With a tactical swim position and a decisive breakaway on the bike, Miguel Hidalgo of the CADEX-sponsored BMC Pro Triathlon Team scored a historic victory in Alghero, becoming the first Brazilian to win a World Triathlon Championship Series event.
A smart choice in his starting swim position helped Hidalgo get off to a strong start. After watching the women’s race and observing that those who started on the right side had a clear opening, Hildago did the same and was rewarded with a clean line for the 1.5km deepwater swim. That opened the door for the Brazilian to emerge from the water in a 10-man group that would soon become a nine-rider breakaway during the bike leg.
The fastest runner from that breakaway, Hidalgo wasted no time using his strengths to his advantage on the run, immediately distancing himself from his podium rivals. Hidalgo finished 28 seconds ahead of series leader Matt Hauser of Australia, with France’s Leo Bergere rounding out the podium.
“I saw that in the women’s race, those on the right of the start had a bit of an advantage,” Hidalgo said. “I was happy to see Hauser go right, too, which gave me faith I’d made the right choice.”
Rolling swiftly on a CADEX 50 Ultra WheelSystem, Hidalgo traded pulls with Hauser and Bergere, driving the group on the 40km bike leg. Halfway into the nine-lap bike leg, held on a technical 4.5km course through Sardinia’s coastal hills, the front group had opened up a one-minute lead. That deficit grew to 1:45 by the end, an insurmountable lead for anyone left behind.
“If it wasn’t for [Bergere] we wouldn't have had the breakaway, he worked so hard at the start of the bike,” Hidalgo said. “We opened up a good gap and kept it going so I was happy to keep guys like [David] Cantero and [Hugo] Milner away.”
An early surge from Hidalgo on the run set the tone for the remainder of the race. Before he’d even completed three kilometers, Hidalgo had already created 20 seconds of space between himself and his rivals. From there, he continued to extend his lead, finishing the 10km run in a blazing 30:09. It was an emotional and historic finish, a first WTCS win not just for the 25-year-old Hidalgo but also for Brazilian triathlon.
“It’s the best feeling I ever had in a race, days like this you just have to enjoy and go for it,” Hidalgo said. “I started to feel good on the run and it is never a good choice to leave it late with Matt Hauser, so I set my pace and kept it. From the first lap I was just trying to keep focused. It’s such an important moment for me and for Brazilian triathlon. I’m really proud of this one.”
After three events, Hidalgo sits second in the WTCS rankings, trailing only Hauser. The top three finishes, plus the WTCS Finals in Wollongong, Australia, in mid-October, will determine the eventual world champion.
Tertsch, Potter solidify strong series rankings
In the women’s Alghero event, CADEX athletes Lisa Tertsch and Beth Potter put in strong performances to maintain their respective positions in the world rankings.
Tertsch finished sixth behind winner Cassandre Beaugrand to preserve her top spot in the women’s standings, while Potter finished eighth, and sits fourth in the series overall. Both CADEX athletes rode to their strong showings using the CADEX 50 Ultra Wheelsystem.
