Hayden Wilde says he’s ready for the deepest field of the season at next month’s Sokin San Francisco T100 Triathlon World Tour event.
The reigning T100 world champion will look to double down on his record-smashing, season-opening win in Singapore late last month and is doubly excited for San Fran after his infamous Tokyo training ride crash last May ruled him out of last year’s ‘Escape From Alcatraz’ test.
Wilde will face six of the world’s top-10 PTO ranked athletes including the Belgian duo of Jelle Geens and Marten Van Riel, German pair Mika Noodt and defending San Francisco champion Rico Bogen, plus dangerous American runner Morgan Pearson.
“Everyone knows I love a challenge and looking down the start list, the rest of the boys have certainly answered the call,” the 28-year-old Kiwi said.
“But I’ve had a good few weeks back in Andorra training and will take this challenge on full throttle as I always do, to defend my lead in the T100 Race To Qatar.”
Wilde will open his tilt for a maiden World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) title – World Triathlon’s premier short course crown – at Alghero in Sardinia on May 30 before switching back into 100km mode in San Fran. Form and confidence are high for both, as is his motivation for the U.S. stop.
“I was super happy with my race in Singapore,” Wilde said of his 6min 21sec winning margin, the largest in T100 history.
“It was hotter and harder than last year so I was happy to survive tough conditions.
“I’m buzzing to be able to race the Sokin San Francisco T100 Triathlon this year. The Escape From Alcatraz course is a bucket list race for all triathletes which I was gutted to miss out on last season.”
Pearson shapes as one of Wilde’s biggest threats after finishing runner-up at the Qatar T100 Final and winning in Dubai late last season, while Noodt arrives chasing a seventh straight T100 podium and former U.S. Olympian Ben Kanute boasts four Escape From Alcatraz victories.
The June 6 race also features Australians Jake Birtwhistle and Kurt McDonald among a 20-strong professional men’s field.
Sokin San Francisco T100 Triathlon start list
- Hayden Wilde (NZL)
- Mika Noodt (GER)
- Jake Birtwhistle (AUS)
- Mathis Margirier (FRA)
- Gregor Payet (LUX)
- Kurt McDonald (AUS)
- Jelle Geens (BEL)
- Rico Bogen (GER)
- Morgan Pearson (USA)
- Marten Van Riel (BEL)
- Gregory Garnaby (ITA)
- Léo Bergere (FRA)
- Ben Kanute (USA)
- Jason West (USA)
- Antonio Benito Lopez (ESP)
- Wilhelm Hirsch (GER)
- Jamie Riddle (RSA)
- Will Draper (GBR)
- Guillem Montiel (ESP)
- Henry Rappo (EST)
