Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee will kick off his 2026 season not at WTCS Samarkand on 25 April but with a return to the TCS London Marathon a day later – though this time in a very different role.
Rather than racing, Yee will take on pacemaking duties for fellow Brit Emile Cairess, in what shapes up as a full-circle moment following their collaboration at the end of last year.
Cairess played a key role in Yee’s breakthrough performance at the Valencia Marathon in December, pacing him through 21 miles as Yee clocked a superb 2:06:38 – the second-fastest time ever recorded by a British athlete.
Now, Yee will return the favour on home roads.
Repaying the favour
“Emile is a great runner, and he was a massive help to me at last year’s Valencia Marathon, both during my training block beforehand and pacing on the day,” Yee said in a media release from London Marathon Events.
“My hope is that I can repay him for that help by supporting him as much as I can at this year’s TCS London Marathon and play some part in helping him achieve his ambitions.”
Cairess, fourth at the Paris Olympic Games marathon, is the third-fastest British man in history over the distance with a personal best of 2:06:46 and will once again lead home hopes in the capital.
The British record time of 2:05:11 was set by Sir Mo Farah at the 2018 Chicago Marathon.
London calling
For Yee, the race also marks a return to the scene of his marathon debut.
The Londoner finished 14th overall on his first outing over 26.2 miles in 2025, clocking 2:11:08 in a performance that underlined his potential beyond triathlon.
“It was an incredible experience to race the TCS London Marathon last year,” Yee added.
“As a Londoner, I thought I knew what to expect, but the crowds, the support and the atmosphere was more impressive than I ever imagined. Even though I won’t be doing the full 26.2 miles again this year, I’m looking forward to soaking up the experience again.”
WTCS Samarkand missing three huge names
Yee’s role in London means he will miss the opening round of the World Triathlon Championship Series in Samarkand, which takes place the day before London.
He is not alone in opting for an alternative early-season route either, with two of his biggest rivals – Hayden Wilde and Matt Hauser – also absent from Samarkand as they instead line up at the T100 Singapore on the same weekend.
That split in priorities underlines the increasingly complex landscape at the top end of the sport, with elite athletes balancing short-course ambitions, middle-distance opportunities and, in Yee’s case, a continued exploration of his marathon potential – though defending his Olympic triathlon title at LA2028 remains his main priority.
