Gentle Conquers Singapore Heat To Win T100 Battle

Saturday 13 April 2024

In the unforgiving Singapore heat and humidity, defending champion Ashleigh Gentle conquered not just the heat, but also any self doubts, to come from behind on the run and win an epic T100 battle with Lucy Charles-Barclay.

Ashleigh dug very deep in the latter stages of the 100km race to wipe out a 5 minute 33 second deficit coming out of T2 to beat Lucy as well as surprise podium finisher Els Visser.

How The Race Unfolded:

Even in sweltering conditions, there was no surprise to see Charles-Barclay quickly take to the front in Marina Bay. As in the Miami T100, it was Lucy Buckingham on her feet while Rebecca Clarke rounded out the three-woman group. That trio pushed ahead to create a lead of 1:07 out of the water after the 2km swim.

On the 80km bike course, it was the British pairing of Charles-Barclay and Buckingham who put the hammer down. Gentle soon moved through to third with the gap standing at around 2:45 by halfway. Meanwhile, 2022 Ironman world champion Chelsea Sodaro, who finished third in Singapore last year, was forced to retire from the race.

With just under 30km to go, Miami T100 Champion India Lee put in a surge to overtake Gentle and move into third, with T100 debutant Imogen Simmonds and Lucy Byram – who was sixth in Miami – close by. While Lee subsequently slowed her pace, losing 30 seconds to the group, there were problems up front for Buckingham as she appeared to cramp in the stifling heat with 18km to go, allowing Charles-Barclay to retake the lead.

Meanwhile, Visser was the big mover up the leaderboard, with the Dutchwoman powering inexorably through the field to move past 11 athletes and claim third during the final lap. Despite this showing, Charles-Barclay entered T2 just ahead of Buckingham but with 5:03 to Visser and in the box seat for her first T100 title.

Gentle was just a little further back with 5:33 to make up as she headed out onto the run. The Australian made short work of getting herself back into the podium position by overtaking Visser and her charge didn’t stop there. While Charles-Barclay was running well, Gentle was moving with stunning rapidity in spite of increasing temperatures and rising humidity.

After 8km, the Australian had slashed her deficit to overtake Buckingham and move into second. Continuing to chase Charles-Barclay, Gentle nudged the gap to 1:01 going into the final 6km lap. From there, it was a nail biting competition as Gentle hunted Charles-Barclay, finally making a decisive surge to pass her with 4km to take the lead for the first time in the race.

Meanwhile, Visser continued her hard work in the fight for a podium finish to pull past Buckingham into third, but she was still close to 4 minutes behind Charles-Barclay,

Elated and exhausted, Gentle crossed the line in 3:44:23 to take a powerful victory that will surely send a message to the other T100 athletes. The Australian secured a USD$25,000 (S$34,027) paycheck and the maximum 35 points to start her 2024 T100 Triathlon World Tour season.

Charles-Barclay followed her 2nd place in the Miami T100 with another 2nd place, taking US$16,000 and 28 points to take her series tally to 56 and put her at the top of the T100 standings.

Visser was the dark horse wildcard, completing the podium in style, earning US$12,000, 25 points and plenty of new fans.

In the closing stages, New Zealand’s Amelia Watkinson showed that consistency prevails, overtaking Buckingham near the finish to clinch fourth, with Buckingham rounding out the top five.

Singapore T100 Women’s Pro Race Standings:

1. Ashleigh Gentle – 3:44:23
2. Lucy Charles-Barclay – 3:45:58
3. Els Visser – 3:51:38
4. Amelia Watkinson – 3:52:03
5. Lucy Buckingham – 3:52:10

P.T.O. (Photo: James Mitchell)


Coming Triathlon Events View all

Challenge Sir Bani Yas

Sir Baniyas Island, United Arab Emirates

Kiwiman Xtreme

New Plymouth, New Zealand

Strongman

Miyakojima, Okinawa, Japan

Challenge Taiwan

Taitung City, Taiwan, China

Himalayan Xtreme

Pokhara, Nepal

Grizzlyman Xtri

Beskydy, Czech Republic

Mediterranean Epic

Oropesa del Mar, Spain

Pirene Xtreme

Cellers, Lleida, Spain

FrenchMan

Carcans, France

AlpsMan

Annecy, France

Ironman Taiwan

Penghu, Taiwan, China

Ironman Texas

The Woodlands, Texas, United States

Ironman Australia

Port Macquarie, Australia

Ironman Lanzarote

Canary Islands, Spain

Ironman Brazil

Florianopolis, Brazil

Ironman Hamburg

Hamburg, Germany

Ironman Cairns

Cairns, Australia

Ironman Austria

Klagenfurt, Austria

Ironman Les Sables d Olonne

Les Sables d’Olonne, France

Ironman France

Nice, France

Alpha Win Napa Valley

Napa Valley, CA, United States

Challenge Florianopolis

Florianopolis, Brazil

Setubal Triathlon

Setubal, Portugal

Challenge Cerrado

Brasília, Brazil

Portocolom International

Mallorca, Spain

Challenge Mogan Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria, Spain

Alpha Win Lake San Antonio

Lake San Antonio CA, United States

Cannes International

Cannes, France

Wildflower

Lake San Antonio CA, United States

Challenge Gallipoli

Gallipoli, Turkey

70.3 Oceanside

Oceanside, California, United States

70.3 Texas

Galveston Island, Texas, United States

70.3 San Juan

San Juan, Argentina

70.3 Brasilia

Brasília, Brazil

70.3 Peru

Lima, Peru

70.3 Valencia

Valencia, Spain

70.3 Cap Cana

Cap Cana, Dominican Republic

70.3 Venice jesolo

Venice Jesolo, Italy

70.3 Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

70.3 Mallorca

Mallorca, Spain

Triathlon News & Media Blogs View all

IRONMAN Pro Series 70.3 Oceanside Start List

IRONMAN Pro Series 70.3 Oceanside Start List

Thursday 03 Apr 2025 [Triathlon News]

On April 5, over 100 of the world’s top professional triathletes will converge in Southern California to compete in the first stop of the 2025 IRONMAN Pro Series™ in North America at the Athletic Brewing IRONMAN® 70.3® Oceanside triathlon. This iconic early season race will once again pit some of the top talent in the sport against each other in the birthplace of triathlon. The Athletic Brewing IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside triathlon will offer a total prize purse of $50,000 USD, more

CHALLENGE Sir Bani Yas Start List

CHALLENGE Sir Bani Yas Start List

Thursday 03 Apr 2025 [Triathlon News]

Triathlon history is about to be rewritten in the UAE as Challenge Sir Bani Yas makes its highly anticipated debut on 5 April 2025. It marks the first time the region will host a race over the 226km distance, setting the stage for an unforgettable endurance showdown. more

Magnus Ditlev (DEN) & Anne Reischmann (DEU) Take Wins at IRONMAN South Africa

Magnus Ditlev (DEN) & Anne Reischmann (DEU) Take Wins at IRONMAN South Africa

Sunday 30 Mar 2025 [Triathlon News]

Magnus Ditlev of Denmark and Anne Reischmann of Germany are victorious in the first full distance IRONMAN® triathlon of the 2025 IRONMAN Pro Series. In an exciting day of racing at the 20th anniversary of ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa African Championship triathlon, Ditlev and Reischmann walked away with 5,000 Pro Series points, $28,000 USD each, and a regional championship title to boot. more

IRONMAN South Africa Pro Series Start List

IRONMAN South Africa Pro Series Start List

Friday 28 Mar 2025 [Triathlon News]

On Sunday 30 March, 70 of the world’s top professional triathletes will converge in Nelson Mandela Bay for the very first IRONMAN Pro Series™ race on the African continent. The ISUZU IRONMAN® South Africa African Championship triathlon will offer professional athletes a total prize purse of USD $175,000, with the male and female winner each enjoying a USD $28,000 pay day as well as 5,000 IRONMAN Pro Series points. more

Jelle Geens (BEL) & Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) Claim IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong Titles

Jelle Geens (BEL) & Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) Claim IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong Titles

Sunday 23 Mar 2025 [Triathlon News]

The IRONMAN® 70.3® Geelong triathlon launched the 2025 IRONMAN Pro Series™ with a bang, with close racing and tight battles highlighting the day, with reigning IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Jelle Geens and Australia’s Natalie Van Coevorden the best athletes on the day as they claimed victory in the and men’s and women’s races. As winners of IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong, Geens and Van Coevorden will each take home USD $7,500 and 2,500 IRONMAN Pro Series points. more

Facebook


YouTube


Sign up for FREE NEWSLETTER:

We will never share your email address or spam you.