World’s best triathletes line up for T100 Triathlon World C’ship Final

As the world’s top triathletes descend on Dubai for the inaugural T100 Triathlon World Championship Final this weekend, all eyes turned to the series-ending press conference.

This new global sports event on the Dubai calendar, under the patronage of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council and in partnership with Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, held its pre-final press conference attended by Saeed Mohammed Hareb, Secretary General, Dubai Sports Council; Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE); Taylor Knibb and Marten Van Riel, decorated triathlon Olympians and series leaders; Sam Renouf, CEO of the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), and Emirati athletes Hana AlNabulsi and Khalifa Aldarmaki, both representatives for Team UAE, to discuss the defining race of the season.

The T100 Triathlon Series has been an exhilarating journey so far, bringing together the top 40 elite triathletes from around the world to compete in seven stunning locations across the planet.

As the decisive event in the T100 series calendar culminates in Dubai, the final promises fierce competition on Nov.16 (Women’s) and Nov.17 (Men’s) at 1.30pm local time respectively.

The weekend also welcomes the Sprint distance race on Saturday where over 3,000 amateur athletes experience the triathlon disciplines across the city -- all taking place under the iconic Dubai skyline. Race weekend also offers more than just a showcase of world-class athletic talent.

Alongside the 100km and Sprint races, visitors can enjoy a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, as food trucks, family entertainment, activities and experiences await.

Speaking ahead of this exciting Dubai-hosted major sporting event, Saeed Hareb, Secretary General, Dubai Sports Council, said: “We are pleased to host the finals of the World Triathlon Championship T100, which is being held for the first time, with the participation of more than 3,000 male and female athletes from different countries from around the world.

The Dubai T100 Triathlon World Championship Final weekend is one of the flagship events of this year’s 30x30 Dubai Fitness Challenge. The Dubai Fitness Challenge launched in 2017 to support the vision of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai to transform Dubai into one of the most active cities in the world, citizens, residents and visitors have committed to 30 minutes of exercise every day for 30 days, with an action-packed calendar of activities and events.

Speaking about the importance of such events, Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) at DET, said: “With the T100 Triathlon World Championship Final, Dubai proudly joins iconic destinations like Miami and Singapore, reinforcing its position as a premier global destination for sports. This championship, taking place during Dubai Fitness Challenge, aligns perfectly with the vision of Sheikh Hamdan to transform our city into one of the world’s most active.

Echoing and Al Khaja’s comments, PTO’s CEO, Sam Renouf, spoke ardently about Dubai’s world-class abilities to host events such as the T100 Finals, as well as what spectators can be prepared for this weekend.

“It has always been our ambition to crown our first T100 Triathlon World Champions in a spectacular race at an iconic location,” said PTO CEO Sam Renouf.

Dubai T100 is more than a race for the elite. Alongside the 100km race for Age-Groupers, a shorter ‘Sprint’ distance will welcome over 3,000 age group participants - both UAE residents and international visitors.

Emirati athletes Hana AlNabulsi and Khalifa Aldarmaki, both representatives for Team UAE, expressed their pride during the press conference at hosting such an event in their home country.

“Firstly, it’s great to see this event coming to my home country. I hope to see more in the future as it not only improves my experience and fitness levels, but I means I can be part of more races if they are here in the UAE. I’m really proud T100 is here, and I can’t wait for it to begin,” Khalifa mentioned.