Wilde claims SuperTri crown despite narrow loss to Olympic rival Yee

Kiwi Hayden Wilde has claimed the SuperTri League crown, despite bowing to archrival Alex Yee in the series finale in Sauid Arabia.

The pair that finished one-two on the Pairs Olympics podium again duelled over the three-stage sprint format, emerging at the front over the second 1.6km run phase.

Wilde led through the last swim and tried to shake off the Englishman on the final bike leg, where they were joined by Paris bronze medallist Leo Bergere.

The Frenchman used a 'short chute' to claim the lead on the run to the finish, but as he did at the Olympics, Yee made his decisive move with the finish-line in sight, holding off Wilde in the same time.

The defeat could not prevent the Kiwi from claiming the overall title, after a campaign that saw him victorious at Chicago and London, and on the podium at all five races contested. Yee also won two legs, but suffered a post-Olympics slump that put him out of the placings at the other three events.

Wilde and women's champion Georgia Taylor-Brown guided Crown Racing to the overall teams title.

"The points were so crucial this year and coming to Naom, I was quite nervous," reflected Wilde. "Last time I won the title, all I could get was top seven, so happy to get a podium, because it was a bit nervewracking over the day."

Wilde and Yee provided one of the iconic moments of the Paris Olympics, as they comforted one another at the finish, after battling for gold. Yee went on to claim the ITU world title, but Wilde emerged ahead here.

"It was super nice, but you have to put Leo and the other boys in the conclusion," said Wilde. "Leo was the closest in the series and he was a big threat through the whole series — he's a strong cycle/swim/runner.

"Once again, the three of us are on another podium."

Wilde hopes to claim a 'quad crown', consisting of Olympic gold, ITU world championship, SuperTri series and 70.3 half-ironman world title.

"I've got one of them, which is nice, and second in two. Hopefully, I can go two out of four, that would be a pretty awesome year for me."

The half-ironman event is scheduled for Taupō in December.