T100 San Francisco: Pre-Race Interviews
Ahead of Saturday’s race, we caught up with four of the biggest names in the men’s field.
Triathlon Magazine is on the ground in San Francisco for the second men’s T100 event of the season. With the genders racing separately this year – each having four regular-season events before coming together for the World Championship Final in Qatar – every race carries added significance. Athletes need a total of three regular-season scores to contribute to their season standings, making each opportunity to score points crucial.
For fans of the sport, this format is especially exciting as it brings together many of triathlon’s biggest names on the same start line. We had the privilege of sitting down with some of the pre-race favourites ahead of race day.
Rico Bogen
First up was Rico Bogen, who has enjoyed tremendous success in San Francisco. During the inaugural 2024 event, he was part of an epic sprint finish with Marten Van Riel and Kyle Smith. While he missed the win that year, he returned in 2025 and claimed victory in commanding fashion, finishing nearly two minutes ahead of his closest challenger, Jelle Geens.
San Francisco also holds personal significance for Bogen. During his 2025 visit, he proposed to his now-wife, Emily, adding another special memory to an already meaningful venue.
We’ll be cheering for the defending champion (and 2023 Ironman 70.3 World Champion) as he looks to add another memorable chapter to his San Francisco success story. Bogen shared that, ideally, he would like to have a two-minute lead heading into the run, meaning fans can expect to see him put his renowned bike strength on full display over San Francisco’s challenging hills as he looks to establish that gap.
One final fun fact: following this race, Bogen will head to Roth for his first attempt at the full distance, which he says will become a major focus for him in the years ahead.
Hayden Wilde
Our first question for the seemingly unbeatable Hayden Wilde over the T100 distance was whether carrying that level of dominance brings added pressure, or whether he enjoys lining up with the expectation of extending his winning streak.
With a smile, Wilde explained that one of his goals has been to raise the standard of racing at this distance and push the boundaries of what is possible. And it is hard to argue that he has done exactly that.
At the same time, Wilde believes others can and will rise to meet his level, and this continued pursuit of excellence across the field seems to genuinely inspire him. As he puts it, it makes the racing better. In fact, he has encouraged other short-course stars, including Matt Hauser and Alex Yee, to try the distance, noting that he believes it is entirely possible to balance the demands of T100 and Olympic-distance racing. He also believes short-course speed can be a major asset.
Wilde is currently recovering from an illness that has limited his training over the past two weeks. Still, he is hopeful the symptoms will fully subside by Saturday morning so that he can deliver a strong performance.
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Morgan Pearson
American Morgan Pearson is excited to be racing on home soil, with friends and family lining the course to cheer him on.
Pearson closed out his 2025 T100 season in outstanding form, claiming victory in Dubai before finishing second at the World Championship Final in Qatar. Known for his exceptional foot speed, he has already established himself as one of the most exciting athletes to watch over the distance.
After Qatar, Pearson took an extended off-season. He had originally planned to open his 2026 season at WTCS Abu Dhabi, but given the cancellation of that event, San Francisco will mark his first race of the year.
Leo Bergere
Leo Bergere brings one of the most impressive resumes in the field as the 2022 World Triathlon champion, Paris Olympic medalist, and a podium finisher at the 2024 Ironman 70.3 World Championships.
Bergere made an immediate impact in his T100 debut with a runner-up finish in Singapore in 2025. He went on to race two additional T100 events that season before an injury sidelined him, taking him out of the race to Qatar.
Like Pearson, this weekend will mark his first race of the 2026 season. We asked whether he believes he has what it takes to secure his first T100 victory. Bergere explained that his priorities are different at the moment. His knee is still not fully recovered, and his primary focus has been returning to consistent training and full health.
Within that context, simply being on the start line this weekend represents a major milestone. He is hopeful his knee will hold up on Saturday and that he can continue building fitness and momentum throughout the remainder of the season.
More to come with live, on-the-ground updates from Triathlon Magazine throughout race weekend here in San Francisco.