T100 Vancouver results: Belgium dominates as Noodt and Smith pay the penalty

It was Belgium all the way at T100 Vancouver on Saturday as Jelle Geens led home compatriot Marten Van Riel for a terrific victory in the men’s Pro race in Canada.

The reigning IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion had run down Van Riel to win T100 Lake Las Vegas late last year, and he repeated the dose here for another fine victory.

Germany’s Mika Noodt recovered from a drafting penalty to beat Spain’s Antonio Benito Lopez, New Zealand’s Kyle Smith and his compatriot Rico Bogen for the final spot on the podium.

Smith, like Noodt, was also left thinking about what might have been as he too picked up a one-minute penalty on the bike leg.

Jelle Geens T100 Triathlon Vancouver Finish Line — Belgium’s Jelle Geens claims victory at T100 Vancouver in June 2025 (Photo – PTO).

Swim – Pearson leads select group

US Olympic star Morgan Pearson (24:49) was first out of the water as he headed a select front pack comprising of four athletes. He had five seconds to spare over fellow American Marc Dubrick, with Brazilian Olympian Miguel Hidalgo and reigning T100 world champion Van Riel close behind.

The next group was stacked with nine athletes headed by Spaniard Antonio Benito Lopez and separated by just five seconds. It included the recent San Francisco podium of winner Bogen, runner-up Geens and third-placed Noodt.

‘Big Unit’ Sam Long – fresh off that IRONMAN 70.3 win at Eagleman last weekend – would have to do his normal ‘tortoise and hare’ act as he came out of the water last of the 20-strong field. He was 4:35 down on the leaders.

Bike – Noodt and Smith pay the penalty

Bogen was swiftly into top gear on the bike as he looked to follow up that San Francisco success. By the end of the first lap of four, he headed a lead group of six athletes. Also with him were Van Riel, Noodt, Kiwi Smith, Hidalgo and Geens and soon after six became seven as Greek phenom Panagiotis Bitados joined the party at the front.

That front group started eventually to fragment as we had a quartet of stars starting to drop the rest of the gang. It was Van Riel, Bogen, Smith and Noodt leading the way with Geens and Bitados still less than 30 seconds off the pace.

The leaders were clearly dropping the hammer as we moved deep into lap 3 of 5 on the bike, and the gap to the chasers was growing. That chase group of four – comprising Geens, Bitados, Benito Lopez and Hidalgo – was now 45 seconds back. Long meanwhile still had a ton of work to do – currently 5:51 back from the leaders.

Noodt’s victory hopes suffered a major blow late in that third lap as he was shown the dreaded blue card to signify a drafting penalty, and after spending a minute in the tent he rejoined the race in eighth position – at the back of that chase group which now contained five athletes.

Another athlete to suffer pain – this time of the physical variety – was Dutchman Youri Keulen as he was forced to DNF with what looked like a back problem.

Noodt wasted no time in making up lost ground after that penalty, swiftly erasing more than half of that one-minute gap to the leaders. He took Geens and Benito Lopez with him in the process.

Another penalty produced more drama deep into the final lap of the bike leg as Smith was adjudged to have transgressed. He too had to spend a minute in the tent as the leaders reached T2.

Bogen it was who headed the field as transition arrived, seven seconds clear of Van Riel. Noodt was 23 seconds away with Geens at 38 seconds and Benito Lopez at 45. Then came Smith (at 1:15) and Bitados (at 2:05).

It was clearly not going to be Sam Long’s day, with ‘The Big Unit’ 7:34 back in 15th position – just a few days on from his exertions at 70.3 Eagleman.

Run – Geens runs down MVR for the win

The big question heading onto the run course surrounded just how much energy Van Riel had expended on the bike to live with Bogen. It was shaping up to be an absolute thriller, and the early stages of the run provided even more drama as they led the way.

Reigning IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Geens was looking imperious as he quickly made up ground on Van Riel and Bogen, and he joined them on Lap 2 of 6. The Belgians quickly then established a gap to Bogen as the San Francisco winner started to drop back. Noodt meanwhile was only 37 seconds away in fourth.

If you were betting on a winner at this stage, Geens would have been your man – he looked very strong and Van Riel was having to work hard to stay with his compatriot. Proof of that extra injection of pace from Geens came in the fact Bogen was already 30 seconds back in third, with Noodt a minute away in fourth. A two-horse race for the win?

The action up front was gripping as the two Belgians went literally stride for stride. With 8km remaining they were still locked together, but then Geens made his big move. Jelle quickly skipped clear of his compatriot, and Van Riel was immediately struggling to go with him.

Geens was running 3:14 a kilometre right now and was looking booked for another terrific victory unless Van Riel could summon up an extra effort to respond. At this stage it appeared highly unlikely. Further back in the field Bogen was passed by Smith and Noodt as the battle for third place stepped up a gear.

Geens continued to set a scorching pace out front and Van Riel had no answer as they entered the closing 4km. Jelle held his lead to the line comfortably to win in sensational style by 49 seconds.

It was Noodt who had the answers in the battle for third as he outpaced Smith and Bogen to occupy the final spot on the podium. There was further agony in the closing strides for Smith, who appeared to have picked up an injury and was passed for fourth by the fast-finishing Benito Lopez.