This past weekend, Dubai hosted the penultimate race of the T100 Triathlon World Tour, before the series heads to Qatar for the World Championship Final. While much of the attention focused on the chaos of the men’s race – where multiple athletes miscounted laps, resulting in finish line confusion – many professional athletes have since expressed respect for how the T100 brand handled the situation. They have also shared gratitude for how the series has significantly elevated the landscape of professional triathlon overall.
In the end, only four athletes completed the full 100km course as intended: eventual winner Morgan Pearson along with Gregory Barnaby, Jason West, and Jake Britwhistle. Three athletes – Hayden Wilde, Mathis Margirier, and Marten Van Riel – overshot the bike course by roughly 8km. Additionally, several athletes completed only seven of the eight run laps due to a technical issues with the on-course lap counter, which inadvertently directed athletes to the finish line early.
Under normal rules, any athletes who did not complete the full 100km would have been disqualified, leaving only four official finishers. However, recognizing its role in the lap-counting error, the T100 organization opted to involve the professional field in determining a fair resolution. After discussion, the athletes collectively agreed that final positions should reflect the standings as of the seventh lap, rather than disqualifying those who had followed the course instructions in good faith.
How T100 Has Elevated Professional Triathlon
While it would be easy to focus solely on the weekend’s on-course error, many professional athletes have instead chosen to emphasize everything the T100 brand has contributed to the sport. The launch of the T100 Triathlon World Tour in 2024 significantly expanded earning opportunities for professional athletes and spurred the creation of the Ironman Pro Series, boosting economic prospects and helping fuel the broader growth of the sport.
As several athletes have echoed in the aftermath, everyone is human, and mistakes happen. What matters more is how we respond – and by that measure, the T100 team has shown both accountability and transparency. Beyond one errant lap counter, the T100 brand has ushered in a new era of professionalism, world-class racing, and unprecedented opportunities for both professionals and age-groupers. As the series heads to Qatar for its World Championship Final, perhaps it’s worth focusing not on the missteps but on the gratitude we share for how T100 continues to elevate the sport we love.
The post Beyond the Chaos: How T100 Is Elevating Professional Triathlon appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.