Seven massive races down, one huge race still to come. The 2025 WTCS season that started way back in the middle of February boils down to a huge Championship Finals Wollongong on 19 October, with hometown hero Matt Hauser in the box seat at the top of the rankings.
Chasing him hard all season has been Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) and Vasco Vilaça (POR), but a late surge from Henry Graf (GER) sees him on a tear and in contention. Click here for a preview of the elite course, and read on to find out what it will take to seal this year’s title.
The 2025 rankings explained
This year’s WTCS season consists of 7 Series races and the Championship Finals
The overall WTCS rankings will be based off each athlete’s best three points totals plus those earned at the Finals.
There is 1,000 points for a Series win, the number dropping by 12.5% per position.
There is 1,250 points for a Finals win, each position thereafter also worth -12.5%
(NB. WTCS Abu Dhabi was still worth 750 points, the rule change to bring sprint distance wins up from 750 points to the same 1,000 as Olympic distance having come in to force after the opening race of the season).
Can Hauser bring it home?
The simplest equation is, of course, that a win for Matt Hauser will see him world champion. In fact, going into the race with the perfect score of 3000 points after wins in Yokohama, Hamburg and French Riviera, means that a medal of any colour would earn him the world title regardless of other results. The route to becoming Australia’s first male World Triathlon Champion in 20 years is clear.
Hidalgo and Vilaça in the hunt
The first athletes who could upset the favourite are of course the next-ranked Hidalgo and Vilaça. Victory for Hidalgo would put him on 4,031 points, meaning if Hauser were to also finish in fourth place, the Brazilian become world champion.
The same can be said for Vilaça. Just five points further back in third heading to Wollongong, a first ever victory at the top level, and Hauser finishing fourth or worse, and the Portuguese number one is world champion, regardless of where Hidalgo finishes.
Graf lies in wait
A win and a silver in his last two races have catapulted Germany’s Henry Graf into contention for a Series podium, and he arrives in red-hot form and with confidence flowing. Currently on 2,657 points, a Finals gold would put him on 3,907 points. Were Hauser to finish sixth or lower, Hidalgo third or lower and Vilaça likewise, then the world title would be Graf’s.
One name not in contention for the title but who could have a huge impact on things is of course Hayden Wilde. Having missed the majority of the season after a bike accident in Japan, he may not be as sharp in the water as he would like, but he could help haul a chase group up on the bike and can detonate a run that could really mix up the final standings. Stay tuned, there is plenty of life left in this title run in.
Men’s World Triathlon Championship Finals Wollongong
5pm local time, Sunday 19 October 2025
Full start list
Watch on TriathlonLive.tv
