Belgium dynamo Jelle Geens delivered a sensational run leg to blitz a world class field and win the Vancouver T100 Triathlon. Geens beat compatriot and last year’s T100 World Champion Marten Van Riel into second place, with German Mika Noodt continuing his good form from San Francisco and coming third again, despite a drafting penalty on the bike. 

Key Quotes 

Jelle Geens: 

“That was tough! I didn’t have the best start in the swim. The pace wasn’t too hard but there was a bit of a gap. On the bike, the big guys like Kyle, Marten and Mika went to the front first and it was hard for me and then I got properly dropped. I got lucky that Mika got a penalty and I was able to hang onto him and didn’t lose too much ground.”

“It was a hard race. It’s a bit like it was in my first T100 race in Lake Las Vegas [last year] and on the run I had to go for my life. I’m very pleased with the last two races after Singapore and getting two good scores on the board for the Race To Qatar. I need two more [scores] before the final and there are lots of opportunities. But I’m aiming for the highest, which is two more wins. It’s very open still, with lots of races to go, but this is a very good step for me.”

“I’m hoping Hayden [Wilde} will be back at some point. We saw how strong he was in Singapore and will be back to fight ahead of Qatar. Guys like Marten and Rico, Kyle and Mika, you can never write off. So I’m going to take it race by race.”

Marten Van Riel:

“It was a hard swim, because there was a current pushing us either into the buoys or away from the buoys. Then topped off with a very tough run, but I’m very happy to be on the podium again.”

“I was leading at the start of the bike and it took a long time for someone to challenge me. I thought, damn, I must be strong in aero today! So I was happy with that.”

“I think Rico and Jelle have really shown their cards in the last couple of races and I think I’m just not quite there yet. I got a little bit sick on altitude training in the preparation [for this race] and I feel and know that my run isn’t quite 100%. To be this close to Jelle on the run, who’s one of the best in the sport is actually good for my morale. My bike is really good at the moment so I’m confident I’ve got more in the tank for the Race To Qatar. We’ve seen the top athletes get good scores and I hope Hayden returns as soon as possible because he really showed up in Singapore for the first race, so I don’t count him out at all. It’s going to be very interesting, especially with double points for the final in Qatar.”

Mika Noodt:

“The penalty was my own mistake, so I was pretty angry with myself. But I’m super, super happy with third place. Especially given the psychological aspect of it after finishing third in San Francisco and following that with another good performance. I’m feeling good and super pleased with how the season is going so far.”

How The Race Unfolded 

The men’s race got underway with athletes sprinting from the beach into Vancouver’s beautiful but chilly waters. Morgan Pearson (USA) was the main protagonist during the swim, in good company with fresh Wildcard Miguel Hidalgo (BRA), Mark Dubrick (USA) and 2024 T100 World Champion Marten Van Riel (BEL). 

That quartet was followed by a group of 10, all within 25 seconds of the lead and including winner and 3rd place getters from the San Francisco T100 – Rico Bogen (GER) and compatriot Mike Noodt (GER) – plus 2024 Lake Las Vegas T100 winner Jelle Geens (BEL) and Kyle Smith (NZL) – second overall in 2024.

The swim stretched out further on lap 2, with Pearson leading out the water and onto the hilly 80km bike course. Van Riel wasted no time getting to the front, no doubt keen to distance uber-biker Bogen. That was to no avail though – by 15km in, Bogen was in 2nd place and then eased into the lead, with Noodt, Smith and Geens within a few seconds, young triathlon phenom Panagiotis Bitados (GRE) latching onto the back of the group.

Smith was next to lead the race, keeping the pressure up with 20km under the wheels, forcing Geens and Bitados off the lead pack. By halfway, the four leaders – Van Riel, Bogen, Noodt and Smith – had a 40-second lead to the chase group of Geens, Bitados, Antonio Benito Lopez (ESP) and Hidalgo. While they were losing time to the sharp end of the race, they were enjoying a buffer of over 90 seconds to the rest of the field.

With just over 30km remaining, Noodt was handed a 1-minute penalty for drafting and exited the penalty tent just as the chase group went by. That left Bogen on the front with Smith and Van Riel – their lead teetering around 60 seconds.

With Noodt determined to get back to the front, by 10km to go, the German had clawed his way back within 30 seconds having managed to drop Geens and Benito Lopez – two stellar runners – off his wheel. 

There was drama at 7km to go – a 1-minute drafting penalty for Smith, meaning the Kiwi had to watch Bogen and Van Riel head off to T2 without him. Behding the leading pair, Noodt was 29 seconds down, Geens another 10 seconds back, Benito Lopez at 1 minute and Smith 1:13 back despite his penalty.

With Bogen and Van Riel running stride for stride, Geens was soon up to 3rd place, 20 seconds back after 2km and closing on the leaders. The catch came at 4km and by 5km he’d taken off with Van Riel – Bogen unable to answer the footspeed of the Belgian pair.

By halfway, Van Riel and Geens continued to trade turns, Bogen was 40 seconds back and Smith was running shoulder-to-shoulder with Noodt. With 7.3km to go, Geens put in a surge to drop his compatriot, Van Riel grimacing and unable to stick with the pace.

Smith and Noodt – both penalty-servers – had Bogen in their sight with 5km remaining, Bogen valiantly holding on as they passed, the trio trailing 1:20 behind Van Riel and 1:40 behind Geens.

As in San Francisco, Noodt proved himself a strong closer, powering clear of Smith and Noodt on the final lap with around 2km to go to secure 3rd on the road.

Ahead, Geens was imperious. After a DNF in the Singapore T100, 2nd in the San Francisco T100, the Belgian stormed across the finish line in 3:12:49, moving up 4 places to 2nd in the T100 Race To Qatar standings.

Van Riel, 2nd and 50 seconds behind his compatriot, nevertheless moved to the top spot in the standings. Taking his 2nd podium in as many races, Noodt came home 3rd despite his earlier penalty to hold his 4th place in the standings.

A late-charging Benito Lopez came home 4th with Smith held onto 5th place just ahead of Bogen.

T100 weekends are ‘festivals of multisport’ and feature a range of opportunities for amateur athletes of all levels to get involved. 1,500 amateurs started the day with a 5k Sun Up community run at 0700, followed by a yoga experience powered by lululemon. Tomorrow, another 1,500 will take part in a 100km (2km swim, 80km bike, 18 run) and a Sprint distance (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run). To register interest to take part in next year’s Vancouver T100 Triathlon visit: https://t100triathlon.com/vancouver/participate/#register-interest

The battle for T100 Race To Qatar points now moves to London next on 9-10 August.