Switzerland’s Max Studer delivered the performance of his career at WTCS Weihai, storming to his first-ever World Triathlon Championship Series win with a dominant display in China. Just weeks after taking the European title in Istanbul, the 29-year-old Swiss star showed he’s ready to mix it with the very best on the world stage.
In a race missing several of the season’s headline names, Studer grabbed the opportunity with both hands. A late breakaway on the bike set him up perfectly, and once on the run he surged clear of the field, never once looking over his shoulder. He hit the tape 24 seconds ahead of Germany’s Henry Graf, while American John Reed powered to third to secure his first WTCS podium.
The 1.5km swim unfolded in flat, calm conditions off Weihai’s Yellow Sea coast. With overall WTCS leader Matt Hauser absent, Hungary’s Márk Dévay immediately set the tone, leading both laps of the 750m circuit. Teammate Márton Kropkó stayed close, and remarkably, just 17 seconds separated the top 25 out of the water.
Both Graf and Morgan Pearson (USA) – the only previous WTCS winners on the start list – comfortably made the front group, while the back markers faced a tough chase over a minute behind.
Gone were last year’s brutal climbs; instead, Weihai offered eight laps of fast, flat roads. For much of the ride, the front pack of 19 kept things steady, holding around 40 seconds over the chasers.
A series of attacks animated the middle stages: first Darr Smith (USA) and Takumi Hojo (JPN), then Miguel Tiago Silva (POR) with Pearson, but none stuck. The decisive moment came on the final lap when Austria’s Tjebbe Kaindl and Studer struck hard. Graf and Smith bridged across, opening a 25-second buffer into T2.
Smith’s challenge ended abruptly with a bike-handling error in transition, leaving Studer, Kaindl, and Graf with the upper hand.
Studer wasted no time asserting himself. By the end of the first lap of the 10km run, he had opened a 23-second cushion over a chase quartet of Graf, Reed, Luke Willian (AUS), and Pearson.
Rather than closing the gap, the pursuers slipped further back. At halfway Studer’s lead was 35 seconds, stretching to 40 with one lap to go. Only in the final kilometre, as he soaked in the moment, did the margin narrow. He crossed the line in control, arms aloft, 24 seconds clear of Graf. Reed held on for third, with Willian and Pearson rounding out the top five.
Spain’s David Cantero impressed with the run of the day, clawing his way from over a minute down off the bike to finish sixth.
Studer on cloud nine
“To be able to pull something off like this is just unbelievable,” Studer said, visibly moved by the scale of his breakthrough.
“What helped a lot was the European Championships. I had a lot of doubt in my mind so to have such a great performance there helped me come here and repeat that. The break late on the bike was really important too – to get a little head start on the run was a great feeling.”