Hayden Wilde’s post Paris sabbatical in triathlon’s lucrative longer distances was always going to include the odd dip in and out of short course and there’s been no hint of any major deviation from that plan.
That hasn’t stopped some fairly influential stakeholders from wondering out load whether the Kiwi talisman mightn’t reconsider his top heavy T100 schedule in the first half of the new LA ’28 Olympic cycle.
World Triathlon are the latest, dangling a not so subtle lure in their preview to this weekend’s WTCS season opener in Abu Dhabi.
The governing body praised Wilde’s dominant WTCS victory at last season’s finale in Spain and then yanked on the hook with a little history lesson, posing that Torremolinos
“hinted at what may be to come from the Falcon Hayden Wilde in 2025”.
Did you know, World Tri mused, that “In 2018, Vincent Luis won in Gold Coast and went on to take the next two world titles.”
A mere coincidence? No Sir.
“In Lausanne 2019, it was Kristian Blummenfelt with the Grand Final gold before going stratospheric. Is this to be Wilde’s time to shine?”
You can’t blame World Triathlon for trying to pull at Wilde’s heartstrings – he’s the current world No.1 after all and a massive drawcard when you’ve got products like a pay-to-view streaming service to promote.
Watch WTCS Abu Dhabi
Triathlonlive.tv
Saturday 23:00 – Women
Sunday 01:00 – Men
They’ll be aware also that the world title, save for that thus far elusive Olympic gold medal, is pretty much the only thing missing on Wilde’s short course palmares. There’s riches in long course for sure, but Wilde will be cognisant that while he’s only 27, a athlete’s prime years aren’t infinite.
Perhaps a positive result this weekend might trigger a serious rethink? There are gaps in the T100 schedule, Wilde loves to race, and hey, perhaps he could squeeze a few unplanned WTCS standard distance starts in, call it training and give the world title a shot after all?
We’re speculating of course and there is no getting away from the fact Wilde has a contract with the PTO to honour and a history of never doing anything by halves. Ultimately, the important thing for fans is that the Falcon is still flying in swim, bike, run – even if the distance will be mostly upsized in the next two years.
One certainty this weekend is that Wilde has unfinished business in Abu Dhabi. A puncture ruined his race two years ago before the threat of adverse weather forced the cancellation of the 2024 season bow last March at the 11th hour.
Wilde, who will wear the No.1 bib on Sunday (1am NZT), won’t have Alex Yee to worry about with the Olympic champion on extended leave to focus on April’s London Marathon.
But there are plenty of usual suspects to watch and a new course to master after a shift from the Yas Marina F1 circuit that has hosted the nine previous races in the UAE capital.
An hour’s drive from Yas Island, Hudayriat Island is the new venue with a 750m swim in the Bul Sayayeef Marine Reserve before a three-lap, 20km bike featuring a mix of long, sweeping bends and tight technical sections. The 5km run course has been described as “flat and fast” which should be music to Wilde’s ears – and his soon to be revealed shoe sponsor after the end of his contract with Nike.
Matt Hauser shapes as the big threat to Wilde opening 2025 with victory. The Aussie, 8th overall last season after a breakthrough WTCS win at the Sprint World Championships in Hamburg, is looking for a fast start to 2025 he hopes to carry all the October’s grand final in Wollongong.
“I want to be in the position where I’m fighting for the world title in my home country,” Hauser told AusTriathlon.
Alongside Wilde’s performance, there will be Kiwi interest in how Callum McClusky (AUS) and Roberto Sanchez (ESP) perform before they wing their way to New Zealand for Sunday week’s second tier World Cup season opener in Napier.
McClusky will defend the men’s title in Napier in a strong Aussie assault set to also include Luke Willan.
Germany’s Lisa Tertsch, who won Mixed Relay gold at the Paris Olympics and finished 2024 with World Cup and WTCS wins in Valencia and Weihai respectively, is the No.1 seed for the women’s race in Abu Dhabi.
WTCS – 2025 Schedule
Feb 15-16: Abu Dhabi (sprint)
May 17: Yokohama (standard)
May 31: Sardinia (standard)
July 12-13: Hamburg (sprint)
Sept. 14: Karlovy Vary (standard)
Sept 26: Weihai (standard)
Oct 15-19: Wollongong (standard)
