Australia’s Matthew Hauser has won the men’s World Triathlon Championship Series in Wollongong, ending a 15-year drought for Australia.<\/p>\n
Two-time Olympian Hauser never relented across Sunday’s 1.5-kilometre swim, 40km cycle, and 10km run event, which was the series finale. and won gold by 34 seconds.<\/p>\n
The 27-year-old was cheered home by a raucous crowd and finished the gruelling Wollongong course in 1 hour, 42 minutes and 42 seconds.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Spain’s David Cantero Del Campo claimed silver, 34 seconds adrift of Hauser, while Italian Alessio Crociani was a further seven seconds behind in third.<\/p>\n
After a seventh-placed finish at the Paris Olympics last year, Hauser finishes this season with four gold medals across eight races.<\/p>\n
“I was tossing and turning with emotion this week,” Hauser said.<\/p>\n
“It’s been a big last 12 months since Paris, and I’ve had my sights set on this ever since I crossed the finish line there.<\/p>\n
“My family and friends all drove down to come and support me and see this, so I can’t wait to enjoy a beer with them tonight.”<\/p>\n
Hauser, who was in tears at the finish line, and Emma Moffatt are the only Australians to win an Olympic-distance world title since the championship became a series.<\/p>\n
Moffat won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010.<\/p>\n
Hauser is the first Australian man to win the world series.<\/p>\n
Compatriot Pete Robertson won in 2005 when the world title was decided by a one-off race.<\/p>\n
Luke Willian was Australia’s next best competitor in the men’s elite race on Sunday, finishing 16th out of the 52 athletes.<\/p>\n
Hauser’s biggest threat Miguel Hidalgo, ranked second in the series, was fourth.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Germany’s Lisa Tertsch was victorious in the women’s elite race. (AAP: Dean Lewins)<\/p>\n
Earlier, Germany’s Lisa Tertsch won the women’s world triathlon title, as reigning Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand failed to finish the Wollongong final.<\/p>\n
Tertsch claimed a surprise gold in a time of 1:56.50.<\/p>\n
Italian triathlete Bianca Seregni finished 14 seconds behind for silver, while France’s Emma Lombardi was a further 12 seconds away in third.<\/p>\n