Hayden Wilde unstoppable in T100; Montiel 6th in Oropesa
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Singapore, London, the French Riviera… and this Saturday, Oropesa del Mar. Hayden Wilde He never fails: four T100 circuit races and four wins for the New Zealander, who has once again demonstrated that he is at a higher level in the middle distance.
Just four months after the serious accident he suffered in Tokyo—six broken ribs, a shattered scapula, and a damaged lung—the "falcon" has returned stronger than ever.
With Wollongong, Dubai, and Qatar still to be played, the Paris 2024 Olympic runner-up is already the favorite to win this inaugural T100 World Cup.
A smooth swim
The Mediterranean dawned calm and the 2.000 meters of swimming They didn't make any big differences. Up to 19 triathletes came out of the water practically together, including Vincent Luis, Jonas Schomburg –fresh from the World Cup HOMBRE DE HIERRO from Nice– and Sam Dickinson, which set the initial pace.
Cycling, full of sanctions and attacks
The bike section was a real battleground. Drafting penalties, mechanical breakdowns, and constant attacks reduced the leading group to seven men: Wilde, Jelle Geens, Samuel Dickinson, Guillem Montiel, Mathis Margirier, Jonas Schomburg and Rico Bogen.
There appeared the big news of the day: Guillem MontielThe Catalan, in his T100 debut, not only held his own with the best, but even allowed himself to set the pace and alternate leading positions with Wilde. His tactical maturity and physical solidity confirmed that he wasn't here to "try his luck," but to truly compete.
The expected duel: Geens vs. Wilde
The 18km run quickly turned into a head-to-head between Geens and WildeThe Belgian started strongly, trying to break the script and prevent the New Zealander's fourth consecutive victory. But Wilde, despite losing 20 seconds in T2, caught him at kilometer 6.
From there, he breathed down his neck, waited for the moment, and at km 9 launched the final attack. No one could follow him. Wilde flew alone the last 8 km until crossing the finish line in 3:09:01, sealing another incontestable victory.
International podium and Montiel sixth
Jelle Geens He finished second with a time of 3:11:26. The fight for bronze was decided in a sprint: Jonas Schomburg (3:12:03) beat the Frenchman Margier by just 10 seconds, just six days after finishing sixth in the IRONMAN World Championship.
And then, the big headline for the Spanish fans: Guillem Montiel, 6th with 3:13:08.
The Catalan equaled the best debut by a Spaniard in the history of the T100 – Antonio Benito in Ibiza – and, above all, made it clear that he is now among the greats. Ahead of him are only five middle-distance giants; behind him, figures such as Keulen, Bogen or Vincent Luis.
Men's T100 Classification Oropesa del Mar
| Pos | Athlete | Country | Final time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hayden Wilde | NZL | 3:09:01 |
| 2 | Jelle Geens | BEL | 3:11:26 |
| 3 | Jonas Schomburg | GER | 3:12:03 |
| 4 | Mathis Margier | From | 3:12:13 |
| 5 | Samuel Dickinson | GBR | 3:12:48 |
| 6 | Guillem Montiel Moreno | ESP | 3:13:08 |
| 7 | Youri Keulen | NED | 3:13:12 |
| 8 | menno koolhaas | NED | 3:15:25 |
| 9 | Gregory barnaby | ITA | 3:16:05 |
| 10 | Rich Bogen | GER | 3:18:51 |
A promising future
The T100 Oropesa del Mar will go down in history with two names. On the one hand, Hayden Wilde, who is building a dominance similar to that of the traditional greats in the middle distance.
On the other hand, that of Guillem Montiel, who has taken a step forward and made it clear that Spain has a present and a future on this international circuit.
