Triathlon: Hauser takes silver in Abu Dhabi, Hidalgo wins
· BehindLines newsroom
Brazil's Miguel Hidalgo won the Abu Dhabi round of the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) on Friday 13 November 2026, ahead of Australia's Matt Hauser. According to World Triathlon, it was the last race of that series before the Triathlon World Tour is introduced in 2027.
How the race unfolded
According to the federation, Hauser led the athletes onto the pontoon before the 750-metre swim and tried to stretch the race out from the water. Hauser and his compatriot Luke Willian then set off first on the 20-kilometre, five-lap bike course. A group of eleven riders broke clear, chased by four men including New Zealand's Hayden Wilde, who brought the gap down to 8 seconds at the entrance to the transition. On the 5-kilometre run, Hidalgo opened a gap on Hauser and crossed the line 18 seconds ahead, according to World Triathlon and ABC. Wilde completed the podium. According to the federation, he was then heading to the T100 in Dubai, scheduled for the next day.
The Netherlands' Ian Pennekamp took fourth, ahead of Luke Willian in fifth, according to the federation. ABC adds that Willian thereby collects useful points in his bid to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The athletes' words
Hidalgo described a disappointing season and said he went back to the basics of his training for six weeks. Hauser, quoted by ABC, said he could feel "the whole year" in his legs late in the race. He had won four races this season, and also the Noosa Tri at the start of the month, and keeps second place in the overall standings. He also explained, according to the federation, that the wind left the bike course exposed: the lead group was a little too big and some riders were not taking their turn.
In the women's race, according to ABC, Russia's Diana Isakova claimed her first victory in the world series, ahead of Luxembourg's Jeanne Lehair, with America's Gwen Jorgensen third. Also according to ABC, the Abu Dhabi round, initially planned for March, had been postponed for security reasons in the region.
Why it matters
This race closes a chapter: according to ABC, the WTCS circuit will be combined next year with the Professional Triathletes Organisation into a joint structure, the Triathlon World Tour. Also according to ABC, the Olympic qualification period runs until 18 May 2028, and each athlete's 12 best results over that period count toward their ranking.