This weekend sees the final race in the T100 Triathlon World Tour in Dubai. The women race at 1:30 pm local time (4:30 am EST), with the men heading off at the same time on Sunday.
The race in Dubai was supposed to be a required race for all the athletes contracted with the PTO for the series, but while the race remains stacked, a few of the sport’s biggest names won’t be on the start line this weekend.
Women we’ll miss
Lucy Charles-Barclay
One of the women who had highlighted the T100 contracted athletes was the 2023 Ironman World Champion Lucy Charles-Barclay. The British star has struggled with injuries throughout the year and had to pull out of the world champs in Nice due to some calf issues. She posted on Instagram earlier this week that in addition to taking time off to rest her calf “I’ve taken the time to really understand my situation and complete the necessary testing for my celiac diagnosis—much of which wasn’t possible during intense training. I’m optimistic about the future, and we now have a much clearer understanding, though it’s hard not to be on the start line.”
Charles-Barclay will be on hand to help with the race-coverage commentary, and her calf has recovered enough to be able to take part in Saturday’s 5 km run run.
Chelsea Sodaro
After burying herself in Nice to nail the final spot on the podium, Sodaro has decided she needs to call it a season.
“This year has brought a lot of change and a lot of growth,” she wrote on Instagram. “Big moved. Big sponsor change. New coach. World Champs Podium.ins It’s been a ride,” the 2022 Kona champ wrote on Instagram this week. “My body is telling me that it’s time for a rebuild so I’m going to listen.”
Sodaro will likely be part of the coverage crew for the race this weekend, too.
Emma Pallant-Browne
The British star is also dealing with an injury and has been forced to pull out of the race this weekend.
“Sadly I am having to pull out of Dubai T100,” she wrote on Instagram. “Not an easy choice to miss the Grand Final but after a scope on Wednesday showed the tear and bleeding in my gut we have to let it heal before I can push hard again. In hindsight I should have done this after San Fran but was desperate to survive to the end of the season. Trying to look at the positives, this has forced an earlier end of season break which means I can start my 2025 build earlier.”
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Men who won’t make the start line
Sam Laidlow
The 2023 Ironman World Champ took an impressive win at the T100 London race, but had a tough day at the Ironman World Championship in Kona last month. He’s also been forced to pull out of the race because of an injury:
“Sad to announce I am withdrawing from the T100 Grand Final this weekend,” the Frenchman wrote on Instagram. “I took a few risks trying to bring my run game up between Kona and now, but my body simply said stop and has left me with a 3cm grade 2 muscle tear in my hamstring.”
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Daniel Baekkegard
The Dane reporte on Instagram that he’s “devastated to announce that I won’t be on the start line at the T100 Final in Dubai this weekend. I’ve been struggling with a virus for the last 2 weeks which force to me to call it a season early.”
Mika Noodt
The German hasn’t been on any of the early start lines – he crashed while training in Flagstaff and is now rehabbing his shoulder. It’s a tough break for Noodt – since he’s not racing there’s little chance he’ll maintain his position in the top-10 of the standings, which would have guaranteed him a T100 contract next year.
Stacked field still on hand
Yes, we are fully aware that there’s an impressive field still on hand to compete for the huge amount of prize money up for grabs this weekend – stay tuned, we’re working on that story now!
The post Big names who are out for the T100 Final in Dubai appeared first on Triathlon Magazine Canada.