Australia’s top triathletes will line up this weekend at the newest edition to the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS), the French Riviera, which will host a scintillating double header with the T100 Pro Races on Saturday and the World Triathlon Championship Series races on Sunday.
As the WTCS season enters a decisive stage with 1000 points on the line, Australia’s Matt Hauser is leading the charge as the current world number one, coming off superb form this season with two gold medals and two silver podium finishes alongside a gold in the Mixed Relay in Hamburg.
Hauser sits nearly 300 points clear at the top of the rankings from Brazil’s Miguel Hidalgo and 430 points ahead of Vasco Vilaca of Portugal as he looks to consolidate his position in the hunt for the world title at Wollongong in October.
Hauser will face stiff competition from returning stars including New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde, who recently stormed back from injury with a win at T100 London and will this weekend tackle the T100 and WTCS double; and defending World Champion Alex Yee (GBR), making his first WTCS start of the season. Both will be looking to disrupt Hauser’s dominance, but the Australian heads into the weekend with strong momentum and the advantage of series leadership.
“A really exciting weekend Fréjus is shaping up to be!” Matt Hauser said today.
“I’m looking forward to watching the T100 race set the scene for a fast and hotly contested race come Sunday. To have Hayden and Alex back in the fold offers a refreshing form of motivation this weekend, coming off a solid year so far, I’m looking forward to the new challenge. A win is the only thing on paper that I can gain from this weekend, so I’ll be doing everything to make sure that happens.”
“It’s going to be a super-fast run, so I’m hoping to build on my momentum from Hamburg, coming off a solid block in Aus and then refocus on the Olympic distance and the upcoming grand final in the Gong.”
He is joined in the WTCS men’s field by Aussie teammates Brandon Copeland, Callum McClusky, and Brayden Mercer – all eager to make their mark on the sprint-distance course in Fréjus.
Brandon Copeland: “I’m excited to race here in French Riviera, a beautiful spot and looking forward to chasing a good result in what promises to be a fast and competitive race.”
In the women’s WTCS race, Emma Jeffcoat and Sophie Linn will don the green and gold, aiming to put together solid individual performances following their Mixed Team Relay World Championships win in Hamburg, while across in the T100 Pro Race, Australia will be represented by Ellie Salthouse and Ashleigh Gentle, who is currently ranked 7th in the T100 World Series.
Emma Jeffcoat: “I’m excited with the opportunity to race the world’s best this weekend on a new WTCS course. Coming off an encouraging training block into a big race block, I’m keen to test myself over the coming weeks.”
Sophie Linn: “I’m excited to be back on the World Series circuit, especially at this new venue. The beach start and fresh course layout promise some fast, dynamic racing. It’s also great to be racing alongside the T100 athletes for the first time — having both fields together really elevates the event.
The WTCS French Riviera debut brings with it a challenging format: a 750m swim, a technical 5-lap bike course around the coast and through Frejus, and a fast 5km run to the finish. With hot and sunny conditions expected, the race promises to be fast, fierce and unpredictable.
The T100 Pro Races commence at 2.45pm AEST (6.45am CEST) on Saturday 30 August. The WTCS French Riviera men’s race begins at 10:45pm AEST (2:45pm CEST) on Sunday 31 August, with the women’s race to follow. Fans can watch the action live on TriathlonLive.tv.
- For more information on the WTCS French Riviera click here
- For more information on the T100 French Riviera click here
For information on the 2025 World Triathlon Championships Finals, Wollongong proudly supported by the NSW Government and the City of Wollongong, click here.
