The 2026 World Triathlon Cup Haikou delivered a tactical masterclass and a display of raw power as Great Britain’s Oliver Conway claimed gold at the second stop of the season. On a fast and flat sprint-distance course that left no room for error, Conway’s aggressive racing and a devastating final kick proved too much for the field to handle.
From the first strokes of the 750m swim, the pace was uncompromising. While Max Studer and last week’s Lanzarote winner David Cantero Del Campo found themselves fighting from the chase pack, the front of the race was already beginning to fracture.
The decisive break
The race was arguably won on the 20km bike leg. Germany’s Tim Hellwig, showing the same aggressive form that earned him silver in Lanzarote, went straight to the front to dictate terms. His high-tempo approach forced a selection that resulted in a 16-man breakaway, a group that included Conway, Brandon Copeland, and a strong showing from Hong Kong’s Cheung Sing Nicholas Tsang and Tsz To Wong.
While Hellwig provided the engine, Conway was instrumental in keeping the group organized, ensuring the rotation stayed smooth enough to keep the chasers at bay. Despite the efforts of Brayden Mercer at the head of the pursuit, the gap grew from 17 seconds at the midway point to a decisive 20 seconds by the final lap. The dynamic of the race shifted further when rising star Reese Vannerson was forced to withdraw following a bike incident, removing a major threat from the front group.
A British battle on the run
The leaders entered T2 with a comfortable cushion, and as they hit the 5km run, the podium battle began in earnest. Michael Gar and Brandon Copeland set the initial pace, but the eyes of the crowd were on the charging David Cantero Del Campo and Baptiste Passemard, who were making significant gains from deep in the field.
However, the gap established on the bike proved insurmountable. On the final lap, Conway moved through the gears to bridge the gap to Gar, before unleashing a blistering surge in the closing stages. His superior foot speed allowed him to break clear and cross the line in emphatic fashion.
Reflecting on his performance, Conway admitted to some pre-race nerves: “I wasn’t sure on my run form coming into today so nice to know I’ve still got it, it was a great race thank you.”
Strong podium for Hellwig and Milner
Tim Hellwig’s tireless work on the bike was rewarded with a second consecutive silver medal, confirming his return to peak form. “I am really happy I got another silver medal today, it kind of feels like a gold medal, I am just enjoying racing at the moment and happy to be back,” the German said after the race.
The podium was rounded out by another Brit, Hugo Milner, who produced a stellar run to secure the bronze. For Milner, the result marked a successful return to the sport after a long hiatus. “It’s a bit of a shock to get back on the podium and be on a start line again, it’s my first triathlon race since Hamburg last year. It’s been a really tough journey coming back from injury,” he noted.
