Aussie star Ashleigh Gentle never lost faith she could return to top of T100 podium

Ashleigh Gentle said it was all about keeping the faith in order to get back to winning ways on the T100 Triathlon World Tour.

The Australian was dominant in the first couple of years of the Professional Triathletes Organisation’s 100km distance (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run).

Between July 2022 and July 2024 she won no fewer than five times but she had to wait until last weekend for the sixth – and potentially sweetest – victory which came at T100 French Riviera.

Waiting game

Gentle hadn’t managed higher than fifth place in four T100 races this season up until then but she unleashed her trademark devaststing run in Frejus on Saturday to claim a clear-cut success over Paula Findlay and India Lee.

Talking first about the race itself, she said: “It was really good. I mean I came out in a really big group in the swim and I knew I had to stick with them for as long as I could.

“The first part of the ride was so fast and I knew there were challenging sections ahead. So I tried to not panic and make sure I paced it really well.

“In London, the wheels fell off in the last part and I really paid for it big time. I’m really glad I could pace it a little bit better this time.”

‘The competition is incredible’

While Gentle was struggling to find her own top form in the first half of the season, she had to watch first Kate Waugh, Julie Derron, Taylor Knibb and Lucy Charles-Barclay all claimed a T100 win apiece.

But her French Riviera success puts her right back in the mix in terms of the overall standings in the ‘Race to Qatar’ – just 12 points now cover those five at the top.

And she added: “It’ll take a little bit to sink in, to be honest, I’ve been doing this for 20 years now and I’m well aware there’s highs and lows. It doesn’t always go perfectly.

“I’ve invested just as much as I always do to try and be at the top.

“The competition is incredible and I just have to try and keep the faith and trust in the process.

“I’ve got an amazing little team behind me who try and keep my spirits high so it’s nice to come here and take the win.

“It’s just about keeping the faith, and being resilient, and trusting that you can be back on the top.”