The target has been on his back and his back alone all season, coupled with the weight of expectation from a true triathlon nation, and on Sunday afternoon Matt Hauser ignited and then scythed through an electrifying atmosphere in Wollongong, Australia, to become the 2025 World Champion to a rapturous reception down the blue carpet.
Things could hardly have gone better early on in the race, as he darted what was a rearranged swim course - the wild winds blowing through the harbour and up Flagstaff Hill - for one last time this season. Out onto the bike, things clicked further as his lead group slowly gapped what became a huge pack containing some lightning fast runners behind, and once safely through the 40km, it was one last mission to take the title.
From the outside, it looked largely risk-free, dropping every one of his closest rivals except Alessio Crociani until the final lap, and from there there was no stopping it: A first Aussie male champion in 20 years, a first home world champion in ten, and the first triathlete ever to amass a 'perfect' score - winning every scoring race plus the finals. Some season.
Swim with a capital M
With the waves tumbling in through the harbour walls, there was little chance of using the original out-and-back swim course, instead a 750m 'M'-shaped zig-zag of buoys was the route, an Aussie-exit in the middle - Hauser heaven.
He was soon carving through clear water out front, Alessio Crociani for company with Chase McQueen and Henry Graf helping stretch things out and fast and leaving some of the title threats in the wake.
At the end of the second lap, 20 seconds separated the first nine onto the beach and up the u-turn run into transition.
The advantage extends
Seven athletes came together to form a potent lead group, Csongor Lehmann, Dorian Coninx and Miguel Tiago Silva joining those front swimmers and already 20 seconds up on the first chase pack - Max Studer, Morgan Pearson and David Cantero del Campo among them.
That gap doubled two laps later, and as the chasers merged, they inevitably slowed, the leaders racking up a near-perfect minute gap by the end of the seventh and final bike lap.
Chasing the sun
Crociani was immediately onto the gas, a transition from the gods to put himself clear but Hauser was in no mood to wait around and took control. From the first paces up Flagstaff Hill, the story could start to be written. After 2km the window was 13 seconds, the likes of Studer, Vilaça and Cantero motoring and starting to put together a chase of their own.
Up ahead, there was only one outcome beginning to take shape. Hauser was flying, the crowds were roaring, and headlines were writing themselves. Cantero was soon into third and then closing in on Crociani, passing late to secure his first ever Series podium on the biggest stage.
Hauser took his bow down the blue carpet, soaked it up and the crowds lifted him one last time. Peter Robertson's legacy finally followed up on, the men's world title to go with the Mixed Relay world title that Hauser carved out of the streets of Hamburg in July.
To wins in Yokohama, Hamburg and French Riveira was added the big one, the Grand Final. A world title won in the grand style. The 2026 season is going to be one for the ages.
