Age group athletes to chase world championship glory in T100 Series Grand Final
Age group championship opportunity at unique race distance
Photo by:
T100/Jesper Gronnemark
There is a new age group world championship title to chase with the Professional Triathletes Organisation’s (PTO) unveiling of the qualification process to compete at T100 Triathlon World Championships series final in Qatar on December.
Age group athletes have been able to race the T100 series since its inception two years ago, but never before has it included a race for the world title at its grand final. Through December 11-13, that opportunity will go down in Doha, alongside the pros, as they compete in the final series race for the championship title as well.
How to qualify
To qualify for the T100 Age-Group World Championship, athletes can earn a spot by finishing in the top 10 in their respective age group category at any race on the T100 circuit this season. Athletes who miss the top 10 ranking can opt to go through a selection process lead by their national federation, such as Triathlon Canada or USA Triathlon. The internal selection process follows criteria set out by World Triathlon.
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There will be no roll-down spots from the top 10 finishers. Athletes may defer their spot racing this year’s championship to 2026, but only if they earned it through a T100 race after T100 London on August 9-10. Qualified athletes will be notified 28 days after the event in which they’ve earned a spot. An official invitation will be sent with a link to register. Through the T100 qualifying routes, athletes must accept, defer or decline the invitation within 30 days from receiving the link to register. Entry fees are capped at US$595.
Triathlon Canada and USA Triathlon have yet to announce their qualifying process, but World Triathlon has indicated it will be similar to any national federation’s process for other world championship spots.
These routes ensure a fair and competitive field, while giving amateur triathletes multiple avenues to make their World Championship dreams a reality.
Anticipation building since January
The news builds on an earlier announcement in January that the PTO and World Triathlon were planning ways to increase integration of amateur competition into the T100 series through an age group world championship. The unique distance of the T100 racing format offers age group athletes an opportunity to win a world title in a distance that plays to their strengths, outside short-course and Ironman racing.
The move represents a continuum on the path towards increasing the involvement of age group athletes in PTO and World Triathlon events and creating more opportunities for amateur athletes, explained PTO CEO Sam Renouf.
“As part of our partnership with World Triathlon, it was always the strategy to give aspiring Age-Groupers and amateur athletes the chance to compete for their T100 World Championship glory alongside the professionals,” said Renouf. “One of the unique aspects of T100 is the opportunity for professionals and Age-Groupers to compete on the same courses, in the same iconic cities, and on the same weekends. The T100 is the F1 of long-distance triathlon, but unlike in F1, triathlon allows amateurs to race shoulder to shoulder with the best in the sport. That’s something truly special.”
World Triathlon President Elect Antonio F. Arimany added that, together with the PTO, the organizations are determined to deliver world-class events that inspire and challenge athletes across all levels.
“The collaboration between World Triathlon and the PTO represents a unified commitment to not only professional athletes but also to our Age-Group competitors. By offering this new qualification pathway for the T100 World Championships, we are fostering an inclusive environment where every Age-Grouper can strive for their personal best and compete on the world stage.
“Together, we aim to deliver exceptional events and greater opportunities for all to experience the thrill of competition,” said Arimany.
Unique location with famous landmarks
The championship race launches in the waters of the Arabian Gulf with a 2km swim, followed by an 80km bike and 18run course through the city streets of Doha and Lusail. The course passes by famous landmarks, such as the Lusail Stadium, which hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final.
Other races held during the festival are the sprint triathlon and duathlon. The crowning 100km event promises to be a hot ticket item with bragging rights to become the first-ever T100 Age-Group World Champion.