It was here that the favourite stepped up. Max Studer (SUI) arrived on the back of wins at the European Championships and WTCS Weihai. He continued his exceptional second half of 2025 by downing Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger (FRA) over the 5km run (clocking 14:16 for his trouble). Should he maintain this hit rate, Studer could do some damage in 2026. Hueber-Moosbrugger, last year’s winner in Miyazaki, could be content with silver while there was a maiden medal for Britain’s Michael Gar in 3^rd place. Notably, France’s depth was on full display as the team locked out 5^th through 8^th behind Hueber-Moosbrugger.