Vidal (pictured) held off Australia's defending champion Brad Kahlefeldt and another Frenchman, David Hauss, in the first major event of the 2012 season.

He then dedicated his debut win to his adopted home of Christchurch and the people of New Zealand.

"I work half of the year with the Kiwis and I live in Christchurch for half the year with Andrea [Hewitt], my girlfriend," said Vidal.

"We've had some devastation with the earthquake so I'm happy today to give them [the people of Christchurch] a little bit of this victory because I'm 49 per cent Kiwi.

"I'm not ashamed to say that – it's a large part of my life.

"It's the Kiwi attitude, keep on smiling – it's great, everything is fine."

Kahlefeldt's second place meant he missed out on securing three straight Mooloolaba wins by just a second, but he did claim his sixth Australian National Championship.

It was Hauss' second consecutive podium in Mooloolaba – he also claimed bronze last year – and he attracted plenty of attention in a standard-issue suit after his racing gear was lost en route to Australia.

In the final of four 2.5 kilometre laps in Mooloolaba, the spoils were contested by a lead group of five, Australia's Brendan Sexton being the first to lose touch with the leaders leaving Mario Mola, Vidal, Hauss and Kahlefeldt.

The race for victory ultimately came down to the final finishing chute, and Vidal stressed his strategy to save some energy for the final 400 metres fully paid off.

"I've raced Mooloolaba a couple of times and I know you have to be a little bit conservative on the course so I gave it my all in the last 400m because I knew Brad was a pretty strong finisher," he said.

In the Olympic qualification battle, Mola's fourth-placed finish proved a positive for Spain's attempt to secure three places on the start-line for the men's race.

Germany's two top-10 results will help its campaign, while Kyle Jones' finish in the top 10 should ensure Canada will move into eighth spot on the simulation list – ahead of Russia – and, for now, will boast three places on the men's starting line in London.

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