Hayden Wilde scores redemption at supertri Chicago
After silver medals in Boston and at the 2024 Olympic Games, Crown Racing's Hayden Wilde returned to the top of the podium at supertri Chicago in Michigan, USA, securing a decisive win ahead of Podium Racing's Léo Bergere and Vasco Vilaça of Stars & Stripes Racing.
Having witnessed Brownlee Racing's Alex Yee belatedly stride to victory in both Boston and Paris, Wilde looked hungry for gold from the get-go in supertri’s Chicago debut, regularly pushing the pace at the front of the bike course in the nine-discipline multisport race.
The 26-year-old Kiwi would make the decisive move at the start of Stage 3’s run leg before crossing the line in determined fashion to lay down a marker for the rest of the 2024 series. Wilde would score valuable points for his Crown Racing team, while his nemesis Yee would finish 44secs back in eighth in a blow for the Brownlee Racing squad.
“I’m super stoked to be back on the top of the podium, it’s been a long time,” said Wilde at the finish. “We talked with the team and I just had to do what I don’t do. I actually hated the racing as it’s not me, but the team needed the big points and it was a hot day. I was scared coming into today because of how Paris went in the heat.”
The event was supertri’s Michigan bow, with the race now part of the Chicago Triathlon, the largest urban triathlon in the US and one that’s been running for over four decades. Huge crowds and the backdrop of Chicago’s skyscrapers greeted athletes on the supertri format, which saw athletes face a 300m Lake Michigan swim, a flat 4km bike before a 1.6km run three times in a row, all without a break between stages.
Fresh off the back of the Olympics and a thrilling series opener in Boston, there was another stacked line-up of athletes on the starting pontoon, including the renewal of the Wilde and Yee rivalry that’s captivated triathlon fans this summer and the fierce contest between the four teams for series points.
STAGE BREAKDOWN
STAGE 1
The 300m swim in Lake Michigan saw Matt Hauser and Chase McQueen lead the charge at the front, the duo physically battling off the ramp in a bid to secure the Short Chute for their teams. That honour would go to Podium Racing’s Hauser, with his team dominating the top post-swim positions and Brownlee Racing making up the rear.
The 4km bike saw the field strung out on the twisting and tight lakeside course, Vasco Vilaça pushing to the front for Stars & Stripes and Hayden Wilde moving up the places for Crown Racing. The Short Chute honour would go to Vilaça after a slick bike-to-run transition.
A group of nine formed at the front of the 1.6km run led by Vilaça, with France’s Vincent Luis of Crown Racing also coming to the fore after a strong showing for the tri veteran in Boston a week ago. Wilde moved into the lead as the second swim approached, scoring a Short Chute for Crown Racing in the process. Yee was still 17secs in arrears.
STAGE 2
The second 300m swim in the chop of Lake Michigan was soon led by Luis and his French compatriots Dorian Coninx and Léo Bergere of Podium Racing, with Kenji Nener also in the mix for Podium Racing.
The big news on the 4km bike leg was the Brownlee Racing team being cut adrift at the rear, dropping 24secs back at the lead pack of 11. The twisty course saw Tim Hellwig of Stars & Stripes hit the deck but get straight back on his bike again, before Vilaça headed onto the run course first while Max Stapley served a five-second penalty for forgetting his cap on the Stage 2 swim.
The 1.6km run saw a pack of eight form at the front, with the Short Chute honours going to Vilaça, Wilde and Hauser. Yee, however, was running his way back into contention. But would it be too little, too late?
STAGE 3
First onto the day’s final 300m swim was Wilde, with a Short Chute in his pocket, ahead of Nener and Connix. Japan’s Nener was first out of the water into T1, with the top four spots all occupied by Podium Racing.
The 4km bike was led by Nener, who has been training with tri superstar Kristian Blummenfelt, as part of the lead pack of nine. Connix and Hauser had picked up five-second penalties, however, in a blow for Podium Racing, while Yee and Brownlee Racing were again nowhere to be seen. Vilaça would move to the front for Stars & Stripes ahead of T2, with much to play for on the run.
Vilaça and Wilde would play their Short Chutes at the start of the 1.6km run, with Bergere leading the chase group. Wilde would make his move before the halfway mark, leaving the Portuguese in his rearview mirror, with Bergere then moving into second. Wilde had the win in the bag by the finishing chute and showed no emotion as he crossed the line, with Bergere finishing 2secs back and Vilaça 3secs behind in third. Hauser and Hellwig rounded out the top five, with Nener sixth and Yee eighth.
