He came in as Series leader, he left as World Champion. Portugal’s Vasco Vilaça delivered one of the most memorable finishes to a Championship Finals we have ever seen on Sunday evening, taking the silver by 0.08 seconds at the end of a sprint finish won by defending champion Matt Hauser, enough to secure the world title he has worked so hard for so long to achieve.
It was Vilaça, teammate Ricardo Batista and Matt Hauser joined by the soaring Olympic Champion Alex Yee for the final lap of the 10km run, by which time Vilaça knew the world title was surely his, but with one more hurdle to leap. A first gold came in Samarkand, a first world title in Pontevedra, but it was Hauser who maintains his record and continues to be the man that Portugal’s star wants to beat after the Australian edged a monumental sprint finish for the ages.
Alex Yee had appeared like a bolt from the blue 40 seconds adrift off the bike and finished with the race bronze, Ricardo Batista’s fourth place securing him the Series bronze in what has been a huge year for Vilaça’s compadre.
"Just another great show together with Matt (Hauser)!' said Vilaça. "I couldnt be happier to have Ricardo running with us the whole race. What a dream, to have my friend, someone I grew up with, first and third in the world. I want to thank everyone by my side all the year, it was not an easy year for me. This is what the Olympics will be all about.
"I haven't raced in almost two months, it was my plan and my decision and it worked out really well. On the swim, the first lap was difficult, Matt played his cards and he chose the opposite side of the pontoon to not take me with him. I knew I was by myself but this is what I have been working on. I didnt want anyone's help, I believed in myself. I knew I had some work to do and it is what I did."
Into the race as Series leader and wearing the number one, Vilaça took up position on the right of the pontoon with Miguel Hidalgo for company as the rest of the top 10 followed the fast-starting Hauser to the far end for the wetsuit-optional 1500m, two lap swim.
It didn't take long before Marton Kropko was drilling the opening stages, carving clear with Mark Davey, Diego Moya, the returning Dylan McCullough and Hauser. At the halfway point, Vilaça was over 20 seconds back in 29th place, but dug in over the second lap as the field slowed the drift.
Jules Rethoret (FRA) and Ricardo Batista had powered the second lap too, Vilaça also clawing back precious seconds that would ensure his place with them in the front pack for the entirety of the 40km bike.
Alex Yee, Hayden Wilde and David Cantero were digging in to close the gap on the first chase pack including Tjebbe Kaindl and Alberto Gonzalez Joao Batista, making up 30 seconds to bring them together and then looking like making inroads on the leaders.
But the front pack responded quickly, Dylan McCullough and Dorian Coninx playing their part as the leaders rolled turns to stop the bleeding and start again to extend their lead as the swollen chasers lost their rhythm somewhat.
And the gap hovered at around 40 seconds for the remainder of the 40km bike, Vilaça moving into a strong position to navigate T2, Hauser typically fluid into the shoes and out onto the 10km run first followed by Coninx, Devay and Simon Westermann (SUI), then McCullough, Vilaça and Connor Bentley (GBR).
Hauser was looking to break things up early but Vilaça wasn't to be let go, pulling alongside and staying there for what would become the entirety of the run with compatriot Batista as first Bentley and then Coninx were shelled.
Further back, it was Wilde and Yee side by side hoovering up the field before Yee broke clear and eventually made it all the way up to that lead trio by the end of lap two to ensure he would play his part in a massive season finale.
There was nothing to call between the four leaders as they chopped and changed the lead, and then Vilaça detonated a major surge up the incline and into the stadium for the last time. It was enough to lose Batista then Yee, but Hauser stuck to his task and the pair were stride-for-stride down the home straight until the final push saw Hauser take the tape 0.08 seconds ahead of his rival.
Yee crossed for a second consecutive podium in an ominous warning of his return to form, Batista fourth for Series bronze, Wilde flying into fifth ahead of Coninx and McCullough, Roberto Sanchez (ESP), Bentley and Yanis Seguin (FRA) rounding out the top ten.
MATT HAUSER
"I just kept telling myself I cant lose this one. I wanted this so much after this season. I gotta give credit to Vasco, what a champion. It got a little bit pushy at the end, I had nowhere to run. Apologies to him, I was just desperate to get to the line first."
"I am just really happy of what I achieved today, I am not a back to back world champion but I executed when it really mattered. I know that I can held my head high. I knew that the only part where I could open a gap with Vasco would be the swim, I tried but credit to Vasco, he swam really well, made the group. He had a couple of mates with him, Ricardo and Miguel Tiago, and they were working really well, which at the end also helped me. Also good to see in the front Dylan McCullough and Marton Kropko. And it is also great to see Alex Yee back on the podium again."
ALEX YEE
"It is great to be back. I guess I am back in form, and that is nice. I felt unbelievable in the bike and the run so hopefully my swim will be back at some point. Kudos to the people on my group in the bike to hold the gap. My goal when I made it to the run was try to get in the front and see what happens. Congrats to these two guys, great race today. Congrats to Vasco, he is the world champion and great to see Hayden back too."
