Triathletes to watch in the 2026 WTCS
Twenty years after the last Australian won a world title, Matthew Hauser claimed victory on home soil in the final race of last season. The 28-year-old enjoyed a dream 2025, becoming the first-ever male triathlete to win four WTCS events in a single season. After blazing through the finish line 34 seconds ahead of his closest rival in the season finale, the Maryborough (Queensland) native will want to build on that dominance over the upcoming year.
Returning from a year-long hiatus in which he switched his attention to the gruelling world of marathon running, 2024 world champion and Olympic gold medallist Alex Yee has his sights set on a return to triathlon.
Yee will miss the first WTCS race of the season in Samarkand after signing up as a pacemaker for the London Marathon, but is expected to return to the series later in the year, bringing with him the lessons learned in his foray into distance running.
New Zealand’s Olympic silver medallist Hayden Wilde also took on a different type of challenge in 2025, winning the T100 world title a year after losing out on Olympic gold in the final metres at the Games in Paris.
While his decision to compete in the Singapore T100 will mean he misses the opening WTCS race of the season, he has plenty of time to return to the fray and build upon his reputation as one of the most talented triathletes on the circuit.
Others to watch out for this season include Brazil’s Miguel Hidalgo and Portugal’s Vasco Vilaça, who came second and third, respectively, in last year’s standings. Both will headline the 2026 season opener in Uzbekistan as they look to take a lead in what is certain to be an action-packed year.