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Wollongong Grand Final and WT/T100 Changes
Matthew Sharpe
October 21, 2025
Good morning everyone,
It’s a big edition today, so let’s dig in!
In today’s edition:
🏆 Contenders Collapse, and Hauser Historic at World Triathlon Finals
🐾 Why the Dog Paddle drill delivers!
🥦 And are you making these nutrition timing mistakes?
-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor
Have a triathlete in your life who can't stop swimming, biking, or running? Fire this off to them. Forwarded from a friend? Sign-up for free.
ONE BIG THING
Contenders Collapse, and Hauser Historic at World Triathlon Finals
World Triathlon
This past weekend, the eyes of the Triathlon World were on Wollongong, Australia, as the relaxed, beachside city played host to electric Junior, U23, Paratriathlon, Age Group, and Elite World Triathlon World Championship races.
Lisa Tertsch (GER) took her first World Championship win amidst Kona-esque collapses from her competition.
And Matt Hauser (AUS), with the pressure of a nation on his shoulders, became the first Aussie male to win the World Title in over 20 years.
Elite Women
While a stormy swell walloped Wollongong Harbour, the elite women made their own waves. A lead group of seven, including race favorites Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA), Beth Potter (GBR), and Lisa Tertsch (GER), distanced themselves from the rest of the field.
As the athletes started the bike, a lone leader emerged. Jessica Fullagar (GBR) took the race into her own hands - singlehandedly delivering the lead group of 6 a 30-second lead after the first lap.
Behind, a large and disorganized chase group of 25 athletes could only watch as the gap grew to almost 90 seconds by halfway.
The leaders would start the run a minute ahead of the chasers. The stage seemingly set for a Beaugrand/Potter title fight.
But early on, there was little separation between the leaders as Tertsch, Fullagar, and Bianca Seregni (ITA) made up a run pack of five.
And France’s Leonie Periault, coming from the chase, was setting an unbelievable pace.
About halfway through, the first of the favorites fell. Beaugrand, Olympic Champion a year ago in Paris, was gapped, and then shockingly dropped from the lead pack.
Deep into the run, it appeared Potter was en route to her second world title. But as the pace lifted, she suffered and experienced her own Kona-like collapse.
With the heavy favorites dropped, Lisa Tertsch (GER) would wait until the final kilometer before unleashing a devastating kick. She would win the Grand Final and become the unexpected World Champion.
🥇 Lisa Tertsch (GER)
🥈 Bianca Seregni (ITA)
🥉 Emma Lombardi (FRA)
With the win, Terstch also became the World Triathlon Championship Series Winner.
🥇 Lisa Tertsch (GER)
🥈 Leonie Periault (FRA)
🥉 Beth Potter (GBR)
Men’s Race
Thousands of fans gathered in The Gong, hoping Matt Hauser would be the host nation hero. The pressure didn’t seem to bother him.
From the gun, Hauser was on the attack. And over the first lap would lay waste to the entire field!
Midway through the swim, Hauser seemed to slow down, hoping to bring other athletes with him to start the bike. The strategy was a success. And as the leaders sped through T1, even a wetsuit slip couldn’t slow the momentum.
An aggressive swim segued into an aggressive bike. Similar to the women’s race, a smaller lead group containing Hauser, Alessio Crociani (ITA), Henry Graf (GER), Chase McQueen (USA), Dorian Coninx (FRA), and others pushed the pace, putting pressure on the chase.
A large chase pack containing race favorites Miguel Hidalgo (BRA) and Vasco Vilaca (POR) had the numbers, but not the will. And the gap grew to over a minute by T2.
As the run began, Hauser appeared unstoppable. Shortly after leaving T1, he was at the front of the race alongside Crociani. But the Italian was qucikly jettisoned by the Queenslander.
Hauser, buoyed by the thunderous support - had the feeling of inevitability as every stride brought him closer to history.
He would cross the line as World Champion - the first Aussie male in over 20 years to do it. The crowd couldn’t get enough, and neither could the commentators.
🥇 Matt Hauser (AUS)
🥈 David Cantero del Campo (ESP)
🥉 Alessio Crociani (ITA)
With the win, Hauser solidified his World Triathlon Championship Series victory.
🥇 Matt Hauser (AUS)
🥈 Miguel Hidalgo (BRA)
🥉 Vasco Vilaca (POR)
T100 Announces Groundbraking 2026 Series Overhaul
In a release from the the T100, the upstart professional triathlon series detailed several critical changes to it’s 2026 T100 Triathlon World Tour format.
Significant changes include 👇
A major overhaul to the compeitition format that splits up the male and female race weekends. The 2026 tour will feature nine total races. Four of which will be male only, and four will be female only.
The Grand Final in Qatar will see the men and women compete on the same race weekend.
The series will no longer feature lucrative athlete contracts. Instead the 2026 T100 Triathlon World Tour Tour starters will be points, and invitation-based.
Each race in 2026 will see significantly more prize money - more than double what is currently offered, with the winner earning $50,000.
The series prize pool will be $1.45m, with each series winner taking home $100,000.
Tempo’s Take
The T100 was on the brink of bankruptcy - and then it recieved a $40m lifeline. Now Sam Renouf - the embattled CEO - is determined not to make the same mistakes twice.
All these moves are the right ones for the T100. Nine events is a meaningful calendar, and enough to keep them relevant throughout the year.
I used to bash them for allowing their contracted athletes to compete in IRONMAN events. But I was wrong. Now, T100 can coast off IRONMAN’s athlete success.
The prize money could be compelling enough for athletes like Solveig Lovseth, Casper Stornes, and Lucy Charles-Barclay to jump into a few events. And if a random athlete is on an early season-heater, than a wildcard invite to the next T100 is only a DM away…
But after so many rescheduled and cancelled events, can we really trust the T100 to actually execute a full calendar? And will the increased event prize money be enough attract the top talent?
What are your thoughts on the weekend? |
FAVORITES
🐾 Scout’s swim drill: If you’re looking to build awareness of your catch, and how your hips generate power while swimming, the Long Dog Paddle drill will help you do this and more. Rover was definitely on to something with this one! [Dan Daly]
🤯 Ageless athlete: At 80, Natalie Grabow became the oldest woman to complete the IRONMAN World Championships. And she say’s shes just getting started! So how has she maintained incredible fitness at her age? Find out here! [New York Times]
🥦 Nutrition timing mistakes: Fueling before training is important. But can a mis-timed meal lead to a wonky workout (and and upset gut)?!? This article explains how nutrition timing, can be just as important as nutrition intake when it comes to your training! [Lifehacker]
🚴♂️ Best indoor trainers: For many athletes, the not-so-great indoors beckons. And if you’re looking for a indoor bike trainer that will fit your performance, and budget, than take a look at this review of the best bike trainers! [Bike Radar]
REEL TIME
It’s so easy! Emabarassed to admit I didn’t realize it…
The Aussie’s always bring the energy!
TEMPO TALKS PODCAST
Did We Just Witness The Best Race in Triathlon History?
And could athletes face long-term consequences for heat collapse?
All this and more in the latest episode of the Tempo Talks Podcast!
Together with The TriDoc, we bring you the biggest stories in Triathlon,
Training tips to make you faster,
And breakdowns of the latest in sports science and performance!
RACE WEEKEND
World Triathlon Championship Finals
Juniors: Big weekend for France as Tristan Douché and Léa Houart took the Junior World Championship wins!
U23’s: Richelle Hill (AUS) won in an epic sprint finish, while Oliver Conway (GBR) was also crowned champion.
Paratriathlon: Lauren Parker (AUS) won her 5th PTWC World Title, and Chris Hammer (USA) was victorious in the men’s PTS5. Full championship results here.
T100 Triathlon World Tour - Wollongong
Hayden Wilde (NZ) made it five wins in five T100 events. And Kate Waugh (GBR) took her second T100 victory of the season.
Sara Perez Sala (ESP) in perhaps the performance of the weekend. Helped guide Susanna Rodriguez (ESP) to another World Title, and five hours later, finished 3rd in the T100!
LATEST EDITIONS
WTCS Wollongong. And when do you NEED to replace your running shoes?
Favorites falter, Lovseth lifts the tape as IM World Champion.
“Listen, adapt, respond.” How to turn setback into success!
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