Kiwi Olympic triathlon star Hayden Wilde has shown his class during a rare outing on home soil, winning the 2026 Oceania Triathlon Cup in Napier.
Wilde, 28, led an all-New Zealand podium in the men’s race on Sunday, which attracted a large crowd to Ahuriri Beach.
It is the thirdyear Napier has hosted the international race.
In winning the short course event, he sent a warning shot across the bows of his opponents as Los Angeles 2028 looms a little larger on the horizon, particularly with an improved swim, which he has worked on over the summer.
The sight of a blacked-out podium in the men’s race was the highlight of a fantastic day of racing, with Saxon Morgan finishing second and Henry McMeking third.
In the women’s race, it was Canada’s Desirae Ridenour who went back-to-back in Napier, edging out rising Australian U23 star Aspen Anderson and Richelle Hill (AUS).
Canada’s Desirae Ridenour wins the women's race, again, in Napier. Photo / @scottietphoto
Eva Goodison was the best of the Kiwis in the women’s race, finishing in fifth in the combined elite and U23 field but claiming third in the elite women’s race.
Wilde, who has won a bronze (2020) and silver (2024) at the Olympics, and is nicknamed the Falcon, was second in Napier last year after a poor swim.
However, there was no repeat this year, emerging from the water with the leaders before powering away to a 15-second lead on the bike, a margin that was extended further over the 5km run.
“The crowd out here was fantastic and super nice, it was nice to come down a few days before the race and soak it up in the Bay, the weather turned it on today, a beautiful day and everyone got to stand out without the brollies and cheer us home,” Wilde said.
“I was super proud on the swim; it has been a massive work-on through the New Zealand summer.
“I have sacrificed something on the bike and run just to get it up to scratch and I am super happy with where I was.
“I have put some mahi in over summer and I hope to replicate that in the World Series racing this year, starting in March.”
He said he loved racing back in New Zealand.
“It is fantastic, just to have some of the Kiwi boys racing, I don’t race them often ... it was super nice to see an all-New Zealand podium, massive kudos to everyone that has come out today and helped us in the tough and hot conditions and supported us.”
Ridenour was delighted to go back-to-back in familiar surroundings.
“I try not to race in the same place twice because there is so much more additional pressure having won last year, but I thought I had to win again this year, it is so good to win and start the season off strong.”
The Oceania Triathlon Cup Napier included a 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run.
