Martin Van Riel proved he truly is the real deal in becoming the Ibiza T100 Triathlon Champion and putting himself in pole position to become the inaugural T100 Champion with just two races to go. The Belgian star and fan favourite is the first male athlete to become a two-time T100 champion, by breaking away from London T100 Champion Sam Laidlow in the closing stages of a sun-soaked run around Ibiza Old Town.
After the race, Van Riel said: “It was my biggest goal before this year to become the first T100 Triathlon World Champion and I am all in for it. If I do my best for every single race I am on the line and if I keep getting good results like this I’ll be very close.”
Asked why he’s so suited to the 100km distance, Van Riel said: “I have the perfect mix between speed and endurance. Naturally I’m quite a fast guy, but I still have endurance. So I’m the best of both worlds. For now, this format is perfect for me.”
With two races to go, in Lake Las Vegas and then Dubai for the T100 World Championship Final, it will be fascinating to see if anyone can beat him.
French star Laidlow said: “The fuel on my fire is I want to be the best triathlete in the world, and it is a slow process to get there. Today I lost not only to an amazing athlete but a great guy, he is just phenomenal.”
Mika Noodt was third to register his first T100 podium finish. The German had been targeting this race and said: “I was 6th in Singapore and 5th in San Francisco so I was hoping for an improvement and was super glad I managed it.” Second in Lake Las Vegas where the tour moves next perhaps?
Britain’s Alistair Brownlee was fourth, after losing a minute to the first drafting penalty in a T100 race, but had no complaints when asked about it afterwards: “At 50km I got a drafting penalty and it was fair enough to be honest. I’d rolled into the draft zone and the light came on and I didn’t come out of it quick enough. It was a fair decision and I then rode the last lap on my own and ran just trying to catch people – and I was pleased to feel good right to the finish.”
How It Played Out
Using Olympic-honed speed, Marten Van Riel surged to the front of the swim in the clear blue waters off Figueretas Beach as Ibiza’s famous nightlife made way for the world’s best triathletes. The Belgian led through the half-way Aussie exit at 1km and went on to leave the water in first place in 24:46.
Van Riel, the San Francisco T100 Champion was joined by London T100 Champion Laidlow and went straight on at a roundabout letting the German pairing of Rico Bogen and Fred Funk slip past to take the lead. Before long, Laidlow was back at the front with Funk in second, Bogen, Van Riel, Alistair Brownlee and Mika Noodt in close proximity.
As the bike wore on, Funk and Laidlow traded turns while Alistair Brownlee was given a 1-minute penalty for drafting. After serving his time in the sin-bin, the double Olympic Champion was back to 6th place and off the back of the front group in no-man’s land.
First in and out of T2, Bogen was quickly in the lead on the run with Van Riel and Laidlow in hot pursuit. Laidlow stormed into the lead, only Van Riel able to match the Frenchman’s pace as Bogen was dropped.
From there, the two pushed on, Laidlow in the front for the majority, making time on the rest while Noodt moved up into the last podium spot by the half-way mark of the 18km run while Brownlee was in 4th.
With 3.3km to go, Van Riel made a long attack, pushing to 94% of his maximum heart rate to break the elastic to Laidlow.
In what Frodeno described as “a masterpiece of a performance”, Van Riel crossed the line to assert himself as the first men’s T100 repeat champion and the best T100 athlete in the roster. He took the tape in 03:11:36 after a 57:45 run. Meanwhile, Noodt stayed strong for 3rd place with Brownlee claiming 4th and Funk 5th.
Van Riel takes 35 points and $25,000, also moving up into 4th in the T100 Standings.
Laidlow earned 28 points and $16,000, solidifying his 3rd place in the standings by replacing his 0-point DNF from Singapore T100.
Noodt took 25 points, $12,000 and now sits 7th in the standings.