This weekend’s Dubai T100 marked an unprecedented moment in elite triathlon racing, with only four men completing the prescribed 100km distance. Three athletes – Hayden Wilde, Mathis Margirier, and reigning T100 World Champion Marten Van Riel – unintentionally completed an extra 8km bike loop. Meanwhile, all competitors except for Morgan Pearson, Gregory Barnaby, Jason West, and Jake Birtwhistle were directed to the finish line early after completing just seven of eight run laps, due to a technical error with the on-course lap counter.
While the run course issue was ultimately settled through a vote by the professional men to accept the standings at the end of lap seven, no corrective measures were taken for those who overbiked, including Van Riel.
Van Riel’s Perspective
Marten Van Riel, staying true to his “keeping it Riel” ethos, took to Instagram earlier to recount his race experience. He explained that after correctly counting his bike laps (despite his GPS displaying only 76km, a discrepancy also reported by Wilde), he removed his feet from his shoes and prepared to enter T2. However, upon seeing Wilde, Margirier, and the lead motos continue riding, he asked bystanders what was happening and was told to keep going. Trusting their guidance and aware that stopping early would mean disqualification, he continued on, unknowingly completing an additional loop.
Van Riel also shared insights into the scheduling challenges of the 2025 T100 series. Though he originally planned to race seven or eight events, shifting locations and evolving race partnerships – including new collaborations with World Triathlon WTCS events in destinations like the French Riviera and Spain – meant he was only able to compete in five. This left him without any backup scores, a critical disadvantage in a season-long points race.
For the T100 series, athletes accumulate points from their best four regular-season races plus the World Championship Final in Qatar. Van Riel’s result in Dubai, where he finished 13th and earned eight points, effectively puts him out of podium contention for the season – a tough blow for the defending champion. He now sits eighth in the standings with 81 points. In contrast, Wilde currently leads with a perfect 140 from his four previous races, followed by Jelle Geens (122 points) and Mika Noodt (113 points). Any top-three finish in Dubai would have moved Van Riel into fourth (99 points total for third place, 102 points total for second place, 108 points total for first place), giving him a fighting chance heading into Qatar.
Management of the Bike Versus the Run
Lastly, Van Riel expressed his support for the T100’s decision not to disqualify the 13 athletes who completed only seven of the eight required run laps. He felt this was the fairest outcome given the circumstances on the course. However, he also voiced disappointment that similar leniency was not extended to the three athletes, including himself, who inadvertently completed an extra bike loop.
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The post Keeping It Riel: T100 Reigning World Champion Marten Van Riel Shares His Experience at the Dubai T100 appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.