Hayden Wilde listed for Abu Dhabi and T100 Dubai

New Zealander Hayden Wilde is listed for WTCS Abu Dhabi on Friday 13 November and T100 Dubai on Saturday 14, two races scheduled to start less than 24 hours apart. His participation in both has not been confirmed, and the start lists may change before the races.

The potential double also raises questions about the rules because of the time between the two starts and the distance of the Dubai race. There is no official confirmation of how World Triathlon’s restrictions apply to this case.

Race times and distances

The men’s sprint-distance race in Abu Dhabi will start on Friday at 13:00 in mainland Spain, or 16:00 local time. Wilde arrives with the World Triathlon Championship Series title already decided: Vasco Vilaça was crowned champion at the Grand Final in Pontevedra, where the New Zealander finished fifth.

In Dubai, the men’s race is scheduled to start on Saturday at 07:03 in mainland Spain, or 10:03 local time. The T100 is a non-drafting race, meaning competitors cannot ride in another cyclist’s slipstream, and consists of a 2-kilometre swim, an 80-kilometre bike ride and an 18-kilometre run.

Questions about the rules

Triatletas en Red and Objetivo Triatlón have raised questions about whether competing in both races is permitted. According to those outlets, World Triathlon rules restrict athletes from competing within a period of less than 24 hours when one of the races is standard distance or longer. The outlets say the interval is measured between the starts of the two races.

According to those outlets, the rule provides for disqualification from the races contested and the withdrawal of prizes, awards and points. However, its application to Wilde’s case has not been officially confirmed.

Changes to the T100 Dubai programme

The men’s race in Dubai was added after the postponement of the men’s T100 Saudi Arabia race and the Jeddah World Cup until April 2027 was announced on 3 November. The Professional Triathletes Organisation then added a men’s race to an event that had initially been planned for the women’s elite field.

Both professional races will take place on Saturday in Al Mamzar. The women’s race is scheduled to start at 07:08 mainland Spain time, and Sara Pérez Sala is among those listed.

Wilde’s lead and the Dubai start list

Dubai will be the final regular T100 event before the final scheduled for December in Qatar. The scoring system takes into account an athlete’s three best races of the regular season and the Grand Final.

Wilde leads the men’s standings with 96 points after three races: he won in Singapore and on the French Riviera and finished third in San Francisco. Jake Birtwhistle is second with 59 points and Lasse Nygaard Priester is third with 49.

Birtwhistle and Priester are also on the Dubai start list, as are Rico Bogen, Menno Koolhaas, Kyle Smith and Mika Noodt. Spain’s Antonio Benito López is among those listed.

Points at stake in Abu Dhabi

Although the World Triathlon Championship Series title has already been decided, the Abu Dhabi race offers points towards Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualification and the international rankings, as well as prize money.