Haug hopes T100 Triathlon World Tour will attract best athletes ahead of London race

By Ayisha Gulati

Anne Haug lauded the T100 World Tour as the future of triathlon and the perfect series to bring together the best triathletes in the world.

The German recently set the world record for the fastest-ever women’s Ironman time on home soil at Challenge Roth at just over eight hours, during which she also set the record for fastest female marathon in a triathlon.

Following her Ironman success, the 41-year-old is making her T100 series debut in London on Saturday and she believes the 100km triathlon distance will bring the best in the world together.

“This series means a lot to the sport of triathlon,” Haug said. “It’s the perfect mixture of short course and long course, so every triathlete in the world will end up at this distance.

“Racing against the long and short course athletes makes it really interesting and I’m really looking forward to the race series because I love the speed.

“I come from short course and I’m really passionate about this distance, so I hope I’ll be in competitive shape on Saturday to give it my best shot.”

The T100 Triathlon World Tour 2024 features 40 contracted athletes competing in eight events around the world in a 100km triathlon distance.

London is the fourth event, with Miami, Singapore and San Francisco completed and Ibiza, Las Vegas, Dubai, and a Grand Final in the Middle East still to come.

Haug praised the frequency of races in the series and the variety in the courses around the world, which enables athletes to keep improving.

“Every athlete has strengths and weaknesses,” she added. “Especially on long course, there’s pretty much just one race a year when you meet the best athletes in their best form.

“So, it’s nice to have more races where you constantly compete with the best in the world.

“It allows you to improve yourself as an athlete – you have to face the best possible competition to get the best out of yourself and to have it more often in the year benefits everyone.

“It’s great to have so many different races, where everyone has the chance to show what they’re capable of.

“Some can’t handle heat, some are good in cold conditions, flat courses, hilly courses. If you want to win the series, you have to be good in all conditions. And that makes it exciting.

“It’s nice to see new locations and meet the same people again. It makes you feel like a family and meeting up with your family all over the world.”

“I think the T100 has a bright future because it attracts every triathlete. This is a great format.

“No matter which distance you originally come from, you will have the best athletes in the world meeting at the T100 and that spices it up a lot.

“The better athletes we can get in, the better the quality will be. The series will unite all triathletes and that’s a great thing.”

Haug is unsure about how she will fare with the course, but she is excited to race in London, with fond memories of competing in the Olympics here in 2012.

“As a small and light athlete, my strengths are usually the hills,” she said. “But I can’t see any hills here!

“But triathlon is a very complex sport. The run always depends on how deep you have to dig on the bike, which has a big impact on the run.

“I hope I can run fast and show what I’m capable of, but you have to see how the race unfolds.

“It’s crazy being back in London, it’s a real flashback. I raced the Olympics here 12 years ago and I know how sport crazy the whole city is and how interested they are in triathlon.

“So, I’m really looking forward to the race and I think we will have great crowds around. If it’s a little bit like the Olympics 12 years ago, it will be amazing.”

The first London T100 Triathlon weekend on 27-28 July is entirely free for spectators and includes a dedicated T100 Watch Party venue at the ExCel London Exhibition Centre for the very first time. Where fans will be able to see the world’s best triathletes come past at least 10 times during the 100km race format (2km swim, 80km run, 18 km swim). As well as being able to follow them live, out on the course, thanks to a big screen.