Haus that for a debut
Coast teenager wins ITU World Cup event in China at his first attempt Gilmore looks to catch a lucky break in Brazil
tom.boswell@news.com.au emma.greenwood@news.com.au STEPHANIE Gilmore will have to reverse her recent fortunes in Rio if she is to maintain her World Surf League championship tour lead and push for a record-equalling seventh world title.
Gilmore leads the title race into the tour’s fourth event, which opens in Rio today. Gold Coast teenager cruised through Saturday’s 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run qualifying race in sixth.
“Matt always prides himself on recovering well and backing up and that’s exactly what the Commonwealth Games selectors are looking at – people that can back up and perform over that shorter distance,” Atkins said.
“Matt’s very much putting his hand up saying, ‘look I’m trying to show everyone that I can do this. I’m young enough and bold enough to really give it my best if I’m wearing the
But the two women on her tail have the best recent record in the Rio shore break and will be breathing down Gilmore’s neck.
Gilmore’s took sole ownership of the tour leader’s yellow jersey after her runner-up finish at Bells Beach last start and leads the title race from Sally Fitzgibbons and defending world champion Tyler Wright.
Fitzgibbons and Wright 1. Matt Hauser (Aus) ........... 26:46 2. Rostislav Pevtsov (Aze) . 26:48 3. Luke Willian (Aus) .......... 26:50 4. Rodrigo Gonzalez (Mex) .26:52 5. Andreas Schilling (Den) .. 26:56 green and gold’. All he can keep doing is putting his hand up and try to perform in key periods of time.”
Hauser said he was thrilled with the result after finishing 18th in the Gold Coast leg of the World Triathlon Series on April 8.
“I’m absolutely stoked. It have dominated in Rio over the past five years.
Only once since 2012 has either Fitzgibbons (2012, 2014) or Wright (2013, 2016) failed to win the event and the duo head into this year’s event as hot favourites again.
The event has not been as kind to Gilmore.
It is one of the few events in which she has not lifted the winner’s trophy, with her best 6. Tyler Mislawchuk (Can) 26:57 7. Igor Polyanskiy (Rus) . 27:00 8. Gábor Faldum (Hun) . 27:00 9. Lukas Hollaus (Aut) .....27:01 10. Lasse Lührs (Ger) ...... 27:02 was my debut World Cup after doing the Gold Coast WTS race a couple of weeks ago,” Hauser said.
“I’m really pleased with the effort and I’m now looking forward to the rest of the year.
“I knew I conserved a lot of energy in the heats and just result coming with a semi-final finish in 2011, the year the event was added to the women’s championship tour.
Injury has ruled her out for two of the past four years but Gilmore is determined to notch another strong showing over the next fortnight.
The Tweed Coaster faces young gun Kelley Andrew and a wildcard in her Round 1 heat, giving her a strong chance to did what I could to get to the final.
“I knew it was always going to be a running race so I tried to conserve on the swim and bike and save it for the run and I managed to execute the processes right.”
Atkins said it was a big moment for the 19-year-old who is revelling in the chance to test himself against the world’s best in what is his final year in the junior ranks.
“You’re only talented until you win something big and then you turn into a competitor,” Atkins said.
“It’s time for people to stop skip straight round.
The window for the men’s Rio Pro also opens today, with defending world champion and tour leader John John Florence out to continue a season of dominance.
Gold Coaster Jack Freestone made the final in Rio last year but faces a tough challenge to get there again, meeting Florence in the first round. into the third saying Matt’s talented and for Matt to stop thinking he is talented and start thinking he is an actual competitor.”
Hauser hopes to race in the Edmonton World Triathlon Series race on July 28 before heading to Spain to prepare for the world junior titles in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, in September.
“Racing in Edmonton would be another opportunity for Matt to continue his development and give him that exposure so we can really put him on the start line at worlds which is our main focus,” Atkins said.