Matt Hauser does the trick, wins rainy WTCS Yokohama

Just like in the women’s race earlier today, it was raining cats and dogs during the WTCS Yokohama for men: that didn’t hurt Australian Matt Hauser, as he won the race after an exciting final.

During the swim, it was Mark Devay, Matt Hauser and Chase McQueen who took the lead, followed by a large group of chasers. On the bike, it was Devay who launched an attack, and during the bike no one saw him again either. However, his lead did not become large: in T2, he had a 19-second gap on a group of 22 chasers.

During the ten kilometer run, Devay could not maintain his lead and it was soon Hauser who took the lead. Only Portuguese Vasco Vilaca, Brazilian Miguel Hidalgo and Frenchman Leo Bergere could follow the Australian’s fast pace: the four stayed together until the final kilometers. Then it was Bergere who was the first to drop out, and in the absolute closing stages Hidalgo also had to let go. What followed was a long sprint between Hauser and Vilaca, eventually won by Hauser. He finished in 1:41:08, ultimately still six seconds ahead of Vilaca who finished second. Hidalgo finished third at 21 seconds.