Julie Derron will switch her attention back to the T100 world title race in Dubai on November 14, which will be just five weeks after her podium finish at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona.
The Swiss star has enjoyed an outstanding autumn, finishing runner-up to Taylor Knibb at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in Nice before taking third in Hawaii.
Now the Olympic silver medallist returns to defend her Dubai T100 crown, with another strong performance potentially strengthening her position at the top of the Race to Qatar standings.
But she faces a field including defending T100 world champion Kate Waugh and Georgia Taylor-Brown, who has her own memorable connection to Kona after watching partner Vincent Luis win the men’s world title.
From Kona podium to T100 title pursuit
Derron has demonstrated her versatility across Olympic, middle and long-distance racing, and Dubai presents another significant test as she returns from the demands of Kona.
She leads the T100 standings with 64 points from just two appearances this season, having finished second to Taylor-Brown in Pamplona in May before winning in Vancouver in August.
That leaves her two points ahead of fellow Swiss athlete Imogen Simmonds (who has raced three times) and three clear of Taylor-Brown (also on two races, like Derron) heading into the final scoring opportunity before the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final on December 10–12.
“Leading the standings is a nice position to be in, but it’s very close, and with Dubai being the last race before Qatar I want to show another strong race,” said Derron.
“I’ve come close to the title the last two years. So scoring highly in Dubai would be the perfect way to go into the final.”
Having finished third in the inaugural T100 season standings in 2024 and runner-up to Waugh last year, Derron is chasing the next step.
Happy memories of Dubai
Dubai has already proved a productive destination for Derron.
She finished second to Knibb at the inaugural race in 2024, then went one better last November, beating Waugh by more than three minutes as Jess Learmonth completed the podium.
This year brings a change of venue to Al Mamzar, giving the defending champion a fresh course to tackle.
“I’m very happy to be coming back to Dubai,” she said.
“I always seem to find a lot of positive energy there, and the support last year was amazing. This year we have a new venue at Al Mamzar, so I’m excited to race on a new course and see a different side of the city.”
Taylor-Brown and Waugh lead the challengers
Taylor-Brown has already beaten Derron this season, taking victory in Pamplona, and sits just three points behind her in the standings.
The British Olympic gold medallist also finished third in Vancouver, where Derron won by a minute and 40 seconds from Waugh.
After watching Luis claim the biggest long-distance victory of his career in Kona, Taylor-Brown now resumes her own pursuit of a world title.
Waugh, meanwhile, will look to reverse the result of last year’s Dubai race as she builds towards the defence of her T100 crown in Qatar.
There is further British interest through Sophie Evans, Jessica Fullagar, Lizzie Rayner and Megan McDonald.
Other athletes announced include New Zealand’s Nicole Van Der Kaay, Austria’s Lisa Perterer, Germany’s Caroline Pohle and France’s Audrey Merle.
Dubai T100 women’s start list
There are currently 19 athletes announced, leaving the potential for one further addition to the planned 20-strong field.
- Julie Derron
- Georgia Taylor-Brown
- Bianca Bogen
- Nicole Van Der Kaay
- Sara Pérez Sala
- Kate Waugh
- Lisa Perterer
- Jessica Fullagar
- Lizzie Rayner
- Caroline Pohle
- Audrey Merle
- Hanne De Vet
- Katrine Christensen
- Daniela Kleiser
- Sophie Evans
- Megan McDonald
- Djenyfer Arnold
- Francesca Crestani
- Sara Sandrini
Latest T100 standings
(After three women’s races – Gold Coast, Spain and Vancouver)
| Position | Athlete | Races Completed* | Overall Series Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Julie Derron (SUI) | 2 | 64 |
| 2 | Imogen Simmonds (SUI) | 3 | 62 |
| 3 | Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) | 2 | 61 |
| 4 | Alanis Siffert (SUI) | 3 | 47 |
| 5 | Bianca Bogen (GER) | 3 | 42 |
| 6 | Taylor Spivey (USA) | 2 | 40 |
| 7 | Nicole Van der Kaay (NZL) | 3 | 39 |
| 8 | Taylor Knibb (USA) | 1 | 35 |
| 9 | Sara Pérez Sala (ESP) | 3 | 34 |
| 10 | Kate Waugh (GBR) | 1 | 29 |
How to watch Dubai T100
The women’s professional race takes place on Saturday, November 14, with the advertised start time of 13:15 in Dubai equivalent to 09:15 in the UK.
Coverage will be available live and free on TriathlonLive.io and the T100 YouTube channel, with beIN Sports broadcasting across the Middle East.
Spectator entry at Al Mamzar is free throughout the weekend.
The wider Dubai T100 Triathlon Weekend runs from November 13–15 as part of the 10th Dubai Fitness Challenge, with amateur Sprint, Olympic and T100 races, plus Sprint and Olympic relays.
