Escaping Alcatraz Again: San Francisco T100 Men’s Race Preview
Hayden Wilde headlines a deep field in San Francisco, but a wave of contenders will look to challenge his dominance over the 100km distance.
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The professional men’s field for the upcoming T100 San Francisco has been revealed and, fittingly for a race tied to the legendary Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, there appears to be no shortage of athletes plotting an escape of their own.
Athletes in “cell block one” include Hayden Wilde, Mika Noodt, Jake Birtwhistle, Mathis Margirier, Gregor Payet, and Kurt McDonald, all currently sitting inside the top 10 of the T100 standings after the men’s season-opener in Singapore.
In “cell block two” (those who haven’t yet raced in a 2026 T100) include Wilhelm Hirsch, Henri Schoeman, Jelle Geens, Rico Bogen, Morgan Pearson, Marten Van Riel, Gregory Barnaby, Jason West, Antonio Benito Lopez, Jamie Riddle, Will Draper, Guillem Montiel, Ben Kanute, and Léo Bergère.
Notable names include defending champion Rico Bogen, who will be returning to the Bay targeting his first win in his first race of the season. Joining him will be last year’s second- and third-place finishers, Jelle Geens and Mika Noodt.
Jamie Riddle is another athlete who could create chaos early. A fast swim to shore followed by an aggressive bike has the potential to put him directly into contention. If the cramps stay away, expect him to race the way he always does: from the front and without hesitation.
Marten Van Riel, the 2024 T100 champion, also returns to San Francisco on the heels of his strong runner-up performance at Ironman Texas.
Then there is Morgan Pearson. Pearson closed his 2025 T100 season with a win in Dubai and second place in Qatar. If those crit-racing skills translate onto the hills of San Francisco, he may be one to pay close attention to on race day.
Still, the athlete everyone continues to chase is Hayden Wilde. At the 100km distance, Wilde’s record borders on absurd: eight starts, seven wins. The closest anyone has come to beating Wilde at the distance was Jelle Geens, who finished 22 seconds behind him at the French Riviera T100 Triathlon.
Tune in June 6th as another stacked group takes on its escape from Alcatraz.