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T100 finds its rhythm in London

Huge crowds, a competitive field, an epic venue ... the T100 Series got the race it needed in London

Photo by: Kevin Mackinnon
July 27, 2024
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Sure, the Olympics have started, putting virtually every other sports endeavour on the back burner, but you wouldn’t have known that here in London today as the women put on quite a show for the huge crowds on hand for today’s T100 event. And, yes, some of the big stars in today’s race struggled (or weren’t here – Taylor Knibb was making her Olympic cycling debut in Paris), but, at the end of the day, we saw a worthy champion who made it clear she wasn’t taking anything for granted as she pushed to the line.

Make no mistake, all the T100 races we’ve seen this year have been competitive, but, as we pointed out last month when one of the T100’s biggest names, Lucy Charles-Barclay, skipped San Francisco to race Ironman Nice, we haven’t really seen the T100 potential come to life quite yet. And, sure, it might not be until later this year before we truly do see the true potential of the races (once the Olympians who have signed on and the Ironman folks have got themselves through Nice or Kona), but today sure felt a lot closer to what it’s supposed to be.

Just call her the Queen of the T100 distance

The day really felt like more of what the Professional Triathletes Organization has promised and worked so hard to create – a competitive field in one of the world’s biggest cities. While the icing on the cake would have been more of the classic downtown sites, we’ll settle for the great day of racing and the photos were were able to get:

They’re off!

It didn’t take long for local favourite Lucy Charles-Barclay to move to the front … with Sophie Coldwell on her feet.

Kat Matthews looked very colourful …
The “Aussie Exit” swim added some excitement to the first leg of the race.
The unique indoor transition area made for great spectating.
Lucy Charles-Barclay would quickly move to the front on the bike.
It was Imogen Simmonds, though, who would have the day’s best ride, leading the women into T2.
Canadian Tamara Jewett had a strong bike.
The mystery is solved – Chelsea Sodaro and Canyon parted ways mid season, so we weren’t sure what bike she would be on. Turns out it was a Pinarello!
Laura Philipp had a solid ride, despite coming off an impressive runner-up finish at Challenge Roth just under three weeks ago.
Imogen Simmonds led the way onto the run course.
With Charles-Barclay close behind. The reigning Ironman world champion would drop out of the race, though, with an Achilles issue.
Coming off the bike less than two minutes down, it seemed all but certain that Ashleigh Gentle would run her way to another win.
Chelsea Sodaro never seemed to be in the mix for the podium, but she had a solid day after a challenging few months.
Sophie Coldwell would make an impressive long-course debut, finishing seventh.
Lisa Norden was back to the site of her silver medal Olympic performance 12 years ago, just a few months after a miscarriage. She would hang tough for a 12th-place finish.
Tamara Jewett would run he way to sixth thanks to the day’s fastest run split.
Anne Haug, who has been sick since her incredible 8:02 finish at Challenge Roth, struggled today, but managed to finish 11th.
There was no touching Gentle, though, who excels at the T100 distance …
… She took her second T100 race of 2024 in impressive style.
Imogen Simmonds was thrilled with her runner-up finish.