After silver here 12 months ago and again in the 2025 season opener in Abu Dhabi, Australia's Matt Hauser was back on top of a Series podium in grand style on Saturday, holding off Portugal's Vasco Vilaça and Miguel Hidalgo of Brazil in a storming finish to a captivating race. 

The trio had managed to shell their biggest rivals over a gruelling final 10km through high winds and sideways rain, boiling the field down to three by the start of the final lap. But it was Hauser who continued to set his sights on a big season ahead, one that will culminate in the Championship Finals Wollongong, and stands at the top of the rankings after two of eight races in 2025's title chase. 

'I learnt a few lessons in Abu Dhabi, not to go too early and burn my matches. So today I was able to produce a better result against very tough competitors like Vasco. The last couple of laps with the strong head wind I decided to play it smart and it paid off.

'You know that if you drop someone as strong as Leo and you are in a podium position, you are doing good, but you cannot confirm anything and you have to give everything until you cross that line. With the Championship Finals in Wollongong this year it should be a good year for the Aussies, and I’m glad to have started it well.'

Devay and Hauser take it out fast

Starting on the far right of the pontoon, race number one Hauser was out of the blocks fast and soon slicing through clear water up front along with Hungary's Mark Devay, USA's Chase McQueen tucked in third place. 

GB's Max Stapley was right there too, that quartet with a small gap to Dorian Coninx and Tayler Reid at halfway, Vilaça diving back in 12 seconds back, Bergere 14 seconds back alongside Hidalgo. That was largely how it stayed throughout the second 750m, Csongor Lehmann (HUN) moving further up the field.

Hidalgo hauls chasers into contention

A group of 12 riders formed up front overt he first lap, Hidalgo and Kenji Nener among those not able to get on to them out of T1 and finding themselves 20 seconds adrift, while John Reed was solo ahead of a Morgan Pearson pack almost a minute off the pace after two laps. 

It was by the sixth lap that the chasers had managed to organise into something more potent, Hidalgo seizing the initiative and helping them cut down the deficit to Hauser and co. Having worked so hard, it was time to save some legs over the final two laps with a big 10km ahead, the packs coming together as Devay rolled the dice and went solo, the remaining 21 athletes hitting transition in a cloud of spray. 

Hauser was straight onto the front, Ben Dijkstra (GBR) on his shoulder along with McQueen and Reid, before Vilaça and Bergere pulled in and the Brit dropped back with Lehmann, Canada's Charles Paquet going strong.

Hauser detonates finish for the ages

Bergere was clearly feeling good after his T100 Singapore silver and started to set the pace out front, stretching the field and a lead group of five developed. That became four as Paquet was first to drop back through lap two, then it was the unlikely figure of Bergere falling off the pace towards the. end of lap three.

That left Hidalgo, Vilaça and Hauser to duke it out for the medals, and after the Portuguese took to the front and looked in control, it was the Australian's dogged finish that was to make the difference, summoning a huge final effort that Vilaça could not match, Hidalgo having to settle for third.

It would be Bergere home in fourth, teammate Coninx in fifth, Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN), Ricardo Batista (POR), Dijkstra, Lehmann and Paquet rounding out the top 10.

Vasco Vilaça - 'Since we started the run I tried to stay up front. Matt (Hauser) was going very tactical and I guess that I over estimated how strong I felt or I underestimated how strong Matt was. I saw Leo (Bergere) starting to drop so I decided to stay up front, tried to push the pace in the last lap. Kudos to Matt for such a great race, and I am very happy with my results. And having Miguel, two Portuguese speaking persons on the podium, is pretty special as well.

Miguel Hidalgo - 'It wasnt the easiest day out there today, but I am happy with the podium. Of course, i was aiming for the win. It was the first time that I was on the start line thinking realistically I can win today. It wasn’t today, but I’m getting closer.'

Full results available here