Dubai:More than 2,000 athletes representing 57 nationalities have signed up for the third edition of the Dubai T100 Triathlon Weekend, set to take place from 13th to 15th November at Al Mamzar.
According to Emirates News Agency, the event is supported by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and the Dubai Sports Council and will relocate to Al Mamzar for the first time as the T100 Race to Qatar nears its conclusion. Notably, over a third of the registered participants have competed in previous editions. Last year's event saw participation from over 3,000 triathletes and drew more than 15,000 spectators.
This year, the amateur program will introduce an Olympic-distance triathlon, consisting of a 1.5-kilometre swim, a 40-kilometre bike ride, and a 10-kilometre run. Additionally, there will be relay options for both the Olympic and Sprint distances. Other events include the Sprint, with a 750-metre swim, a 20-kilometre bike ride, and a 5-kilometre run, and a 100-kilometre race featuring a 2-kilometre swim, an 80-kilometre bike ride, and an 18-kilometre run.
Sam Renouf, CEO of the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), highlighted that the strong registration numbers indicate growing interest in the event. He added that relocating to Al Mamzar provides a unified venue for the entire race weekend. The addition of Olympic distance and relay options is expected to increase participation, while the professional competition will see leading female triathletes compete as the T100 Race to Qatar approaches its end.
This year's professional race in Dubai will be exclusively for women under the revised T100 competition format, with 20 of the world's top female professional triathletes anticipated to compete. The final competitor list will be announced in the coming weeks. The men's and women's professional fields will later unite for the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final from 10th to 12th December.
Organisers are also encouraging greater participation from Emirati women and girls in the Sprint, Olympic, relay, and 100-kilometre events. The Dubai T100 is part of the tenth edition of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, which runs from 31st October to 29th November under the 30x30 initiative.
Saeed Hareb, Secretary-General of Dubai Sports Council, remarked that the Dubai T100 Triathlon Weekend has become a significant event on Dubai's sporting calendar. He noted that moving the event to Al Mamzar will highlight another unique area of the emirate to international audiences, aligning with the Dubai Fitness Challenge's goals of blending world-class competition with opportunities for diverse age groups and skill levels to engage in sports.
Spectator entry to Al Mamzar will be free throughout the race weekend.