A year after Yokohama was the "fire-starter" for Matt Hauser, it's given the Australian triathlete another massive confidence boost.

Hauser has finished second at the world championship series round after needing three weeks off because of the 'flu.

He came back from 30 seconds behind during the final 10km run leg to finish only four seconds behind New Zealand winner Hayden Wilde.

"It's what self-belief gets you mate," Hauser said post-race.

Hauser finished the sodden 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run event in one hour, 42 minutes and 17 seconds, with Portugal's Vasco Vilaca also moving up late to finish one second behind the Australian in third.

That gave Vilaca the series lead after two events.

After finishing 18th at the opening round two months ago in Abu Dhabi, Hauser needed time off because of his illness and had been building up his fitness carefully.

A member of Australia's underachieving Tokyo Olympics team, Hauser is targeting the Paris Games test event in August.

"Yokohama was the fire-starter for me last year, and it's great to be back this year in the lead up to the rest of the season and the Paris test event," he said before the race.

No other Australians finished in the top 10s, with the weather improving for the men after pouring rain during the women's race.

Compatriot Lauren Parker made it 10-straight wins in world or Oceania events when she took out her paratriathlon category.