Wilde Comeback Win At T100 London

New Zealander Hayden Wilde completed a scarcely believable return to elite racing to not only compete in but win the London T100 Triathlon. 

Just 98 days after being hit by a truck in Japan at the start of May, puncturing his lung, breaking six ribs and needing surgery on his left scapula, the man nicknamed ‘The Falcon’ flew past competition to take the tape in front of a roaring crowd at London’s Excel. 

The men’s 2km swim in Royal Victoria Dock saw a densely packed group led by Leo Bergere (FRA) and including Menno Koolhaas (NED), San Francisco T100 winner Rico Bogen (GER), Vancouver T100 winner Jelle Geens (BEL) and Mika Noodt (GER). 

Bergere led through the 1km Aussie exit but all eyes were on Olympic silver medallist and Singapore T100 winner Hayden Wilde, just 24 seconds back at the half-way mark after toeing the start line for the first time since a devastating bike crash that left him with a shattered shoulder blade, 6 broken ribs and a punctured lung.

The Kiwi star’s deficit was up to 57 seconds at the conclusion of the swim as Bergere led from the water in 25:13. Geens was first onto the bike, but was overhauled quickly by Bogen with Noodt, Bergere and Koolhaas close behind and pulling away from the rest.

With 15km under the wheels that leading quintet – headed by Bogen – held around 20 seconds to Gregory Banaby (ITA), but Wilde was already 6 places to the better and into 8th place, just 45 seconds from the race lead.

By 30km the race was seemingly shaping up to Bogen’s design, the German surging clear while Noodt led the charge. But Wilde – up 11 places – was closing fast.

With 15km to go, Bogen was up to a 45-second lead over Wilde, now in 2nd and himself holding 15 seconds to Noodt. That trio were well clear of the rest of the field, Mathis Margirier (FRA) best of the rest 1:20 behind Noodt.

As the kilometres clicked by, Bogen neared T2 with a lead in excess of 1 minute to Noodt and Wilde. The German was out of sight of his opponents as he got onto the 18km run but Wilde looked smooth and fast as the Kiwi began his hunt.

With 6km covered, Wilde had eased up on Bogen’s shoulder, using the larger German athlete to shield himself from the headwind along the waterfront before making the overtake on the hill up into Excel and past the cheering crowds. Behind, Noodt was holding steady in 3rd around 1 minute back with Geens moving up the order and picking up the pace.

As Wilde ticked off the first 10km with a 1 minute lead, Noodt caught and passed Bogen while Geens continued to make up time – the fastest runner on course.

On the final lap, Noodt remained 1 minute behind the Kiwi with Geens another minute behind, resigned to the podium’s bottom step. But there was no stopping Wilde – 98 days after his terrifying accident, the Kiwi was back to his winning ways, crossing the finish line full of emotion in 3:17:37. With victory in London, Wilde is 5th in the T100 Race To Qatar standings but from just 2 races and could still clinch the title this year.

An ecstatic Noodt claimed 2nd, the German’s 3rd podium of the year. This result also puts him 2nd in the T100 Race To Qatar standings.

Geens rounded out the podium with the day’s fastest run – enough to top the T100 Race To Qatar standings. 

Behind, Koolhaas got the better of Bogen to take 4th with Bogen rounding out the top-5.