Vasco Vilaco takes gold at WTCS Sardinia as bike crashes cause chaos in the field
Vasco Vilaca (POR) claimed victory at WTCS Alghero and takes the outright series lead as crashes in the bike leg put several athletes, including defending champ Matt Hauser (AUS) and GBR’s Alex Yee out of contention.
Hauser emerged from the swim first with Dorian Coninx (FRA) and Alessio Crociani (ITA). However all was to change as the athletes headed out on the bike.
What happened on the bike
First Hauser crashed coming around a right-hand corner, skidding across both sides of the road and into the barriers – and although he completed the bike leg and arrived in T2 he did not start the run. Graf also hit the ground twice, the second time knocking David Cantero del Campo (ESP) down as well. At the same incident, Alex Yee (GBR) rode over the rear wheel of Hugo Milner (GBR) who was already on the ground and ultimately lost time. Like the other crash victims, Yee didn’t finish the race.
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Vilaca gave a textbook performance however and had a masterful ride over the 40km.
What happened on the run
It was Luke Willian (AUS) however who led out of T2 and set the early pace with Hidalgo. Vilaca went on to join the lead pair, and by the end of the first lap he and Hidalgo had dropped Willian.
After Hidalgo surged on an uphill section, Vilaca used the subsequent downhill to break his Brazilian rival and tore away to a 19 second victory – even finding time to glance over his shoulder and high-five the waiting crowds.
Hidalgo took second, then Ricardo Batista (POR) sprinted to take third and his first WTCS medal.
Image: World Triathlon
Helen Webster
Editor, 220 Triathlon 
