T100 Grand Final Dubai Race Preview
This year has seen the PTO step it up creating the T100 Series. Seven races, across the World. Twenty contracted athletes and then Wild Cards at every race. Points and money on the line at each race, as well as culminating in the World Championship Final.
The series started in Miami, then headed to Singapore, San Francisco, London, Ibiza, Las Vegas and now we head to Dubai for the Grand Final. With more points on the line too (55 for the win versus 35), the T100 World Champion title is still up for grabs.
The aim of the T100 was to have twenty contracted athletes (per gender), racing against each other over the year across at the seven events. The best of the best, racing together regularly. It hasn’t quite worked out like that, as athletes weren’t required to race every race. Then with inevitably injuries, a couple of pregnancies, the small issue of the Olympics, we have rarely had the original 20 athletes all together on the start line. However, this has left the door open to Wild Cards. Those athletes who perhaps just missed out on contracts, have good rankings, or have had good race performances during the year, and can put themselves on the World Triathlon roll down list. So, whilst the original intent, of telling the stories of a ‘season long narrative’ for the 20 athletes, hasn’t really happened… we have had some awesome racing and events.
As mentioned at stake in Dubai, isn’t just the race win, there’s the series win too. But then also deeper than that, athletes that snag a top 10 series finish automatically secure a contract for 2025. Also, make it into the top 20 at the end of the series and that’s $15k (minimum) to bank as well.
Women
Currently leading the rankings is American Taylor Knibb. She’s undefeated, winning all three T100 events she’s raced – San Francisco, Ibiza and Las Vegas. Sitting 13 points behind is Australian Ashleigh Gentle. Gentle has had two wins in the series, and a fourth and seventh. (Note: A reminder that the athletes best three race results count, plus the grand final result.) Britain’s India Lee sits in third, after her fantastic win back at the start of the series in Miami. Losing her way a little in the middle of the year, she’s coming back strong with a third in Ibiza. Rounding out the top 10, Imogen Simmonds (SUI), Laura Philipp (GER), Kat Matthews (GBR), Lucy Byram (GBR), Paula Findlay (CAN), Julie Derron (SUI) and Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR). All the big names of middle distance racing.
For the full rankings see…
The interesting athlete (well they are all interesting) but, maybe the surprise, is Julie Derron, in 9th. She is a Wild Card athlete. She didn’t have a contract or was really in the T100 sights at the start of the year (and vice versa), as focusing on the Olympics. However, she obviously made an impact after her Silver Medal in Paris. Derron made her Wild Card debut in Ibiza, finishing second, and then another second in Las Vegas. Many are saying that Derron is the athlete that will be able to challenge Knibb over the coming years.
On current form, it would be hard to go past Knibb for the win in Dubai and Series title. But with the additional points, it’s not quite as straight forward, as she has to finish first or second to secure the series. But for Knibb, as for many of these athletes, it’s been a long season, and has included the Olympics, and even after Dubai, they haven’t finished with the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships, just two weeks later. The bike course in Dubai is more like a World Triathlon draft legal circuit, with twists and turns and U-turns galore. So, it’s likely to favour the Olympic distance specialists, but I’d say it’s a course that isn’t necessarily suited to Knibb. However, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see her dominate again on the bike. Another factor to consider is the heat and humidity. Conditions that do favour Ashleigh Gentle. Gentle sat out of Las Vegas, choosing to focus on Dubai, and always performs well in the heat when many others struggle. The statisticians have been out working out the scenarios between Knibb and Gentle. Gentle needs to be at least 2 positions ahead of Knibb to take the World Series title (approx. as it does depend a little on where they finish overall). Whilst it would look like it’s Knibb for the taking, if she falters, Gentle will pounce.
Whilst it may be the battle of Knibb and Gentle for the series win, for the last podium spot it’s all to play for with just 6 points separating 4th to 8th. There is also a battle for a top 10 series finish. An athlete that finishes in the top 10 of the series rankings, will secure a contract for 2025. It would seem a done deal if you secure that top 10 spot, however with the IRONMAN Pro Series also heading into its second year, it’s going to be interesting to see who commits to the T100, or goes to the Pro Series. Currently sitting in 11th and 12th is Flora Duffy and Taylor Spivey. With Duffy ‘retiring’ from World Triathlon racing, I’m sure she’d be looking for a T100 contract. Spivey too, before making any decisions around LA2028, perfect opportunity with a T100 contract to race for a year or so.
Men
The men’s series is a little more open, or rather there are more athletes in the mix for podium places. Marten Van Riel (BEL) leads the rankings, with two wins and a second place. Similar to Knibb he’ll be tough beat for the series win. Magnus Ditlev (DEN) is currently in second, and needs to finish at least five spots ahead of Van Riel to take the win. Then there’s Kyle Smith (NZL). He’s a Wild Card and currently sitting in third position. Smith burst onto the T100 scene as a Wild Card in Singapore with a 5th place finish. He then went on to finish second in that epic sprint finish in San Francisco, and also was leading for much of the race in London, before Sam Laidlow passed him. Smith again finishing second. Smith missed Ibiza and Las Vegas, with some illness, and also choosing to focus on the Grand Final and IRONMAN 70.3 World Champs, which takes place in his home town of Taupo, NZ. Smith is an exciting racer and it will be good to see him go up against Van Riel again. Youri Keulen (NED) is another Wild Card right in the mix, currently sitting in 6th overall. Keulen had a great start to the series. Earning a Wild Card for the first race Miami, and finishing 4th. He then surprised most, (apart from maybe himself and his team), taking the win in Singapore. After Singapore he’s struggled to find the same form, possibly due to the increased attention and pressures on him since that race win. However, he should be fired up to finish on a high and bank himself a contract outright in 2025.
Smith and Youri, are both Parcours athletes, so we are sending them extra vibes for good days and results!
As with the women’s race, there’s then the battle for a top 10 series finish, and guaranteed contract for 2025. Alistair Brownlee (GBR), Frederic Funk (GER) and Danniel Baekkegard (DEN) and others will be hoping to grab enough points in Dubai to elevate them into that top 10.
The exciting thing about Dubai, is not only the race winner, then the points for who take the series title. But the other battles for positions, places and points further down the field, to see who secures a top 10 finish or who makes it into the top 20 and a solid pay day. Let’s hope the coverage, covers all these story lines as well. 
