Australian Matthew Hauser has pulled off a dramatic late sprint to earn a career-high sixth-place overall finish in the World Triathlon Championship Series and deny Kiwi Hayden Wilde the title.

Hauser burned past Wilde in the final 400m of the series final in Abu Dhabi to finish fifth ahead of the New Zealander, who had only needed a top-five finish to claim the overall crown.

The first five finishers in elite men's event on Saturday were separated by just 37 seconds.

Wilde instead had to settle for third overall with Frenchman Leo Bergere, third in the rankings pre-race, winning gold in a time of one hour 44:14 seconds to claim the championship ahead of Alex Yee.

Hauser's effort in his first WTCS grand final was all the more remarkable given he had a nasty slip and fall early in the run leg.

"Matt actually hit the ground pretty hard, super fortunate to see him come back," Wilde said.

"I saw him stalking me and we were running at the same pace, and he got me in that last part."

Hauser's compatriot Luke Willian finished 22nd in the race with Jake Birtwhistle 44th and Brandon Copeland 50th.

Meanwhile Natalie Van Coevorden finished the long season as Australia's top-ranked female triathlete, finishing 20th overall in the WTCS Rankings after a 19th-place finish in Abu Dhabi.

It was a brutal day for Charlotte McShane, whose day ended early when she crashed in the later stages of the 40km bike on the tricky new technical course.

McShane suffered ligament damage to one of her fingers as well as losing some skin.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Sophie Linn also crashed but recovered to finish 30th.

Reigning Olympic and two-time Commonwealth champion Flora Duffy claimed her fourth world title.

Elsewhere, Australia's leading paratriathletes won the paratriathlon mixed relay demonstration event.

The Australia II team of Lauren Parker, Sam Harding (with guide Luke Harvey) and Jeremy Peacock (who completed two legs) won the first event of its kind ahead of eight other teams.

Each of the four legs involved a one-lap, 150m swim transitioning to a 4.5km bike and 1.2km run.

"It's such a great opportunity for Paratriathlon," Peacock said.

"We've seen what it has done on the Olympic programme, so hopefully we can do the same for the Paralympic programme now."