Hayden Wilde once again underlined his supremacy on the T100-circuit, storming to victory at T100 Spain with a devastating run performance that left his rivals in the dust.
The day began with a tightly packed swim, as nearly all nineteen starters emerged from the water together. The dynamic shifted on the bike, where a hectic and penalty-laden leg saw tempers flare and the front group slowly thin out. By the time the dust settled, a select group of seven athletes remained: Rico Bogen, Hayden Wilde, Jelle Geens, Samuel Dickinson, Guillem Montiel Moreno, Mathis Margirier, and Jonas Schomburg. They hit T2 within just 22 seconds of each other. Behind them, Youri Keulen led the chasers but was already staring at a 3:45 deficit.
The run quickly turned into a showdown. Jelle Geens looked intent on breaking the field, surging to the front and even building a lead of around twenty seconds by the 4 km mark. But Wilde, biding his time, methodically closed the gap and caught the Belgian. What followed was a gripping six-kilometer head-to-head battle until Wilde shifted gears. Once the Kiwi launched his trademark acceleration, there was simply no answer. The final eight kilometers became a victory parade for Wilde, who continues to look untouchable this season.
Wilde broke the tape in 3:09:01, with Geens securing second in 3:11:26. The fight for bronze provided late drama as Jonas Schomburg dug deep to fend off a fast-charging Mathis Margirier. The German held strong, finishing in 3:12:03, just ten seconds ahead of the Frenchman.