Noosa Triathlon: Matt Hauser keeps winning, Jessica Fullagar defeats Olympic Champion

The 2025 Noosa Triathlon delivered another memorable chapter in the event’s storied history, with Australia’s Matt Hauser and Britain’s Jessica Fullagar claiming emphatic victories in the elite races on a sun-drenched Sunshine Coast morning.

Hauser Takes Control as Royle Bows Out

The men’s race began at a blistering pace, with just six seconds separating the top ten athletes out of the water. Jack Crome led the field through the swim, followed closely by defending champion Brayden Mercer and World Champion Matt Hauser.

Once onto the bike, Hauser asserted himself early, driving the pace and controlling the front of the race across the 40km non-drafting course. He entered T2 with a slender advantage over former Noosa champion Luke Willian and American Chase McQueen.

Hauser then showed his class on the run, steadily building a gap to take a commanding victory in front of an ecstatic home crowd. American John Reed produced a strong finish to claim second, one minute behind Hauser, while Willian completed the podium in third.

The day also marked the end of an era as three-time Noosa Triathlon champion Aaron Royle competed in his final professional race, finishing 10th after announcing his retirement on the eve of the event. Hauser’s win added an emotional layer to the occasion, paying tribute to one of Australia’s most decorated triathletes.

Fullagar’s Breakthrough Performance

In the women’s race, Jessica Fullagar delivered a dominant display to secure her first Noosa Triathlon crown – and make history as the first British woman to win the event.

It was a tightly bunched field through the swim, with Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand leading Fullagar and U23 world champion Richelle Hill by mere seconds out of the water.

But once on the bike, Fullagar powered clear, surging to a 90-second lead within the first 10km and extending her advantage throughout the 40km course. By the time she returned to transition, her gap had ballooned to more than two minutes over Danielle De Francesco, with Dutch athlete Lotte Wilms close behind.

Despite late pressure from Hill and Beaugrand on the run, Fullagar remained composed and controlled, crossing the line over three minutes ahead of Hill, with Beaugrand rounding out the podium.

Jessica Fullagar happy with her Noosa Triathlon victory (Picture: Noosa Triathlon / Instagram)