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Hayden Wilde’s T100 streak ends after bizarre bike blunder in Dubai

A simple lap-counting error cost Wilde his dominance—and the podium. Now, the UAE race’s messy aftermath raises questions about elite triathlon’s fairness.

This picture looks like motorbike race. We see few people riding bikes and they wore helmets on...
This picture looks like motorbike race. We see few people riding bikes and they wore helmets on their heads and we see text at the bottom of the picture.

Hayden Wilde’s T100 streak ends after bizarre bike blunder in Dubai

Hayden Wilde's winning streak came to an end at the Dubai T100 triathlon, where an unexpected error during the cycle section led to a reshuffled race results. The Kiwi athlete, known for his dominance in the T100 series, unknowingly rode nine laps instead of eight on the bike course. This mistake added 8km to his overall distance, significantly affecting his final results. Wilde finished eighth, a stark contrast to his usual podium positions. The race, organized by the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and World Triathlon as part of the T100 Triathlon World Tour, saw several top athletes, including Mathis Margirier and Marten Van Riel, also caught in the confusion. More than 10 athletes ran one lap too few on the final leg, leading to protests and a review of the results. After a thorough investigation, officials declared Morgan Pearson the champion. Wilde and Van Riel expressed frustration with the race organization, with Wilde stating he was 'gutted' about the incident. Wilde's streak of five consecutive T100 wins, including victories in the French Riviera and Wollongong, was snapped in Dubai. Despite the setback, Wilde is set to race in the T100 London, three months after a brutal crash, aiming to regain his winning form. The Dubai race serves as a reminder of the challenges and unpredictability of endurance sports.

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