Dubai to host new T100 triathlon at Meydan in 2024

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 28 May 2024/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and World Triathlon have disclosed that the distinguished Meydan Racecourse, the Crystal Lagoon of District One, and surrounding areas will host the new T100 Triathlon World Tour when it arrives in Dubai from November 15-17 this year.

Organized by Falcon and Associates in collaboration with Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, Dubai Sports Council, and Dubai Holding, the Dubai T100 Triathlon will feature both women's and men's professional races at the racecourse—home to the Dubai World Cup.

The swim segment will occur in the impressive Crystal Lagoon swimming complex within the exclusive District One residential development, while the cycling stage will take place at Meydan, encompassing the Royal Bridge (see picture above and video here) and adjacent areas.

The announcement of this location for the demanding 100km course (consisting of a 2km swim, 80km bike ride, and 18km run) seamlessly blends Dubai's urban elegance with a premier sporting event.

The T100 Triathlon weekend provides a rare opportunity for the public to access this remarkable facility.

To register for the 100km amateur race, visit https://t100triathlon.com/dubai/participate/. Act quickly, as spots are filling up fast. Additional information about other distances will be released soon.

Beyond the triathlon events, a wide range of other participation opportunities will be available throughout the weekend, including relays, sprints, youth events, and running.

These activities will cater to various interests and will be a significant part of the 2024 Dubai Fitness Challenge, with registration opening later this year.

Commenting on the announcement, PTO CEO Sam Renouf stated: "We are thrilled to finally reveal the exciting course details of our inaugural event in the UAE, especially the iconic Meydan Racecourse location.

The first Dubai T100 will be one of the most anticipated stops on the new T100 Triathlon World Tour, featuring the world's greatest triathletes and numerous amateurs who will have the chance to compete on the same course.

With the swim held in the stunning Crystal Lagoon at District One, this event is set to become a global bucket-list event for the sport."

"I am particularly grateful to our partners, the Dubai Sports Council, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, and Dubai Holding.

This event will showcase the best athletes in the world, offer leading amateurs a chance to test themselves over the same course, and provide everyone else the opportunity to enjoy swimming, cycling, or running. This unique setup fits perfectly with the ambition and vision of the 30x30 Dubai Fitness Challenge."

The Dubai Fitness Challenge was launched in 2017 to support the vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai.

The initiative aims to transform Dubai into one of the world's most active cities by encouraging citizens, residents, and visitors to embrace a healthier lifestyle by committing to 30 minutes of exercise every day for 30 days, accompanied by an action-packed calendar of activities and events.

Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), remarked:

"We are pleased to introduce another world-class addition to Dubai's vibrant international sporting events calendar. Aligning with the annual city-wide Dubai Fitness Challenge, the Dubai T100 Triathlon will underscore Dubai's dedication to mass participation sports while attracting top-tier triathletes to our city.

Hosting this triathlon for the first time aligns perfectly with our visionary leadership's aspiration to make Dubai the best place to visit, live, and work, as well as the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, to further establish Dubai's status as a leading global city for business and leisure.

As a major international events hub, Dubai looks forward to showcasing its exceptional facilities, infrastructure, and hospitality to athletes and spectators from around the world during this inaugural event."

The T100 Triathlon World Tour is designated by World Triathlon, the sport's international governing body, as the 'official World Championship for long-distance triathlons'. Thus, the series has a season-long narrative culminating in the crowning of a women's and men's T100 World Champion, rather than just individual race winners.

Dubai will be the second-to-last stop on the new eight-leg, $7 million USD global triathlon tour that began in Miami on March 9 and Singapore on April 13-14 this year.

The tour will also visit San Francisco on June 8-9, London on July 27-28, Ibiza on September 28-29, and Las Vegas on October 19-20, before finally arriving in the United Arab Emirates.

H.E. Nasser Aman Al Rahma, Assistant Secretary General of the Dubai Sports Council (DSC), expressed his excitement about hosting this international event in Dubai.

He stated, “We are pleased that Dubai is the only city in the Middle East to host this significant international event, alongside other top global cities such as Miami, San Francisco, London, Las Vegas, Singapore, and Ibiza. Hosting this international event confirms Dubai's quality of life, its appeal, and the prominent status of sports in the country.

It also shows that Dubai continues to attract major sports events. DSC is committed to collaborating with various entities to attract more major sports championships and events. We support the organization of sports events to enhance sports tourism and the domestic product in Dubai.

DSC also strives to bring happiness to all individuals in society and to enable them to follow the most eminent world championships alongside the most prominent global stars and teams in different sports.

We are keen to continue organizing such major events and add them to the international sports events on DSC's annual agenda.”

Khalid Al Malik, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Holding Real Estate, stated, “We are thrilled to host the T100 Triathlon World Tour at two of our landmark locations and provide the participating athletes and spectators with an exciting sporting experience.

Dubai is home to some of the world's most extraordinary sporting events, and we are proud to support this exhilarating race, which will further establish the emirate's position as a world-class sporting destination.

As part of our efforts to boost Dubai’s sporting culture, we look forward to hosting events that invite participation from both the local community and international visitors.”

Local athlete Ali Ramdan, who is celebrating a decade of competing in triathlon, shared his excitement about the inaugural Dubai T100. He said, “Being born and raised in this country and having started my triathlon journey ten years ago, hearing about the Dubai T100 in the same year is incredibly exciting for me.”

“I can't wait to share the track with so many other athletes from the community,” Ali added. “If 'world-class' isn’t an apt description for what Dubai and the Dubai Sports Council have done for the sport, I don't know what is. We have professional tracks and beautiful facilities ready for us to train on and host these kinds of events. It's truly amazing.”

Melina Timson-Katchis, another local athlete who hasn’t let ‘life’ interfere with her triathlon journey, commented, “When the news came out that T100 was coming to Dubai, I think every triathlete across the UAE was ready to sign up instantly! It’s such an incredible event, and the fact it’s happening here in Dubai, in such a great location too, is why we can’t wait to get going.

“Despite injuries, having kids, and a full-time job, my love for triathlon hasn’t wavered,” Melina continued. “So much so that I’ve made it my full-time job, and I love to bring those I coach to events like T100.

I have students of varying abilities, some of whom only participate in certain disciplines of triathlon, but this event in November is going to be perfect for them.”

How the T100 Triathlon World Tour Works

• Each contracted athlete must complete a minimum of 5 races plus the Grand Final.
  
  
• Athletes score 35 points for first place down to 1 point for 20th place at each race.
  
  
• The Grand Final offers increased points to raise the stakes (55 points down to 4 points).
  
  
• Each athlete’s best three T100 race scores plus the Grand Final will count towards the inaugural women’s and men’s T100 World Championship.
  
  
• A $250,000 USD prize fund is available at each T100 event, totaling $2,000,000 across the eight races (1st place receives $25,000; 2nd place $16,000; 3rd place $12,000 at each race).
  
  
• The series winners following the Grand Final will be crowned T100 Triathlon World Champion and will win $210,000 USD from an additional total prize pool of $2,000,000.
  
  
• Between the athlete contracts, T100 race prize fund, and the T100 Triathlon World Tour pool, the series provides more than $7,000,000 USD in athlete compensation, distributed in a way that rewards not only the winners but also recognizes the significant achievement of competing at this level.
  
  

Falcon and Associates, the local organizers of the Dubai T100 Triathlon, are also responsible for many prestigious events on Dubai's sporting calendar, including the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates Dubai 7s, and the Dubai World Cup.

Source: endurancesportswire

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