Total chaos in Dubai: Van Riel lashes out at the PTO
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The T100 Dubai 2025 ended amidst a chaotic series of laps and a classification review that drew harsh criticism from Marten Van Riel and an immediate reaction from several triathletes, including Hayden Wilde.
The T100 Dubai 2025 erupts in controversy after a historic error throws the circuit off course
What was supposed to be one of the most anticipated events of the T100 Triathlon World Tour 2025 It ended up becoming an unprecedented episode.
The men's race at the Dubai T100 was marred by a series of errors in signage and lap counting that completely disrupted the competitive flow, taking some of the favorites out of contention for the podium and forcing the PTO to review the result.
The chaos began after the second transition. The leading trio, consisting of Hayden Wilde, Marten Van Riel y Mathis MargierHe skipped the T2 entrance and completed an additional lap on the cycling segment.
Later, during the running leg, several triathletes made the opposite mistake: they skipped the last lap, further distorting the times and creating a scenario never before seen at an event of this level.
At the finish line: confusion, disbelief, and two winners in a matter of minutes
The final stretch was a perfect reflection of the chaos.
Morgan Pearson He faced the finish line convinced that he would take the victory.
However, upon crossing it, he encountered a disconcerting scene: mika noodt He had already raised the tape as the supposed champion after completing an incorrect number of laps.
The image of the two of them in the finish line area, along with several equally bewildered rivals, went viral in minutes.
After hours of complaints, review of times and analysis of chip tracking, the PTO reported that the last valid record corresponded to the passage through the seventh lap of the running race, following the guidelines of World Triathlon.
Based on that criterion, the winner was declared to Morgan Pearson, one of the few who correctly completed the required 8 laps.
The standings are pending final confirmationHowever, the organization maintains that its procedure follows the regulated rules for cases of technical failure.
Athletes criticize the organization
The reactions came quickly. The atmosphere at the finish line already hinted that the afternoon would be tense.
Hayden WildeVisibly annoyed, he blurted out a phrase that echoed throughout the surrounding area:
"And they call themselves a professional race organizationThe New Zealander didn't post any more messages, but his comment was retweeted hundreds of times.
The most forceful response came from Belgium.
Marten Van Riel, one of the biggest losers —and winner of the Dubai 2024 Grand Final—, posted a direct and unfiltered message:
“Shoutout to the real winner today; @ironmantri
(Sorry @morgan_cadwell_pearson 😜)
I not only lost tens of thousands of dollars, but I mostly feel let down by an organization I tried supporting and sacrificed a big part of my season for.
I think the professional can go and we can just call it the 'triathlon organization' from today onwards 😉. "
See this post on Instagram
His words made his frustration clear:
he spoke of economic losses, disappointment, sporting sacrificeAnd he finished with a phrase that has ignited debate:
"HOMBRE DE HIERRO He is the only winner today; the PTO is no longer a professional organization.”
The message sparked a wave of comments among fans, coaches, and triathletes on the circuit, many of them sharing the criticism of the lap control system used in Dubai.
A blow to the image of the T100 circuit and a challenge for the PTO
The incident comes at a particularly delicate time: the season is nearing its end, points for the global ranking are crucial, and financial bonuses are at stake.
The most affected triathletes complain not only of the competitive impact, but also of the loss of income that comes with being left out of positions they usually compete for.
The PTO has announced that it will review the signaling and lap validation protocols ahead of the Final, and has thanked the athletes for their “patience while the technical analysis is completed.”
What can happen now?
Until the organization publishes the final ranking, several scenarios remain open:
- Confirm the classification with the last valid checkpoint
- Recalculate times by estimating missing laps
- Maintain the provisional result
- Or, as a last resort, declare the race partially void.
Whatever the decision, Dubai 2025 will go down as one of the most chaotic episodes in the short history of the T100.
