Hayden Wilde is a fast healer and clearly intent to get back in the saddle on a competitive basis again.
It’s only two months since the New Zealander suffered a serious bike crash in Japan, puncturing his lung, breaking six ribs and needing surgery on his left scapula.
But the Olympic silver medallist is back in training in Andorra and targeting a surprise return in time for the T100 in London on August 9-10, a more ambitious schedule than his previous target.
“More confident”
World Triathlon and the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) confirmed the good news by releasing the men’s start list for the event with Wilde’s name on it.
If the 27-year-old really does compete it would mark a lightning-quick recovery and a truly dramatic comeback so soon after suffering such horrific injuries.
Wilde, who won the opening T100 race of the season in Singapore, said: “August 9 is definitely a possibility. My focus is on taking things one day at a time and not to have a specific return date in mind.
“But every day I’m feeling stronger, fitter and more confident and after having had a really positive taste of the T100 in Singapore, it’s been frustrating to have to sit and watch the races in San Francisco and Vancouver from the sidelines.”
Stacked start list
In London, Wilde would be going up against Belgian Jelle Geens, who won the last race in Vancouver and currently sits second in the T100 Race To Qatar rankings.
Also competing are third-placed Rico Bogen, who won in San Francisco, Germany’s Mika Noodt, Spain’s Antonio Benito Lopez and Wilde’s compatriot Kyle Smith, who came second in London last year.
Racing on closed roads in the heart of London, the ExCel Centre will play host to athletes starting with a swim in the Royal Victoria Dock, who will then head out on to a multi-lap bike course, and tackle a dockside run culminating in a dramatic indoor finale.
The full list of men set to race in London can be seen below:
Jelle Geens (BEL)
Rico Bogen (GER)
Mika Noodt (GER)
Antonio Benito Lopez (ESP)
Kyle Smith (NZL)
Youri Keulen (NED)
Hayden Wilde (NZL)
Leo Bergere (FRA)
Jamie Riddle (RSA) – Wildcard
Gregory Barnaby (ITA)
Mathis Margirier (FRA)
Nicolas Mann (GER)
Vincent Luis (FRA)
Panagiotis Bitados (GRE) – Wildcard
Wilhelm Hirsch (GER) – Wildcard
Menno Kohlhaas (NED)
Fred Funk (GER)
Justus Nieschlag (GER)
Pieter Heemeryck (BEL)
Will Draper (GBR) – Wildcard
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