🎯 Kyle Smith is backing his trademark consistency to quickly drag him up the Race to Qatar standings after a “bittersweet” return to the T100 Triathlon World Tour circuit.
After his 11th hour scratching from April’s season-opener in Singapore due to overcooking his pre-race heat training, the Taupo 28-year-old had to settle for 4th in San Fran early Sunday.
The Escape from Alcatraz race was touted as the “rematch” after world No.1 and eventual inaugural T100 champion Marten Van Riel outkicked Smith and German Rico Bogen in arguably the closest sprint finish triathlon has ever seen last year.
The three protagonists were back at it on Sunday but only Bogen (3:15:53) made the podium, comfortably beating reigning 70.3 World champ Jelle Geens (BEL/3:17:46) to the top step of the podium with fellow German Mika Noodt (3:19:22) third.
Smith (3:19:38) finished nine seconds behind Noodt after 2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run splits of 16:44, 1:57:30 and 1:01:34 respectively, while Van Riel was 6th behind South African Jamie Riddle.
The 4th mirrored the world No.3’s last two placings – at last season’s T100 Grand Final in Dubai and at the 70.3 worlds in Taupo.
“Yeah, it’s good to be back, good to be back racing in the highest level. But another fourth place is pretty bittersweet. Kind of Dubai, 70.3 worlds and now here getting fourth. It’s a bit bittersweet,” said Smith who banked US$10,500 (NZ$17,621) for his effort.
“But honestly, I gave it everything I had today, felt quite flat and I definitely didn’t feel as strong as last year. I think if I was on a really good day then maybe I could have got third.”
Smith’s open goal for 2025 is to go one better than 2024 and win the T100 title. His false-start and now 4th leaves him 8th in the season standings heading into round three in Vancouver on June 14 but he does have time on his side. An athletes four best results from the eight regular season races, plus their performance at the season Grand Final in Doha in December, count.
Bogen (46 points) leads the overall from Van Riel (44), Youri Keulen (39), Noodt (38), injured Singapore winner Hayden Wilde (35), Geens (29), Leo Berege (29) and Smith (23).
How does this set you up for the next one in Vancouver, Kyle?
“I think I got a few things that I know that I have to work on between now and Vancouver. Just try and get a bit sharper and freshen up and yeah, maybe change a couple of things setup wise,” the Kiwi said before referencing his ability to churn out results.
“I think I’m quite good at being consistent. I mean some other athletes are super-hot and super cold but I think I’m quite good at sort of staying at the same level.
“So yeah, I hope it’s going to be my arrow and quiver this season.”
The women’s race on Sunday was promoted as a Kate Waugh v Taylor Knibb showdown following Waugh’s runaway win on debut in Singapore and Knibb’s utter dominance of last season’s inaugural championship.
Paris Olympic Games silver medallist Julie Derron upset the script though, quickly consigning to history her disappointing 12th in Singapore to top the podium from Knibb and Waugh.
Waugh still leads overall with 61 points to Derron’s 44 with American Taylor Spivey 3rd on 32 points. Despite San Fran being her only start thus far, Knibb is 4th on 29 points heading into Vancouver.
T100 San Francisco
May 31, 2025
Swim 2km / Bike 20km / Run 18km
Men
🥇Rico Bogen (GER) – 3:15:53
🥈Jelle Geens (BEL) – 3:17:46
🥉Mika Noodt (GER) – 3:19:22
Also NZL
4. Kyle Smith – 3:19:38
Women
🥇Julie Derron (SUI) – 3:38:46
🥈Taylor Knibb (USA) – 3:40:51
🥉Kate Waugh (GBR) – 3:43:00
They Said it…
Men’s winner Rico Bogen
“I’m very happy, It’s really emotional with both my parents here and there are tears of joy. It’s so great to finally win a T100 race. Because I was third last year, I know that the course suits me. It’s a great location here and the temperatures are great for me. So I know that I am good here. I also know that my bike power is strong. So i thought, let’s have a good lead off the bike and two and a half minutes is a good lead. Then I had a really good run. I prefer it like this [compared to last year’s sprint finish]. It’s certainly more enjoyable!”
“It’s great to have the points for the win. It’s a long season and we have so many good athletes in the T100, I think it always comes down to the day and how you perform. I don’t underestimate any of the others, but it’s great to get a win for the extra points that it gives me for the Race To Qatar.”
Second placed Jess Geens
“I think I need to be happy today and Rico was in a league of his own, I’m definitely satisfied with second.
Third placed Mika Noodt
“Solid swim and felt quite easy. But I didn’t want to push to the front and instead stay in the middle of the pack. On the bike I was on my own and rode with my own rhythm, since I had a cold going into this week but it got better during the race. On the run it was very technical and on the way out we had a headwind and it was like a fartlek run. But I managed to do well and then on the final lap I managed to do a hard surge for 20 seconds to make the podium. I think this sets me up well for the season and there is still room for improvement.”
In A Nutshell
Out of San Francisco Bay 14 seconds behind the leaders after the 2km swim, Germany’s Rico Bogen was soon gunning it to create a 2-minute lead over the hilly 80km bike course in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. Onto the 18km run, the German continued to show his class, finishing in 3:15:53, 1:54 clear of Belgium’s Jelle Geens and 3:30 ahead of fellow German Mika Noodt.
Women’s winner Julie Derron (SUI)
“I’m super excited to get the top step today. I really tried to focus on myself and my own race and just do the best I could out there but honestly it was really motivating not to lose that much time to [Taylor] on the bike. I really backed myself that I could reel her in on the run and put a dent into her performance. I was running scared all the way, you can never be sure as it’s a long race and a lot can happen. I was always worried I would blow up but I knew I had to keep going since she was right behind me. Obviously I saw how the gap was developing but you still have to just stay in it. Only when I got to the carpet did I tell myself, you’ve got this now, enjoy it.”
On training in China she said: “The athletes and facilities are really good and there’s a lot of support there. It’s a good place to train for triathlons.”
Second placed Taylor Knibb (USA)
“I’m actually pretty happy with the execution, I feel like I’m just missing a few gears but it’s early season and I’m grateful to be here and racing. I’ll take it. I have a lot of work to do and that shows, but I’m thrilled for Julie and I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Third placed Kate Waugh (GBR)
“It was a bit of a roller coaster of a day. I was struggling out there on the bike and I was actually slightly worried coming on to the run how I would feel. But luckily my run legs turned up and I just put myself to work and tried to get myself onto the podium and get a good result. So, yeah, I’m really proud to do that.”
Race In A Nutshell
Switzerland’s Julie Derron, Olympic Silver medallist from Paris, proved that 2024 T100 World Champion Taylor Knibb (USA) was beatable. After coming out of San Francisco Bay in the front group, Derron kept Knibb’s lead on the bike to within striking distance then powered home on the run to topple Knibb’s 4-from-4 winning streak. The Swiss star crossed the line in 3:38:46, 2:05 clear of Knibb, while Singapore T100 winner Kate Waugh (GBR) rounded out the podium 4:14 behind.
