Isakova and Hidalgo Win Final WTCS Races in Abu Dhabi, Jorgensen Podiums

The postponed WTCS Abu Dhabi brought the World Triathlon Championship Series, as it is currently known, to a close ahead of its transition to T50 racing within the Triathlon World Tour. The sprint-distance showdown still attracted many of the sport’s top names, with Olympic qualification points and the chance to finish the season on a high and build momentum into 2027.

Women’s Race

The top spot on the podium was wide open in the women’s race, with the series’ undefeated champion Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) absent. Add to the mix the shorter, sprint-distance format and hot, windy conditions set to play a factor, and it was anyone’s guess who would take it.

2025 world champion Lisa Tertsch (GER) was the big name going in, alongside Jeanne Lehair (LUX), who had been part of a sprint finish at the World Cup in Hong Kong the week before. However, Diana Isakova (RUS) was another athlete many had their eyes on after winning that sprint against Lehair and taking the World Cup win in Rome before that. American Gwen Jorgensen (USA) had shown glimmers of top form in recent races, placing fifth at WTCS Weihai and producing the second-fastest run split at the Grand Final in Pontevedra.

Into the warm, 82-degree water, three groups began to form near the front as the chop and currents made for one of the most difficult swims of the year.

Isakova and Lehair were among the first group out of the water, while Tertsch and Jorgensen exited more than 20 seconds behind. That deficit would quickly balloon to over 30 seconds early on the bike, with another group between them and the front of the race.

Halfway through the bike, the front group of nine maintained its advantage as the third group swallowed the second to form one large chase pack. On such a tight, technical course, the larger group offered little additional benefit as the smaller pack ahead steadily increased its lead.

At the end of the bike, Germany’s Laura Lindemann (GER) almost undid the work of the front, mishandling her bike after the dismount, almost causing a crash. Onto the run, a quick transition shot Isakova to the front, while around 36 seconds behind, Jorgensen and Tertsch were among the large group with significant work to do – and only 5km to do it.

By halfway, Isakova and Lehair were clear at the front, foreshadowing a repeat of the race in Hong Kong the week prior. Jorgensen remained 36 seconds behind but had gapped Tertsch and made her way into eighth place.

That momentum continued for Jorgensen as suddenly eighth place became third and she could see the leaders up ahead. Unfortunately, the gap was just too large at that point. Isakova made her move with over 200 meters to go, picking up her first WTCS win and cementing her remarkable end to the year.

Lehair finished second and reflected that her efforts on the bike may have affected her run: “I may have used too much energy, but I am super happy with second place and my third podium of the year.”

Jorgensen couldn’t believe her result, returning to the WTCS podium for the first time since 2016 at 40 years old and producing the fastest run split of the day.

“I thought I was out of this race but one of the coaches told me I was third and I couldn’t believe it,” she shared.

Men’s Race

In the men’s race, this year’s Grand Final winner and sprint-distance specialist Matt Hauser (AUS) was wearing bib #1. With his prowess in the water, all eyes were on him in the absence of new world champion Vasco Vilaça (POR). Brazil’s Miguel Hidalgo (BRA), meanwhile, was looking to finally turn his training form into a result after some disappointing recent outings.

New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde (NZL) was the other big name on the lineup, having recently been approved to race both WTCS Abu Dhabi and Dubai T100. With the races falling within 24 hours of each other, that would not normally be allowed under World Triathlon rules. With his eyes firmly back on the Olympics, this was Wilde’s A-race for the weekend, according to New Zealand’s National Performance Manager Stephen Sheldrake.

It started with a windy, choppy swim that mostly stayed compact until the return to the beach, when two lines formed toward the shore. One group, including Hauser, made a beeline for the beach to get out of the water as soon as possible and run along the shore toward transition. That worked well for the Australian, who entered T1 with a small gap over compatriot Luke Willian (AUS).

Wilde found himself 39 seconds in arrears, with work to do alongside recent Iquique World Cup winner David Cantero del Campo (ESP). They were in a large chase group aiming to gain time on the lead group of 11, but on such a short, fast, five-lap bike course, their work was cut out for them.

Almost immediately, however, the gap was nearly cut in half, with Wilde driving the chase to within 22 seconds by the end of the first lap. The pace was so hot that the group split apart, with only a few athletes able to go with him on the technical course.

Perhaps that woke up the front group, which managed to limit its losses over the remainder of the bike and reached T2 with around nine seconds on Wilde and company. It was less than they would have hoped for against the stellar Kiwi runner, but the big question was whether the bike had stung his legs enough to hold him off. A slow transition from the 2025 winner of this race gave him even more work to do.

Onto the run, it didn’t take long for Hauser and Hidalgo to separate themselves at the front. Behind them, Wilde quickly recovered from his transition losses and moved through the rest of the front group alongside Shachar Sagiv (ISR).

The front two continued to push the pace and began adding time to Wilde behind. Hidalgo made his move before the second lap, and Hauser wasn’t able to respond. He quickly began to lose ground as the Brazilian looked comfortable all the way to the finish, taking the tape with an unmatched 14:20 5km.

It was a much-needed WTCS win to carry momentum into the 2027 Triathlon World Tour. Hauser shared afterward that he “could really feel the legs – and the whole year – in the back end of that race.”

Wilde crossed the line in third, comfortably ahead of the rest of the field, but a 14:52 5km left him short of the run speed he is accustomed to producing in these races. He won’t have much time to digest the result, however, as he immediately has to travel to Dubai, where he would look to continue his undefeated T100 season.