The 2026 World Triathlon Championship Series got up and running in the Uzbek city of Samarkand on Saturday afternoon, and after 9 top-tier career podiums, Portugal’s Vasco Vilaça fincould finally grab the tape and claim his first WTCS win with a majestic 10km off a hot, hard bike. 

Placed 17th out of the water and chasing the likes of title rival Miguel Hidalgo and swim leader Marton Kropko (HUN), Vilaça and his group were able to draw in the leaders over the first four laps and 20 riders came together. 

Over the closing stages, Kropko again went away, Chase McQueen (USA) going with him, the peloton staying patient as T2 approached, confident in catching the flying duo. 

And catch on they soon did, Vilaça, Henry Graf and Charles Paquet eventually shaking off their nearest rivals over the closing stages of the 10km run but acutely aware of a marauding Oliver Conway and Hugo Milner coming into their rear views. 

The two Brits would clock the fastest runs of 29:36 and 29:40 respectively, but couldn’t catch the leaders, Vilaça with one last hammer drop to pull away with 400m to go, Henry Graf (GER) and Charles Paquet (CAN) unable to respond with silver and bronze respectively. 

'I have been working for this for so long, ive had races when ive been in such good shape and not been able to make it,' said Vilaça. 'Today I was really struggling, I wasn’t feeling my best but I was digging deep. The other guys were so strong, but mentally, I think I was strong and tried to be tactical and take my chance. Hugely thankful for my whole team throughout all the podiums.' 

The 1500m swim saw Marton Kropko taking it out fastest, Miguel Hidalgo right on his feet for the first lap, only for Italian Alessio Crociani to move towards the front and Csongor Lehmann putting in a huge second lap to exit the water in third. 

Graf, Max Stapley (GBR), Michael Gar (GBR) and Jeremy Quindos (UZB) for the home nation followed them out, only Quindos and Gar failing to make the front pack of six. 

There was to be no stick to the breakaway – yet - as the packs drew together, Vilaça and Seth Rider (USA) helping draw them together while Hugo Milner was doing his all to bring the third pack into contention with the 26 front-riders over a minute back. 

It was a 1:06 deficit to Kropko and McQueen upfront, only for the Hungarian to pull up with an ankle issue and the American dropped back as Tom Richard, Lehmann and Hidalgo took to the front. 

Having looked in great shape and position early on, Hidalgo dropped back, Vilaça, Richard, Graf, Paquet, Lehmann, and Ricardo Batista the six remaining ahead and powering on. 

Also flying, though, were Oli Conway, Hugo Milner and David Cantero (ESP) hoovering up the first two laps and cutting into the leaders ever-dwindling buffer. 

But after half a lap to settle things down and compose, it was the experience of Vilaça that made the difference. Suddenly there were three up front, Vilaça wedged on Graf’s shoulder and then searing to the front down the final 400m, taking his rivals by surprise and there was to be no answer. The Portuguese bullet didn’t let his foot off the gas all the way to the line, falling to the blue carpet with exhaustion, Graf silver, Paquet a first podium in third. 

Csongor Lehmann crossed in 4th, Oli Conway soared into fifth, Tom Richard sixth, with Milner, Ricardo Batista, David Cantero and Ian Pennekamp rounding out the top ten. 

QUOTES:

Vasco Vilaça
I would have liked to been at the front and help more, I was struggling, got to the front when I could, but it was messy in a big group. Henry was doing a great run, we knew they were catching us, I’m happy Henry took his turn, but I just closed my eyes and went for it. 

Henry Graf 
To be honest the first kilometres I kind of had a bit of time to get into it, then felt really good, then saw Milner, Cantero and Conway closing in and I felt good so I pushed the pace, hoped someone else would take a turn, but everyone was suffering. I was just trying to secure the podium, maybe drop everyone, couldn’t beat Vasco but couldn’t be happier with a podium first race into the season. 

Charles Paquet 
It’s amazing to start the season like this. Last year I was disappointed not to podium having been close a few times, so it’s a great feeling. With Abu Dhabi cancelled I had a good training block in Girona, a lot of weeks, nothing crazy, good volume, now to altitude ahead of WTCS Alghero. 

Full results available here.