Hayden Wilde blitzes the field for sprint distance World Triathlon Championship title in Hamburg

New Zealand triathlete Hayden Wilde wins the World Triathlon Championship Super Sprint title in Hamburg. Photo / Tommy Zaferes

Olympic bronze medallist Hayden Wilde is the newly crowned Super Sprint World Triathlon Champion after winning the final in Hamburg yesterday with an early burst on the run.

New Zealand’s Wilde broke away on the first lap of the 1.75-kilometre run course to clock a time of 19 minutes and 26 seconds, mere seconds ahead of Portugal’s Vasco Vilaca and Britain’s Alex Yee.

The Super Sprint format comprises a 300-metre swim followed by a 7.5km bike ride and a 1.75km run.

Reigning Olympic champion Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway was fourth.

New Zealand triathlete Hayden Wilde wins the World Triathlon Championship Super Sprint title in Hamburg on July 15, 2023. Photo / Tommy Zaferes

After three stages of intense racing, Wilde again showed his sprint credentials in the final race.

“I had to do some work in that first round and the legs weren’t feeling too good, but I was a bit more relaxed in the second out front,” Wilde said.

“My tactic was always to try to get a couple of seconds swinging ‘round into transition and get away.

“Everyone’s upping their game, and starting that race, it was always going to be difficult to get it done.”

New Zealand triathlete Hayden Wilde wins the World Triathlon Championship Super Sprint title in Hamburg on July 15, 2023, Photo / Tommy Zaferes

Wilde remains second overall in the World Triathlon Championship Series, with Vilaca holding first position after five races.

Fellow Kiwi Tayler Reid was 11th in the men’s race.

The women’s race was won by Cassandre Beaugrand of France from Britain’s Beth Potter.

New Zealand’s Nicole van der Kaay claimed a top-10 finish with an impressive sixth place.

- RNZ