If there’s one thing that consistently captivates triathletes, it’s gear. Across swim, bike, and run, equipment continues to evolve year after year. While professionals’ choices are often influenced by sponsorships, these are also athletes who are unlikely to align with products they don’t fully trust – especially when every percentage of performance matters at the highest level.
Take Hayden Wilde and the controversy surrounding the shoes he wore to win the French Riviera T100, where he finished “only” 22 seconds ahead of Jelle Geens. The post-race debate included discussion as to whether the not-yet-approved shoes could have contributed to a performance difference significant enough to affect the podium. The takeaway? In middle-distance racing, every second counts, and gear choices like footwear are not made lightly by the best in the sport.
While sponsorships, individual running mechanics, and injury history all play a role, it’s still fascinating to see which shoes will feature most prominently among the top athletes in Marbella. Based on what competitors have worn in their most recent races, here’s the current shoe count, with data available for 109 of the 112 athletes listed to start:
- Asics: 30
- Nike: 24
- Hoka: 18
- On: 12
- New Balance: 6
- Adidas: 6
- Puma: 5
- Saucony: 4
- Salomon: 1
- Mizuno: 1
- TYR: 1
The top-worn shoes are Asics at 28%, Nike at 22%, and Hoka at 17%.
As for the professional bike count, we have data for 111 of the 112 athletes headed to Marbella:
- Cervelo: 18
- Trek: 14
- Canyon: 11
- Argon 18: 7
- Scott: 7
- BMC: 6
- Ventum: 6
- Specialized: 6
- Quintana Roo: 5
- Cadex: 5
- Factor: 4
- Giant: 3
- Cube: 3
- Orbea: 3
- Felt: 2
- Ridley: 2
- Pinarello: 2
- Ceeco: 2
- Liv: 1
- Simplon: 1
- Ku Cycle: 1
- Storck: 1
- Dare: 1
Cervelo has the strongest representation at 16%, followed by Trek at 13% and Canyon at 10%.
While gear doesn’t in itself determine race results, it’s always fascinating to see what the world’s best are putting their trust in.
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