29 Oct The Big Season Finale
2024 is an exhilarating year for triathlon fans, with exciting races broadcasted live almost every weekend, and the Olympic Games!
In the fight for triathlon fans’ hearts and minds, all the triathlon race brands (World Triathlon, IRONMAN, T100, Supertri, Challenge) now have a race series with points scoring and often an all deciding final to keep everyone at the edge of their seat. And prize purses have skyrocketed to attract triathlon superstar power.
As the triathlon season draws to a close, it is time for the big finals. Here’s what’s coming up. Get ready, set your alarm clocks, GO!
Singapore’s own MetaSprint Series 2025 registration is opening soon. Feel like a triathlon super star as you compete for series championship honours. (Spoiler alert!: the MetaSprint Series does not have a prize purse 😀)
19-20 October: World Triathlon Championship Series, Torremolinos, Spain
The WTCS is raced over Sprint and Standard (Olympic) distance events. This year, it has taken a backseat to the Olympic Games, as the prestigious World Triathlon Championship title comes a distant second after Olympic gold.
How does the series ranking work?
The 3 best scores (from 5 races + the Olympic Games) + points earned in the final (25% higher than the other races) determine the World Champion. Points are based on finishing rank, with each subsequent place earning 7% fewer points.
Who won?
In the men’s race, Olympic Champion Alex Yee (GBR) entered the final with a solid lead, needing only a sixth-place finish to secure the title. However, his closest rivals, Hayden Wilde (NZL) and Leo Bergere (FRA), put up a strong fight, gaining distance on Yee during the swim and bike segments and finishing in first and second place. Undeterred, Yee made a remarkable comeback, running his way back into third place and ultimately being crowned World Champion.
Olympic Champion Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) was the frontrunner heading into the final. Beth Potter (GBR) and Lisa Tertsch (GER) both had a chance to claim the title if Beaugrand finished off the podium. This scenario looked possible when Beaugrand found herself in last place halfway through the swim after swimming off course. However, she quickly surged back to the front, and ultimately won the final convincingly, securing the World title.
What do the champions earn?
The World Champions receive a $70,000 check. The prize for winning the final is $30,000.
27 October: The Ironman World Championships, Kona, Hawaii, USA
This year marks the second year that the Ironman World Championships is held on separate dates and venues for the men and women. Kona, Hawaii, hosted the men’s race on 27 October, while the women’s race took place in Nice, France, on 22 September, and was won by Laura Philipp (GER).
Unlike the WTCS, the Ironman World Championships are decided in a single race. It’s a race with a mythical status, though. Hawaii is the birthplace of iron distance triathlon and has a rich history. Winning it is the pinnacle of long distance triathlon.
Not to be outdone by its new rival, the T100 Series (see next final), Ironman created the Ironman Series. Interestingly, the biggest points race in Kona (+20%) is not the last race of the Series. That honour falls this year to the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Taupo, New Zealand, on 14-15 December. Also winning the Ironman Series does not give you a world title.
How does the series ranking work?
The series winner is determined by the best 5 scores from 20 Ironman and Ironman 70.3 races,with a maximum of 3 being (higher scoring) ironmans. Unlike the other series, Points are based on time behind the winner, rewarding speed rather than placement. The winner gets a full score, and every lower placed athlete a point less for every second lost to the winning time.
Who is still in contention?
Patrick Lange has established a strong lead after winning the Ironman World Championships last weekend. However, several competitors without a full scorecard still have the potential to overtake him with a good result at the IM70.3 World Champs in Taupo. Matthew Marquart (USA), Gregory Barnaby (ITA) and Kristian Hogenhaug (DEN) need to finish within 10 minutes from the winner to surpass Lange’s points total.
Jacky Hering (USA) leads the women’s rankings. However, Kat Matthews sits in pole position to win it in December. A close second to Hering, Matthews has only 4 scores to her name so far and needs only one more points scoring finish.
What do the champions earn?
The Ironman World Champion’s title is held in higher regards than the series title, but the world champion’s cheque of $125,000 is considerably less than the $200,000 earned for winning the Series.
17 November: T100 Grand Final, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Next up, it is time for the middle-distance T100 Triathlon World Tour to crown their world champions. The Professional Triathlon Organisation (PTO) has taken the sport by storm with its 100km race distance and its inaugural T100 race series. The 7 races that form the series feature the sport’s biggest stars (from short, middle and long distance). In an agreement with World Triathlon, the series winner and T100 World Champion is recognised by the international federation.
How does the series ranking work?
The T100 World Champion is determined by the best 3 scores from 6 races plus the Grand Final (which carries approximately 60% more points). With such a lot of points available in the Grand Final, the race is likely still wide open before the final kicks off. (The points are earned based on the finish ranking.)
Who is still in contention?
Marten van Riel (BEL) holds the best cards after placing second at the T100 Lake Las Vegas – his first defeat in a middle-distance triathlon. With a podium place in the Dubai final he can secure the title. His nearest contenders have a 20 points deficit, but still have a chance to prevail if van Riel encounters a setback. Magnus Ditlev (FIN), Kyle Smith (NZL), Sam Laidlow (FRA) and Sam Long (USA) are closely matched, separated by just five points.
Taylor Knibb (USA) is the clear favorite in the women’s race, boasting an undefeated record. It seems that only misfortune could prevent her from claiming the title. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) is the only competitor with a realistic chance of edging Knibb out for victory, while all other contenders trail her by more than 30 points.
What do the champions earn?
T100 World Champions will each earn $210,000, making this the biggest prize in triathlon, even if only by $10,000 over their Ironman rival.
3 December: Supertri Grand Final, Neom, Saudi Arabia
Supertri brings a fresh take on triathlon with its unique Enduro format, featuring multiple short Swim-Bike-Run segments. The very dynamic and fast race series has also introduced interesting elements like ‘short-chutes’ and team competitions.
How does the series ranking work?
They have overhauled their extremely complex points system to now the simplest of all the series listed here. Bravo! A winner gets 15 points and every lower ranked athlete one less. Only the Grand final earns the winner 20 with bigger point gaps to second (16) and third (14). The best 3 scores (from 4 races) + the Grand Final decide who wins the Supertri men’s and women’s league.
Who is still in contention?
Hayden Wilde (AUS) and Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) lead their respective rankings, needing a third-place finish to secure the title. Leo Bergere (FRA) is Wilde’s biggest threat, while Taylor-Brown’s nearest competitors are Jeanne Lehair (LUX) and Taylor Spivey (USA)
What do the champions earn?
The Supertri League Champions earn $80,000 each, plus a share of the team winnings, with the winning team (of 4 men and 4 women) taking home $375,000.
Bonus: The Challenge Triathlon Series
T100 and IRONMAN vie for the spotlight with big prize purses for their newly created series. However, it was the Challenge Family who created the first long-distance triathlon series in 2019. There is no grand final, but Challenge Xiamen on 10 November is the last big points race and likely decider who will be the series winner. Unfortunately, Challenge can’t compete for star power. The series winner will only take home a modest $22,000.
Prepare your nutrition and hydration plans for this thrilling triathlon marathon, and start planning your Christmas turkey recovery feast.
