A nutrition fumble early on the bike turned Nicole van der Kaay’s podium push into a survival story at T100 Spain.
The Taupō 30-year-old set off out of T1 in 2nd place but the wheels quickly fell off as she tumbled down the leaderboard to finish 16th in 3:56:24.
“Die before DNF,” was NVDK’s summary on social media afterwards.
“We started strong team! Out of T1 in 2nd and holding strong on the bike! But very early on I lost my nutrition, and that set up a complete bonk with about 20km to go.
“The run became pure survival mode. Dizzy, fighting stomach and body cramps, I chugged down 6+ gels just to make it to the finish line.”
Van der Kaay still banked US$4000 (NZ$6800) and remains in the top 10 of the T100 Triathlon World Tour standings. It looks like she will chase a start in round 3 at Vancouver on August 15 given it doesn’t impact her dual LA Olympic qualifying bid at WTCS level.
Still, Saturday in Pamplona stung, especially after her debut 4th on the Gold Coast.
“This one broke my heart a little because I really love racing in the heat, and I never got to see what was actually there on the day,” van der Kaay said.
“For me, the salt-carb-caffeine mix is essential. Losing my nutrition early, slipping on the first aid station, and only getting a bottle at the second — with no salt available — left me trying to hold things together all day. Looking back, I should’ve turned back for the carbs. My body gave up before my mind ever would.
“Thank you all for the support — especially on the days I’m hardest on myself.”
The immediate focus now shifts back to the Olympic pathway, with WTCS Quiberon and Hamburg on the horizon as LA28 qualification accelerates.
Brit Georgia Taylor-Brown danced to the Macarena at the start line and delivered on the promise, going from third at T2 to claim her first T100 win in 3:38:03.
PTO No.1 Julie Derron (SUI) was 2nd with Taylor Spivey 3rd in her best T100 result from nine starts. The win moves Taylor-Brown to second on the Race to Qatar standings with 35 points, level with Gold Coast winner Taylor Knibb but behind series leader Imogen Simmonds, whose 7th-place finish in Spain still leaves her on top with 42.
Van der Kaay’s five points from Pamplona keep her 7th overall on 28 points, still in the mix, but the margin for error is tightening in a series where three out of a possible four regular season results count, in addition to your Grand Final performance in Doha on December 11.
T100 Spain results
| Pos | Athlete | Time |
| 1 | Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) | 3:38:03 |
| 2 | Julie Derron (SUI) | 3:39:23 |
| 3 | Taylor Spivey (USA) | 3:41:29 |
| 4 | Holly Lawrence (GBR) | 3:42:09 |
| 5 | Alanis Siffert (SUI) | 3:42:28 |
| 6 | Lizzie Rayner (GBR) | 3:42:50 |
| 7 | Imogen Simmonds (SUI) | 3:43:28 |
| 8 | Audrey Merle (FRA) | 3:43:54 |
| 9 | Cathia Schär (SUI) | 3:44:09 |
| 10 | Daniela Kleiser (GER) | 3:44:44 |
| 11 | Sophie Evans (GBR) | 3:46:49 |
| 12 | Lotte Wilms (NED) | 3:51:59 |
| 13 | Hanne De Vet (BEL) | 3:53:08 |
| 14 | Kaidi Kivioja (EST) | 3:53:13 |
| 15 | Sara Pérez Sala (ESP) | 3:53:44 |
| 16 | Nicole van der Kaay (NZL) | 3:56:24 |
| 17 | Bianca Bogen (GER) | 3:56:59 |
| 18 | Petra Kurikova (CZE) | 3:57:59 |
