silver in a gutsy final push to the line.
“For a hot minute there I had to stay in my level of hurt,” Hauser said.
“I saw Leo (Bergere) go and I thought if I can just hang in there and not let him get out too far I might be able to close in the last lap and I was able to do that. He was fading a little towards the end but Miguel (Hidalgo) was super strong from the very start (of the run) and I couldn’t go with him. I was lucky to finish pretty strong and hold on for silver.”
Hauser’s silver was bolstered by a superb showing from Paris 2024 Olympic teammate Luke Willian, who finished fourth – his second ever top-five result at World Triathlon Championship Series level.
Still on the mend from injury, Willian held firm in the lead bike pack and dug deep across the run course to finish just shy of the podium.
“It was tough day for sure. It’s about 29 degrees out on course, tough up and down the coast, headwind, technical course, lots of sprints and baking in the run to finish,” Willian said.
“I hung tough the whole way. I’m six weeks off a torn tendon so probably a bit ‘unders’ on the run but to get that today was pretty special and all the better to see Hauser on the podium – gotta love those days.”
Callum McClusky and Brandon Copeland rounded out an impressive day for the Australian men with strong top-20 finishes.
McClusky delivered a career-best World Triathlon Championship Series result, crossing the line in 15th.
“I’m pretty relieved with that result,” McClusky said.
“It’s a massive improvement from my last race, and finally something I can walk away proud of. I’ve still got a bit of work to do to be in the mix at the front, but I’ll take that any day.”
Copeland followed close behind in 17th – a result he was happy to take despite not feeling at his best across the testing Italian course.
“It was a tough day – it’s a really tough course but I managed to get round okay. I had a few little mistakes there which cost me,” Copeland said
“But I finished top 20 on not my best day so I’ve got to take that.”
In the women’s race, Emma Jeffcoat marked a strong return to World Triathlon Championship Series competition after a three-year hiatus.
The Tokyo Olympian showed her trademark strength in the swim and bike, powering into a select six-woman breakaway early on. Though the brutal heat and punishing hills on the run eventually saw her drop back to a 24th place finish.
“I’m stoked to have had a great swim-bike,” Jeffcoat said.
“I love an ocean swim and I think we just set ourselves up really well. I think those girls that were at the pointy end with me knew they had to get away on the swim-bike and it was awesome to see it pay off for them.
“It was a bit of a tough run today for me in the heat. I’ll take the positives from that swim bike breakaway and go back to work and keep chipping away on the run.”
World Triathlon Championship Series Alghero:
2nd – Matt Hauser
4th – Luke Willian
15th – Callum McClusky
17th – Brandon Copeland
24th – Emma Jeffcoat
LAP – Ellie Hoitink
For full results, click here.
