A trio of top athletes accidentally sabotaged their chances.
Approaching the transition, Wilde, Belgian Mathis Margirier and France’s Marten Van Riel rode past the exit, and unknowingly completed an additional loop.
As the confusion ensued, more than 10 athletes ran one lap too few on the final leg.
Wilde told tri-today.com he was incredibly upset his chances had been hit by what he thought was an official blunder.
“They call themselves a professional race organisation,” he said.
Van Riel was also furious, taking to social media to bemoan his loss of earnings.
“I am honestly quite devastated right now,” he said.
“I not only lost tens of thousands of dollars, but I mostly feel let down by an organisation.”
In the end, Germany’s Mika Noodt stayed calm amid the madness to cross the finish line first.
With several athletes filing protests – including American Morgan Pearson and those who unintentionally over-biked – officials conducted a formal review.
Final race places were based on each athlete’s position at the completion of the seventh lap of the eight-loop run course.
That was deemed the last point with consistent and verifiable timing.
The standings were repeatedly reshuffled, with Pearson eventually declared the champion.
Triathlon is becoming an increasingly crowded landscape with World Triathlon, Challenge Ironman and the Professional Triathletes Organisation all running their own race series and world championships.
Final placings
1. Morgan Pearson
2. Mika Noodt
3. Gregory Barnaby
4. Jason West
5. Vincent Luis
6. Sam Dickinson
7. Jonas Schomburg
8. Hayden Wilde
9. Filipe Azevedo
10. Pieter Heemeryck
– RNZ
