KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)

Hayden Wilde’s remarkable double effort across the UAE underlined the depth of his form this weekend. Less than 24 hours after securing third place at the World Triathlon Championship Series in Abu Dhabi, the New Zealander claimed victory in the Dubai T100 at Al Mamzar.

His win, completed in 3:11:43, came after he pulled clear of compatriot and training partner Kyle Smith in the final nine kilometres of the 18km run, finishing one minute and nine seconds ahead. Germany’s Mika Noodt took third, returning to the Dubai podium for a second successive year following a serious bike crash in July.

Wilde’s third T100 success of the season, after earlier wins in Singapore and on the French Riviera, erases the memory of his eighth-place finish in Dubai twelve months ago. With each athlete’s best three results counting towards the title, he now holds the maximum 105 points and travels to the season finale in Qatar 42 points clear of Smith.

“I got in at about ten o’clock last night and I think I had a pretty light sleep, but actually a decent sleep,” Wilde said. “It’s a lot easier to first do the sprint and then the T100 than doing it the other way around. I rode pretty hard yesterday, so I didn’t feel like I had that pop that I wanted to on the bike.” He also revealed he believed he had broken a toe leaving the water, though the injury should settle within weeks.

The new Al Mamzar course drew praise. “The road was immaculate. It was great. It was super-fast,” Wilde noted. “I really like this course. It’s nice.” Smith, who had finished third behind Wilde at the French Riviera T100 and won Challenge Barcelona last month, stayed at the front through swim and bike. “He’s a great training partner to have,” Wilde said. “I’d love him to put me to the sword one day, and I think he will.” Smith replied simply: “Hayden is just so good.”

In the women’s race Georgia Taylor-Brown of Britain won in 3:35:19, 10 seconds ahead of New Zealand’s Nicole van der Kaay, with defending champion Julie Derron of Switzerland third. The result moves Taylor-Brown into the T100 Race to Qatar lead on 96 points, six clear of Derron. “Nicole really kept me pushing it to the very end,” Taylor-Brown said. “But I won, and even if I only won by a second, you only need to win.”

Attention now turns to the T100 Triathlon World Championship Final in Lusail City, Qatar, on 11-12 December. Wilde, Smith and Taylor-Brown are remaining in the UAE to prepare. “We’re both going to Abu Dhabi for a training camp and some heat prep,” Smith confirmed. Taylor-Brown added: “It’ll be a similar situation with the heat, so just have a recovery week now, refocus, go again, and then get ready to race again. Stay in the heat and enjoy this.”