Triathlon superstar Hayden Wilde confirmed for huge T100 debut and promises world number one 'rustle tussle'

Short-course superstar Hayden Wilde is looking to take down PTO world number one Marten Van Riel when the T100 season gets under way in Singapore on April 6.

New Zealander Wilde took silver behind arch rival Alex Yee at the Paris 2024 Olympics and then went on win the WTCS Grand Finale in Torremolinos as well as the overall Supertri crown.

‘The Falcon’ rounded off his 2024 season when he again underlined his middle-distance potential with a fine second in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship on home turf in Taupo.

‘He’s gonna be super aggressive’

This year Wilde’s main focus is the T100 Triathlon World Tour, though he showed he hasn’t lost his speed with an emphatic victory in the opening WTCS event in Abu Dhabi in February.

Belgian Van Riel meanwhile made the move up in distance look easy last season as he dominated the T100 to take the first overall title and the pair of them top an incredible men’s start list in Singapore.

Wilde said: “I’m excited to race Marten. We’ve had some duels over the last few years in the short course, but I know that his forte is probably this long course stuff.

“He’s gonna be super aggressive, so I’m looking forward to setting up on the line and giving him a bit of a rustle tussle throughout the season.

IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship 2024 Hayden Wilde — Hayden Wilde finishes second in the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupo (Photo – Fiona Goodall, Getty Images for IRONMAN).

“The thing I’m looking forward to about racing the T100 series is probably being strong in all three disciplines,” added the New Zealander. “So obviously, the 20-metre non-drafting rule is great, being strong on the 18km run – and a few of the athletes will try to get rid of me on the swim.”

Star-studded field for T100 Singapore

But this is far from a two-man race. Dutchman Youri Keulen, who claimed his first win on the series in hot and humid Singapore last year in dramatic fashion when he collapsed after breaking the tape, is looking forward to defending his title:

“I’m really looking forward to coming back to Singapore,” he said. “It’s a place that is close to my heart and I have good memories from.

“I know the T100 series this year is more competitive and will be stronger in every discipline, so I don’t want to leave any stone unturned in my preparation. I’m adding more heat sessions and other different sessions to ensure I’m ready. I know I need to bring my A game. But I’d love to return and shake everyone’s hand after the finish. Because I missed that last year.”

Van Riel’s compatriot Jelle Geens is a dark horse for the world title in many people’s eyes having been the only person to beat him last term when he was a Wildcard at Lake Las Vegas, which he followed up with that IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship win over Wilde in Taupo. Having earned a full contract for 2025, Geens will be looking to put down an early marker in the Lion City.

Jelle Geen wins Lake Las Vegas T100 2024 photo credit PTO — Jelle Geen wins at Lake Las Vegas [Photo credit: PTO]

Geens has already ruffled a few American feathers by questioning the Hot Shot credentials of Morgan Pearson. Unsurprisingly, Pearson has singled out Geens as someone he’s looking forward to taking on. He has also highlighted that a winner in Singapore could come from anywhere.

“The T100 series is a race around the world at the highest level of competition and that’s something that I’m extremely attracted to,” explained Pearson. “Standing on the starting line and looking left and looking to the right and thinking, if I win this race, I’m basically the best in the world today. I just love that feeling.”

“I’m also excited to race Jelle Geens. We’ve got that beef, everyone wants to see it, I guess. He’s a great athlete…but I think he’s underestimated me.”

Other short-course stars adding extra spice are Paris bronze medallist Léo Bergère and fellow French great Vincent Luis.

Returning from a hugely impressive second place in the overall 2024 series is another Kiwi in Kyle Smith while American fan favourite Sam Long also lines up. He dramatically went from last out of the water to second place in 2024 and has been putting lots of off-season work into his swim so it will be fascinating to see how he fares in Marina Bay.