Hayden Wilde fought hard to win silver at the World Triathlon Cup Napier at home in New Zealand, starting off his 2024 season which sees the world #2 triathlete and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist as a favourite for Paris.
Wilde knocked off the rust coming from behind with a 9:45 swim over 750 metres to latch onto the third chase group, nearly bridge the gap over 20 kilometres with a 25:12 cycle split, then set the day’s best run over 5 kilometres in 13:52 to finish only six seconds shy of first place.
“That was a disaster (the swim). I worked really hard on the bike, we got some movement in the group; I was pulling pretty hard and I just wanted to keep the gap as small as possible and we got something going on,” said Wilde post-race. “I was pretty sore for the run and I just went for it. I think I ran pretty fast, so I am really happy with that and the hard bike, it is good preparation for Abu Dhabi.”
The World Triathlon Championship Series kicks off with the first race in Abu Dhabi on March 8. Wilde lines up with fellow Bahrain Victorious 13 athletes: Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA), Henri Schoeman (RSA), Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) and Vincent Luis (FRA) making their respective comebacks from injury, and Kate Waugh (GBR) in her maiden race on the team.
