Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Matt Hauser is keeping half an eye on the main LA prize as he tackles the unlikely task of trying to take down Vasco Vilaca.
The star Australian triathlete will have his work cut out defending the world title at the championship series final on Sunday night (AEST) in Pontevedra, Spain.
Vilaca, from Portugal, holds a handy lead over Hauser heading into the decider. Not only must the Australian win, but he needs to beat Vilica by five places to snatch the world title from him.
But the race will also be another chance for Hauser to hone his skills and test himself against the best as he aims for a historic Olympic medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Australia is yet to win an Olympic medal in men’s triathlon.
Hauser said the world championships would be “another notch in the belt” on the road to LA.
“It (competition) is only going to get stronger as we head into LA, so any chance I get to test myself against (them) … it’s a really good opportunity,” he said.
“It’s a lucky and privileged position, being defending world champion and familiar territory in Pontevedra, where I qualified an automatic spot for the Paris Games.
“It’s a challenging course, but I’m feeling really excited and energised and ready to give it a crack.
“I am No.2 … so I do have a lot of work ahead of me. But I believe in myself and I believe in the team around me.”
After sealing his maiden world title last year with an outstanding win in Wollongong, Hauser had enjoyed strong form throughout this season.
But a crash at the Weihai round in China late last month, coupled with Vilaca’s relentless consistency, put him behind the eight-ball.
“I believe I have the tools to not only win, but hopefully put a bit of a deficit between me and him. Only I control what I do out there,” Hauser said of the series final.
