Lusail, Qatar: Hayden Wilde capped a phenomenal season on the T100 Triathlon World Tour by winning the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final in Lusail to secure the World Title crown he craved.
Starting the day with a clear advantage over Belgian Jelle Geens and German Mika Noodt, the New Zealander was never really tested and cruised to his sixth win from seven starts on the T100 Tour this year.
In doing so, he secured maximum points and has set down a serious marker for 2026.
In his post race interview, he both underlined why he loves this distance so much and called on some of his short course racing compatriots to come and mix it at the T100 distance.
“I just want to see more short course athletes come and toss it up with us, you know, the likes of Matty Hauser and Alex [Yee] if those guys want to come over and have a bit of fun. I love this sort of racing, it really shows how good you can be individually on the bike and the run.”
T100 Race To Qatar – 2025 Final Season Standings
| Position | Name | Series points | Prize Money |
| 1 | H Wilde | 195 | $200,000 |
| 2 | M Noodt | 150 | $170,000 |
| 3 | J Geens | 149 | $150,000 |
| 4 | M Pearson | 129 | $120,000 |
| 5 | R Bogen | 123 | $110,000 |
| 6 | M Van Riel | 122 | $90,000 |
| 7 | M Margirier | 115 | $85,000 |
| 8 | S Dickinson | 106 | $80,000 |
| 9 | Y Keulen | 99 | $75,000 |
| 10 | G Barnaby | 90 | $70,000 |
| 11 | M Koolhaas | 87 | $50,000 |
| 12 | J West | 68 | $45,000 |
| 13 | J Schomburg | 63 | $40,000 |
| 14 | W Hirsch | 59 | $35,000 |
| 15 | A Benito López | 59 | $30,000 |
| 16 | V Luis | 58 | $28,000 |
| 17 | K Smith | 52 | $26,000 |
| 18 | L Bergere | 50 | $24,000 |
| 19 | S Long | 39 | $22,000 |
| 20 | P Heemeryck | 37 | $20,000 |
Key Quotes
Winner: Hayden Wilde (NZL)
“It’s pretty special from starting in Singapore, then being in hospital for a bit, and then coming back and winning a few races, and then finishing here in Qatar. It’s been a long season but it’s nice to finish up.”
Asked about his mindset for the race:
“It’s pretty hard to say, you kind of forget sometimes of the process you went through when you come back and have some good success. You’re just going to kind of think about that. I just came into this race with open eyes and I was like hey, I’ve made it back to racing fit and healthy, and that’s more of a title that I’ll take to the grave than obviously the T100 series. I’m really happy with how everything’s gone this year.”
“It’s hard to know because you just prepare yourself so much and I love the pressure and I love being hunted. Just kind of had to come in with a smile on my face and obviously, you know, pressure is good pressure of course, but I also love having it as well – it really fires me up to be the guy having a target on his back and having the ability to control the race as well. It’s a nice place to be for sure.”
“It was a good swim, we were more or less close to the group, and I was happy with that. I don’t have a swim skin so I didn’t have to worry about that which is nice. It only took me a good few K to get to the bike but I knew Rico was behind me which was a good thing because we know he was going to come through and Mathis was going to be strong as well. We went off the front and wow that bike was hard. It was on and off, on and off. Got onto the run with a nice gap to the key runners in the competition. I looked back and it looked like Rico was having a good day out there on the run, and I was like I’ve got to keep my wits about me. Obviously Morgan was having a stormer on the first 15k and was able to hold on.”
“I just want to see more short course athletes come and toss it up with us, you know, the likes of Matty Hauser and Alex [Yee] if those guys want to come over and have a bit of fun. I love this sort of racing, it really shows how good you can be individually on the bike and the run. There’s a few other short course guys who have been dabbling a bit as well like Miguel and Vasco. It will be nice to have those guys. People keep coming along and making this more of a competition and just keep raising the bar.”
“I was talking to the boys and they keep laughing but I’m going to Banana Island for a holiday. It’s just off the coast of Doha, go there for a few days, then go back to New Zealand until March. Then go to Abu Dhabi for the first World Series and then come to Singapore and carry on as usual.”
Second: Morgan Pearson (USA)
“I mean I’m sore, I’ve just been trying to engage the glutes for a while, just get theem going on the bike and I think i finally did. They’re just a little bit sore – I’ve not been using them as I should and now they’re tired.”
“I’ve been changing my run training the last couple of months. I was maybe a little bit off earlier on in the year so I switched things up at the end of the summer and I’ve been training like a monster for this race, putting it all in, every effort into training and I think it showed today. I just felt good and smooth and I really biked hard so to still come out with a fast run was nice, I was proud of myself.”
“I mean I could’ve asked for a win but Hayden is on another level right now, he deserves it. It’s honestly just an honour to race against him in this format so to come out second behind him is great. I’ve said this a few times, but this whole season I’ve just been trying to improve, I didn’t want to put pressure on myself. You know, I did the Olympics last year and that is such a high pressure situation and I just really wanted to find my love for this sport and triathlon and find the enjoyment again. And I think I did the past couple months and it’s showing. You’re having fun when you’re finishing on the podium.”
Third: Marten Van Riel (BEL)
“On the bike I was really struggling already. The boys, the biker boys, were pushing really, really fast on the flat parts and I was struggling really hard. Coming onto the run I really didn’t have any legs anymore so I was happy to just follow the guys at the start. Everytime someone kind of broke away on the run we caught them again. I was really happy to finish on the podium in the end.”
“Honestly, it’s been a frustrating season you know. I won the World Title last year and you set the bar really really high for yourself and maybe I was sometimes too unforgiving to myself because I was just not going well and I was very strict with myself and never happy. To finish the season obviously in the rankings, I think I will probably be around fifth, which is obviously a bit disappointing but I’m really happy to have finished the season off with a podium and hopefully that can be a step up for a better 2026.”
“I won’t have to just eat bread and nutella this winter! We can still spoil ourselves a little bit. It’s been an amazing season. The guys really, like Hayden, Jelle as well – he had a disappointing race today and he will admit that – these boys have really put the mark high this year and it’s been inspiring. I hope I can make that step again next year and also make it difficult for them.”
“Yeah, honestly I’m really, really motivated. I feel like this season with everything that’s happened: some mental issues, some injuries, I feel like I’ve always been kind of chasing. Every time the next race was in three, four weeks and you can’t really make up that much in three, four weeks. Now I’m going to have a good winter break and hopefully I’m going to really build to that best level again. I know I’m not there right now, I’m not that far off either. If I can finish third here I can be happy with that. I hope to make it difficult again for them next year.”
Mika Noodt (GER)
“I’m pretty overwhelmed right now. I mean on the last lap my team told me I had to come fourth if it stays as it is. It was everything I had today and yeah, super glad to come away with a one point lead over Jelle.”
“It feels amazing. I feel like Hayden is a bit out of this world this year. Nearly like, first place out of the human guys. Hayden’s performances feel a bit inhuman sometimes, absolutely amazing also today. Really over the moon right now.”
“In altitude of course you can’t get the top end speed really. But I knew with those conditions I could do my own race as well, I felt quite confident even though my training – the numbers were pretty average I have to say – I just kept believing in the process. Pre-race I said I’m in great shape and stuff like that but the numbers in training didn’t really suggest it. I also heard that Jelle wasn’t too confident so I said I’m confident and it worked out. Very, very happy.”
“I need a big off-season now. It’s been a long year but even today I think I could step up my game even more. Really excited for next year but first some mental rest.”
Jelle Geens (BEL)
“At the moment I’m still just disappointed about a tough race, a very long race. It felt like I was doing an Ironman out there. Overall it’s been a good season but it’s sad to finish it on a seventh spot but it is what it is. I felt in the race how I’ve felt in the last month, it was a struggle to make it to the next race.”
“Well I don’t know if i can change that much to be honest. I did a 70.3 in Geelong as the first race of the year, maybe I should have skipped that and tried to train a little bit longer and wait a little bit more before racing. Actually, last year I had World Champs in Taupo 70.3 in December and then not much time when having to race at the beginning of April and then I did Geelong at the end of March. There was not much off-season. It’s been a long season and I think for me going home from Marbella to Australia it did kill me a bit with the jet lag but I think for me and the family it was needed after three and a half months in Europe. Maybe we can plan it a bit better next time.”
“I’m looking forward to being home and to actually spend some proper time with them and to enjoy it with them at home. I was home now for two weeks before I travelled to the Middle East and in that two weeks it is still not that easy because you are focusing on this race and I was struggling quite a bit with jet lag and training and stuff. You’re too much in your own world and still in the triathlon world and not enjoying life with the family as much as you should. I’m really looking forward to spending time with them and having the phone on Do Not Disturb until January and just be off the grid.”
“To be honest, I don’t think I was up there much. He was just too strong, I want to congratulate him on an incredible season. He proved to be by far the strongest this year and we’ll see next year I hope to be a little bit closer.”
HOW THE RACE UNFOLDED
France’s Vincent Luis and the USA’s Morgan Pearson got to work early in the 2km swim to create a leading group of eight including the Belgium pairing of Jelle Geens (2nd in the T100 Race To Qatar standings) and 2024 T100 World Champion Marten Van Riel. Meanwhile 5x T100 winner, New Zealand’s Hayden Wilde, was 40 seconds off the pace.
Onto the 80km bike course, it wasn’t long before Wilde bridged to the front group, which also included cycling strongmen Mika Noodt and Rico Bogen of Germany and Van Riel with Pearson losing touch and France’s Mathis Margirier coming through. Around half-way through the course, Bogen came down on a dusty corner but was quick to remount and regain position while Geens started to drop down the order.
After leading into T2, Wilde was first onto the 18km run and seemingly ready for a procession fitting of his dominance throughout the 2025 T100 season. A few seconds behind him, Bogen charged out of T2 while a trio of Van Riel, Margirier and Noodt formed, running shoulder to shoulder. Behind, Geens was 2:18 in arrears with Perason at 2:43 – however the US-athlete soon established himself as fastest on course, dipping just below 3min per km pace.
With around 10km to go, Van Riel dropped a few metres picking up his special needs bottle while Margirier and Noodt stayed locked together. Van Riel made it back on just as they picked up Bogen, now running as quartet as they hit the half-way mark – 1:20 behind Wilde but with Pearson only another 25 seconds behind.
Pearson made the catch with around 7km to go, blasting through the group and moving from 6th to 2nd. Margirier tried to go with the move, distancing Noodt and Van Riel, but by 3km to go, the pair had once again overhauled the Frenchman. From there, Van Riel was first to make his move, powering away from Noodt to take a clear podium position for the first time in the run.
Despite the action behind, Wilde’s win was never in doubt. The Kiwi crossed the line to take his 6th victory of the season and the T100 Triathlon World Championship title having amassed a perfect score across 2025. Wilde takes $25,000 for the win in Qatar – added to the $125,000 already earned in race wins this year – and also bags $200,000 for winning the T100 Race To Qatar.
Pearson ran hard to the line to take 2nd place, moving himself up to 4th in the T100 Race To Qatar standings to secure $120,000 in addition to $17,000 on the day.
Van Riel came home in third, ceding his 2024 world title, but taking 6th in the T100 Standings and earn $90,000 in addition to $13,000 for the podium.
Noodt’s 4th place secured 2nd overall in the T100 Standings, consistency throughout the year earning him $170,000.
Margirier rounded out the top-five, the Frenchman finishing the season in 7th place and taking home an $85,000 bonus.
Race Finish
| Position | Athlete | Finish | T100 Race To Qatar Points | Prize Money |
| 1 | H Wilde | 3:06:08 | 55 | $25,000 |
| 2 | M Pearson | 3:07:23 | 46 | $17,000 |
| 3 | M Van Riel | 3:08:14 | 41 | $13,000 |
| 4 | M Noodt | 3:08:28 | 37 | $10,500 |
| 5 | M Margirier | 3:08:50 | 33 | $9,000 |
| 6 | R Bogen | 3:09:19 | 30 | $8,000 |
| 7 | J Geens | 3:11:06 | 27 | $7,000 |
| 8 | S Dickinson | 3:12:02 | 24 | $6,000 |
| 9 | J Schomburg | 3:12:52 | 21 | $5,000 |
| 10 | Y Keulen | 3:13:02 | 18 | $4,500 |
| 11 | M Koolhaas | 3:14:36 | 16 | $4,000 |
| 12 | G Barnaby | 3:15:58 | 14 | $3,500 |
| 13 | V Luis | 3:18:15 | 12 | $3,000 |
| 14 | W Hirsch | 3:19:21 | 10 | $2,500 |
| 15 | H Räppo | 3:20:28 | 9 | $2,000 |
| 16 | P Heemeryck | 3:22:23 | 8 | $1,500 |
| 17 | J West | 3:24:25 | 7 | $1,250 |
| 18 | C Noble | 3:26:13 | 6 | $1,000 |
| 19 | M Phillips | 3:30:10 | 5 | $750 |
| 20 | G Montiel | 3:31:28 | 4 | $500 |
Notes To Editors
How the 2025 T100 Triathlon World Tour works:
- Athletes score 35 points for first place to 1 pt for 20th place at each of the nine races, with increased points for 2nd (up from 28 to 29 points); 3rd (up from 25 to 26); and 4th (up from 22 to 23), to encourage more competitive racing
- The Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final has increased points to up the ante (55 pts down to 4 pts) as well as a similar upweight of points from 2nd (now 46 points from 45) to 13th position.
- Each athlete’s best four T100 race scores plus the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final will count towards the women’s and men’s T100 World Championship titles
- $250,000 USD prize fund at each T100, totalling $2,250,000 across the nine races (1st place – $25,000k; 2nd – $17,000; 3rd – $13,000 at each race)
- The series winners following the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final will be crowned T100 Triathlon World Champion and collect $200,000 USD from an additional total prize pool of $2,940,000
- The T100 Contenders Rankings will pay 1st to 40th place from a total prize pool of $560,000 (1st place – $16,000; 2nd place – $15,000; 3rd place – $14,000 down to 40th place – $3,000)
- Between the athlete contracts, T100 race prize fund, T100 Triathlon World Tour pool and the T100 Contenders Rankings, the series provides more than $8,000,000 in athlete compensation, and is distributed in a way that not only rewards the winners, but also recognises the significant achievement of racing at this level and a pathway that feeds into the T100 series
-ends-
For Further Information:
Anthony Scammell E: [email protected]
About Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO)
The PTO is a sports body that is co-owned by its professional athletes, seeking to elevate and grow the sport of triathlon and take it to the next level. Its T100 Triathlon World Tour was introduced in January 2024 and is designated by World Triathlon as the ‘official World Championship for long distance triathlon’, which is part of a 12-year strategic partnership with the sport’s international governing body. The T100 Triathlon World Tour is a season-long schedule of World Championship level races competed over 100km (2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run), where the world’s best triathletes go head-to-head in iconic locations on a global broadcast showing the races live around the world in 195+ territories, courtesy of the PTO’s partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery as well as a range of other international, regional and local broadcasters. So far in 2025 these have included: Singapore (5-6 April), San Francisco (31 May-1 June), Vancouver (13-15 June), London (9-10 August), French Riviera (30-31 August), the Spain T100 in Oropesa de Mar (20 September), the Wollongong T100 (18 October) and the Dubai T100 (13-16 November). The first Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final will take place on 12-13 December. T100 weekends are ‘festivals of multisport’ and feature a range of opportunities for amateur athletes of all levels to get involved. From experienced amateurs tackling the 100km distance to first-time swim, bike and run participants taking on single discipline, untimed events. For more information visit www.t100triathlon.com
