Hayden Wilde Second at Debut VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World ...

5 days ago

Sportzhub

New Zealand’s Olympic hero Hayden Wilde claimed second place at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in front of thousands of Kiwi supporters who lined the streets of Taupō to cheer him on this morning.

Ironman 70.3 World Championship - Figure 1 — Photo Sportzhub

Wilde looked on track for the title during the early stages of the run, but in a repeat of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Wilde couldn’t quite keep up the pace during the final few kilometres and with three-time Olympian Jelle Geens (BEL) flying, the lead changed hands after the 18km mark.

Geens would go on to claim victory in a new IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship best time of 3:32:09. Wilde was second, over a minute behind the Belgian in 3:33:22, with Leo Bergere (FRA), also in a repeat of Paris, third in 3:35:08. Taupō raised Kyle Smith (NZL) was fourth in 3:37:51.

Ironman 70.3 World Championship - Figure 2 — Photo Sportzhub

“I put big ambition out there, obviously I went out there, I was naïve, but I wanted to give it a go. I did the training, and I felt I rode appropriately and I know these roads like the back of my hand, I knew that as soon as we hit View Road there was an opportunity of opening a gap, got that gap and I felt confident going in [to the run],” said Wilde. “It’s weird to say, and I think the short course guys will say this, it’s really hard to slow yourself down in that first 10km and I just couldn’t do it, I was too excited, I went out probably too hard.”

Ironman 70.3 World Championship - Figure 3 — Photo Sportzhub

Greens, Wilde & Smith

Wilde was eighth out of the water, 32 seconds behind the leader Greg Harper (USA), but powered through T1 and got to work immediately on the bike to form a lead group of eight athletes including defending champion Rico Bogen (DEU), Geens, Bergere, and Smith.

Smith leading

Wilde keeping an eye on the leaders

Ironman 70.3 World Championship - Figure 4 — Photo Sportzhub

The lead group would ride together for the majority of the 90km bike course, but it was Wilde who entered T2 first, again not wasting any time through transition and was out onto the 21.1km run course in a flash. It looked like there might be no catching the Kiwi as he put almost a minute into Geens by the 13km mark, but it would be a pace Wilde unfortunately could not sustain. Geens began to reel in the Kiwi and eventually made the pass for the lead at the 18km mark – and within a kilometre gapped Wilde by more than 30 second.

Ironman 70.3 World Championship - Figure 5 — Photo Sportzhub

Wilde leads Greens

Cheered along with every step by an ecstatic home crowd, Wilde kept pushing to cross the line in second and earn a $45,000 USD payday.

Fellow Kiwi Smith (above) fought hard all day, with the Taupō native exiting the water just behind Wilde, 33 seconds off the lead. Smith pushed hard on the bike, getting himself into a great position to challenge for a podium position. He hit the run course in fifth position, quickly moving up to third in the first 2km, before eventually having to settle for fourth.

Ironman 70.3 World Championship - Figure 6 — Photo Sportzhub

Wilde & Smith

“I just want to thank this whole town of Taupō, I owe my whole career to this town, I wouldn’t be a triathlete without the community, without the support. Ngā mihi to Taupō, ngā mihi to my whānau, my whole team,” said Smith. “This community got me to fourth place today, I wasn’t feeling it, I wasn’t feeling great all day, I didn’t have the fitness, but I had the fight because of you guys.”

Ironman 70.3 World Championship - Figure 7 — Photo Sportzhub

Currie

Wanaka’s Braden Currie crossed the line in 14th position, less than 30 seconds clear of Ben Hamilton in 16th. Jack Moody was the next local, finishing in 20th, one place ahead of Mike Phillips.

For more information about the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event, please visit www.ironman.com/im703-world-championship. 