Rico Bogen claimed a long overdue first win since he became 70.3 World Champion in 2023 when he took the tape first at T100 San Francisco.
The young German has gone close since that shock Lahti triumph two seasons ago – most notably when second in the T100 Triathlon World Tour grand finale in Dubai last November.
And he was also part of that incredible three-way sprint finish in San Francisco 12 months ago when third to Kyle Smith (NZL) and Marten Van Riel (BEL), who both reopposed here.
But there was no such need for a desperate finish this time as Bogen was in charge from midway through the bike leg, which he dominated with easily the fastest time of the day.
He’d also led after the bike at T100 Singapore last time out but there was no denying this time on the run and he stopped the clock in 3:15:53, nearly two minutes ahead of runner-up Jelle Geens (BEL), with Mika Noodt (GER) rounding out the podium in third.
Swim – All together early on
Unlike last year there was no sea fret enveloping San Francisco so we had the iconic backdrop of Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge when the athletes jumped off the start boat and into the water.
The favourable current conditions may have helped explain why pretty much the entire field – 19 of 20 – were in the one pack.
The exception was Ondrej Kubo (SVK) who would exit the water with around three minutes to make up on the rest.
But up front, Marc Dubrick (USA) was out first, just ahead of Jamie Riddle (RSA) and just 20 seconds separated the first 19.
However there was virtually a 1km run to get to transition and during that stretch it was Morgan Pearson (USA) who moved to the head of affairs.
Bike – Bogen powers clear
It didn’t take long for reigning T100 Triathlon World Tour champion Van Riel to make his mark on the bike.
He was right on early leader Bogen’s tail on the first of the six laps and then took over in front on the second one, with Geens, Panagiotis Bitados (GRK) and Smith all close behind.
It was then ebb and flow for a while but Bogen had asserted by the halfway point and established a 34-second lead over Riddle, with Smith at +44, Geens at +46, Youri Keulen (NED) at +54, Van Riel at +57 and then a gap to the rest.
Bogen had increased that to 1:50 by T2 over Riddle, whose cause wasn’t helped by having to serve a 30-second transition penalty on the run.
Another whose chances were hit by a penalty – in his case a drafting one – was Keulen.
Run – No denying Bogen
Riddle served his penalty just after the 5km point of the run and as soon as he exited the penalty tent he was joined by Geens, with the two of them 2:30 behind Bogen in second and third.
The gap stayed steady – it was 2:28 at the halfway point of the 18km run, with Geens now alone in second, a minute clear of Smith.
There was some chopping and changing in behind but Bogen held firm up front despite the heat – remember he had also led at the start of the run at T100 Singapore only to finish 10th.
He was never threatened this time and crossed the line in 3:15:53 which was 1:53 in front of Geens.
Noodt, thanks to a move away from Van Riel with 3km to go, rounded out the podium in third.
Smith was fourth and Riddle battled on brilliantly for fifth.
T100 Triathlon World Tour San Francisco
Saturday May 31, 2025 – 2km / 80km / 18km
PRO Men
- 1. Rico Bogen (GER) – 3:15:53 [16:46 / 1:54:50 / 1:00:40]
- 2. Jelle Geens (BEL) – 3:17:46 [16:44 / 1:57:44 / 59:40]
- 3. Mika Noodt (GER) – 3:19:22 [16:48 / 1:57:54 / 1:01:01]
- 4. Kyle Smith (NZL) – 3:19:38 [16:44 / 1:57:30 / 1:01:34]
- 5. Jamie Riddle (RSA) – 3:19:53 [16:35 / 1:56:40 / 1:02:41]
How to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
