Australia has been waiting two decades for a male triathlete to wear the world crown again. On 19 October, in front of a roaring home crowd in Wollongong, Matt Hauser has the chance to make that dream real — and etch his name alongside legends like Peter Robertson.
Hauser has been the standout man of the 2025 season. With three World Triathlon Championship Series victories and the maximum 3,000 points to his name, the 27-year-old Queenslander has been in imperious form — smooth through the water, powerful on the bike, and gritty on the run. Now, on home soil, he stands on the edge of history: the first Australian man to win the world title since 2005, and potentially the first athlete of any nation to clinch it at home since Gwen Jorgensen in 2015.
But this is triathlon. And this is a Grand Final. Anything can happen.
The Wollongong course — a true Olympic-distance test — will be unforgiving. The surf start, the leg-sapping climbs, and the tactical chess game of the bike could unravel even the most flawless season. Hauser knows it; so do the men lining up behind him, ready to spoil the fairytale.
Matt Hauser (AUS) – 3,000 pts
WTCS 2025 results: 2-1-2-1-1-8
Hauser’s 2025 campaign has been all about maturity and momentum. After years of promise, the former Junior World Champion has finally stitched together the perfect balance of patience and punch. His swim sets the tone, his bike aggression defines the race, and his run—calm and lethal—finishes the job.
His last outing in Karlovy Vary wasn’t about the result; it was a tune-up for Wollongong’s Olympic-distance grind. With only Hayden Wilde (Abu Dhabi) and Miguel Hidalgo (Alghero) managing to crack him this season, Hauser simply needs to finish on the podium to secure the title. But make no mistake — he’ll want to win it outright, in front of his people.
Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) – 2,780 pts (-220)
WTCS 2025 results: 10-3-1-4-3-2
For Brazil’s Miguel Hidalgo, this season has been a breakthrough of confidence and consistency. His victory in Alghero — the first by a Brazilian since 1998 — proved he’s no longer just a dark horse. Tactically sharp and brutally quick on the run, Hidalgo has been one of the few to outsmart Hauser in 2025.
Expect him to stick like glue in the swim and gamble on a mid-bike surge to shake the field. If he’s within striking distance off the bike, he’s a real threat — his run splits in Karlovy Vary and Yokohama show he can finish faster than almost anyone.
Vasco Vilaça (POR) – 2,775 pts (-225)
WTCS 2025 results: 3-2-31-2-2
Portugal’s Vasco Vilaça is the nearly man of the WTCS — relentlessly on the podium, but yet to win gold. Six silvers and two bronzes have cemented him as the most consistent performer on the circuit, but Wollongong could be his “Bergere moment” — when patience turns into perfection.
Racing with less pressure than Hauser or Hidalgo could free Vilaça to roll the dice. His huge final-kilometre kick in the French Riviera nearly toppled Hauser; if he times it right this time, the script could flip.
Henry Graf (GER) – 2,657 pts (-343)
WTCS 2025 results: 4-5-8-1-2
Germany’s Henry Graf has been the revelation of the season. Still eligible for U23, he arrives in Wollongong fresh off a breakthrough win in Karlovy Vary and a silver in Weihai. Graf’s fearless riding has made him the catalyst for many race-defining breakaways — and he’s shown growing tactical maturity on the run.
His challenge? Keeping his cool when the stakes rise. Against the likes of Hauser and Hidalgo, there will be no room for hesitation. Expect him to light up the bike leg once again.
The Wild Cards
Behind the big four, there’s an army of spoilers ready to disrupt the script.
- Dorian Coninx (FRA) – the 2023 World Champion hasn’t found his top gear this season but knows how to deliver when it matters.
- Luke Willian (AUS) – consistent, well-rounded, and dangerous on home soil; he could play a pivotal role in shaping Hauser’s race.
- Csongor Lehmann (HUN) – the Hungarian has timed his form beautifully, with recent podiums and a supertri win hinting at a late-season surge.
- Hayden Wilde (NZL) – back from a bike crash that derailed his early season, the Kiwi returned with the fastest run in Karlovy Vary. He has unfinished business with Hauser — and would relish playing spoiler in Australia.
Add to that mix the likes of David Cantero, Morgan Pearson, Alberto Gonzalez, and Max Studer, and the final could turn into a tactical storm.