Hayden Wilde Wins T100 French Riviera Triathlon Crown
- The victory arrived just six days after the New Zealander secured his first Ironman 70.3 world title in Nice, extending his lead at the top of the T100...
- According to Tri-Today's race report, the cycling leg began with a hectic scramble for position that triggered early drafting concerns across the large pack.
- Bogen's lead evaporated quickly once the run commenced, with Smith and Geens overtaking the German before the two-kilometer mark, according to Tri-Today.
The victory arrived just six days after the New Zealander secured his first Ironman 70.3 world title in Nice, extending his lead at the top of the T100 triathlon world tour standings. The professional 100-kilometer race organized by the Professional Triathletes Organisation featured a grueling 2-kilometer swim, an 80-kilometer bike ride, and an 18-kilometer run. British triathlete Samuel Dickinson led the opening swim segment with a time of 24:42, according to Tri-Today. Wilde exited the water fifth in 24:48, sitting just six seconds behind the leader as a large group of contenders clustered together at the transition zone.
A Hectic Cycling Leg and Tactical Breakaways
According to Tri-Today’s race report, the cycling leg began with a hectic scramble for position that triggered early drafting concerns across the large pack. Wilde bridged the gap to the front leaders after 35 kilometers of riding, while Jelle Geens and Samuel Dickinson subsequently fought their way back to the front group. German competitor Rico Bogen surged ahead in the final section of the bike course, clocking the fastest cycling split of the day at 1:41:40, as noted by Triatlon Noticias. Bogen received a time penalty late in the ride for discarding a water bottle improperly, though officials remarkably revoked the penalty just one kilometer before the second transition. Despite the overturned sanctioning, Bogen entered the 18-kilometer run holding a slim lead after completing his bike effort.
The Decisive Final Run and Podium Standings
Bogen’s lead evaporated quickly once the run commenced, with Smith and Geens overtaking the German before the two-kilometer mark, according to Tri-Today. Wilde quickly joined the leaders, setting up a fierce battle where the trio ran side by side for over five kilometers. Geens finally dropped off the punishing pace around the ten-kilometer mark, leaving Wilde and Smith to battle for the top spot. Wilde broke away near the twelfth kilometer, creating enough separation to claim victory in 3:06:24. In the final stretch, Belgium’s Jelle Geens mounted a strong acceleration to pass Smith, securing second place in 3:06:43, while Smith took third in 3:06:48, according to Tri-Today. Australia’s Jake Birtwhistle finished fourth with a time of 3:08:22, and Germany’s Lasse Nygaard Priester rounded out the top five in 3:09:29, as reported by Triatlon Noticias.
Standings Impact Ahead of Upcoming T100 Events
Triatlon Noticias notes that the victory lifts Wilde to 96 points in the men’s T100 standings, marking his second circuit win of the season following an earlier triumph in Singapore and a third-place finish in San Francisco. Jake Birtwhistle sits second in the standings with 59 points, while Lasse Nygaard Priester holds third with 49 points. Wilde currently holds a 37-point advantage over his closest challenger as the tour moves toward the Saudi Arabia T100 in November and the Qatar World Championship Final on December 11, 2026.
