Morning endurance fans…

London delivered exactly what the World Triathlon Championship Series needed – packed grandstands, world-class racing and two champions who continue to set the standard. Matt Hauser and Cassandre Beaugrand underlined their status as the sport’s dominant forces with superb victories in the capital, throwing both world title races wide open as the countdown to the season finale gathers pace.

But while the racing stole the headlines, the biggest story away from the course may prove even more significant. The curtain has finally been lifted on triathlon’s new era, with fresh details emerging of the revamped global calendar that will reshape elite racing from 2027. As World Triathlon and the PTO move towards an integrated future, the sport is preparing for its biggest structural shake-up in decades.

Here’s what we have lined up for you today…

🥇 DISAPPOINTED: Sophie Evans believes she is good enough to challenge for a Great Britain spot at LA28 after the heartbreak of Paris 2024. Read HERE.

📺 CRUCIAL: Why securing free-to-air coverage on the BBC of last weekend’s WTCS London race was so important for the sport. Read HERE.

🇨🇦 LINE–UPS: The leading women in the T100 standings will all be in Vancouver next month... plus the reigning champ, Kate Waugh. Read HERE.

🎤 CELEBS: Pop star-turned-West End lead Harry Judd led the way as 5,000 amateurs took to centre stage at the T100 in London. Read HERE.

🥾 RECORD: German Katharina Hartmuth set an astonishing new women’s world record for the legendary 66-mile Bob Graham Round. Read HERE.

The big guns came out to play in London as Aussie powerhouse Matt Hauser and French superstar Cassandre Beaugrand took the tape in what was an incredible show of their immense strength and skills.

Having missed key races this season through a series of varying reasons, both are now climbing their respective rankings, with Hauser third in the men’s table behind Miguel Hidalgo and leader Vasco Vilaca.

Beaugrand has a little more work to do if she is to catch the leaders. But she is standing sixth and is very much within striking distance of leader Beth Potter and second-placed Tilda Månsson.

Here’s how the two races panned out at the weekend…

WOMEN’S RACE: France’s Beaugrand made it three wins out of three this season with a masterclass of triathlon racing as the sprint-distance race all came down to the 5km run.

Beaugrand appeared relaxed throughout as she moved to the head of affairs early on the run, taking over from pacesetting Taylor Knibb (USA) before burning off reigning world champion Lisa Tertsch (GER) and rising star Tilda Månsson (SWE), who were second and third, respectively.

Tilly Anema (GBR) led things out of the water, closely followed by Fanni Szalai (HUN) and then Knibb, with uber-swimmer Bianca Seregni (ITA) only fourth and Sophie Evans (GBR) in fifth – Beaugrand was unusually far back in 27th at +31s.

It was no surprise to see Knibb surge to the front on the bike as she and Anema powered to the head of the race, while great transitions from Beaugrand and Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) had helped them work their way into the chasing group.

On the fifth lap of the bike, there was heartbreak for Anema, who clipped a couple of cones and hit the tarmac hard in a devastating end to her race.

By the time Knibb reached T2, she had just 21 seconds to play with on the run, with all the rest of the big contenders eyeing a chance to catch the American on the run.

Her lead lasted less than one lap as Beaugrand, Tertsch and Månsson stepped on the gas and took control. Potter did finish strongly, but she was unable to reach the lead three as Beaugrand finished strongly ahead of Tertsch and Månsson.

WOMEN’S RESULTS: (750m / 20km / 5km)
🥇 Cassandre Beaugrand (FRA) 10:07 / 28:58 / 15:27 = 56:06
🥈 Lisa Tertsch (GER) 9:56 / 29:10 / 15:36 = 56:11 (+0:05)
🥉 Tilda Månsson (SWE) 10:11 / 28:49 / 15:42 = 56:21 (+0:15)

MEN’S RACE: Hauser and Vilaca fought out another terrific duel as the big Aussie once again came out on top in a thrilling finish to the men’s race at WTCS London.

The last time a top-tier race was held in the UK capital was back in 2015 when home favourite Alistair Brownlee came out on top. And many eyes were on current Olympic champion Alex Yee (GBR), but he again endured another tough swim and bike before digging deep to finish in 14th.

Up front, the podium was completed by Csongor Lehmann (HUN).

It was Hauser who led things out early in the 750m swim in the Royal Docks, but by halfway Márk Dévay (HUN) had powered his way to the front in trademark style.

And Hauser was overhauled by Jules Rethoret (FRA) for second on what was his WTCS debut. Dévay was out of the water first in 8:47, just ahead of Rethoret and Hauser, respectively.

The bike leg saw a lead group of 13 athletes pull clear of the field, with Hauser, Vilaca, Hidalgo and Lehmann all in amongst the front riders.

It was no surprise they were over a minute ahead of the chasers by T2 when, by this time, the focus was entirely on those front 13.

That group was soon whittled down to another straight head-to-head between series leader Vilaca and the reigning champion Hauser… with the Aussie once again proving too strong and taking the win.

MEN’S RESULTS: (750m / 20km / 5km)
🥇 Matt Hauser (AUS) 8:50 / 26:01 / 14:09 = 50:28
🥈 Vasco Vilaca (POR) 8:57 / 25:55 / 14:09 = 50:31 (+0:03)
🥉 Csongor Lehmann (HUN) 8:59 / 25:53 / 14:17 = 50:36 (+0:08)

Fan favourite Sam Long returned to winning ways – the 22nd of his pro career – and Olympian Kirsten Kasper made it an American double on home soil at IRONMAN 70.3 Boise in Idaho.

The latest stop on the IRONMAN Pro Series saw Long produce an incredible bike leg to tee up his win, taking the tape nearly five minutes ahead of compatriot Ari Klau, with Blake Harris (CAN) just getting the better of short-course legend Vincent Luis (FRA) for third.

And in the women’s race it all boiled down to the closing stages of the run as Kasper’s short-course speed saw her overhaul Hannah Berry (NZL) and Hanne De Vet (BEL).

Tyler Mislawchuk (CAN) and Zuzana Michaličková (SVK) took victory at Supertri Toronto, the third and final regular season round of the Supertri Pro Series, with both winners producing the fastest runs of the day to claim their titles and settle the last qualification places for the $800,000 final in Jersey.

Henry Räppo (EST) and Bridget Theunissen (RSA) claimed victory at the 11th edition of Challenge Turku, mastering challenging wet and rainy conditions to cross the finish line in 3:35:10 and 4:12:12, respectively.

In the men’s race, Räppo exited the unique swim course, surrounded by Turku’s historic ships, first in 22:34. Henrik Goesch (FIN), Gabriel Sandör (SWE) and Jakub Maliszewski (POL) followed within 10 seconds.

By the halfway point of the bike, Germany’s Jonathan Homberg had worked his way to the front and led for the remainder of the ride. Despite recording the fastest bike split of 1:56:54, Homberg was unable to break away from Räppo, Sandör and Goesch. The quartet reached T2 separated by less than 20 seconds.

Räppo regained the lead just two kilometres into the run and steadily increased his advantage. Behind him, Goesch moved into second while Sandör held third for much of the run. Räppo crossed in 3:35:10.

In the women’s race, Great Britain’s Jasmine Holmes led the swim in 25:02, with Maaike Vooren (NED) and Bridget Theunissen (RSA) all within seven seconds.

Theunissen wasted no time on the bike, attacking early to establish a healthy lead over Holmes and Vooren, who continued to ride together. Heading into T2, Theunissen had extended her lead to three minutes after recording a 2:14:44 bike split.

The South African remained in control throughout the run, comfortably maintaining her advantage to claim victory in 4:12:12. Holmes finished second in 4:15:12, while Vooren completed the podium in 4:18:15.

Tour de France fans were spoilt for choice in Paris when it came to drinking in the drama of cycling’s greatest race.

Should their attention be all on Tadej Pogacar’s crowning as the joint most successful rider of all time, with five Tour titles?

But then what about Mathieu van der Poel’s superhero-style victory on the final stage, climaxing magnificently on the Champs-Élysées?

Or would the focus be on the sheer passion of a huge, fervent crowd which lined the streets on Montmartre and around Sacré-Cœur?

One thing is for sure… Pogacar, the rarely beaten 27-year-old Slovenian, can now be widely regarded as cycling’s greatest of all time.

Read more on the BBC website HERE.

The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and World Triathlon have revealed the first official details of the Triathlon World Tour, including the initial calendars for the T50 and T100 World Championship Tours in 2027.

The announcement marks the latest step in the planned restructuring of professional triathlon, with the existing World Triathlon Championship Series rebranded as the T50 World Championship Tour and the current T100 Triathlon World Tour becoming the T100 World Championship Tour.

Those two series will form the highest tier of professional racing within the new Triathlon World Tour structure, with official world champions crowned at World Championship Finals over both distances.

The rollout is taking place in two stages, with this initial announcement covering the branding and opening World Championship Tour calendars.

The remaining Championship and Challenger events, alongside further information on qualification systems and prize money, are due to be revealed at the World Triathlon Congress in Pontevedra on September 23.

That announcement will include details of increased prize money for the T50 World Championship Tour.

The concept was first announced by the PTO and World Triathlon in December 2025 in response to what the organisations described as a fragmented competition and commercial landscape within the sport.

It aims to create a clearer and more unified structure that brings the T50 and T100 World Championship Tours together under a single global brand.

A second tier of events, known as Challenger races, will provide a qualification pathway into the two World Championship Tours.

That level will incorporate the former World Triathlon Cup circuit alongside several Challenge Family events acquired by the PTO earlier this year.

The long-term ambition is for events throughout the Triathlon World Tour to feature professional racing, broadcast coverage and mass-participation amateur competitions.

The initial T50 calendar features nine events, beginning in Abu Dhabi in March and including visits to Samarkand, Yokohama, Rome, Los Angeles and London.

Hamburg will stage the T50 World Championship Finals in September, although two further events in Weihai and Tauranga are currently scheduled to take place after the Finals.

The T100 season is due to begin on the Gold Coast in March before heading to Singapore, San Francisco, Vancouver, Marbella and Saudi Arabia.

The Qatar Triathlon World Championship Finals will conclude the season in December, while a French Riviera event is also listed with its date still to be confirmed.

With the qualification period for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games entering an increasingly important phase, World Triathlon president Antonio Arimany acknowledged that the organisations could have waited before introducing the new system.

However, he said the changes were too significant to delay.

“Our sport was really fragmented from a competition and commercial perspective, which was holding it back,” said Arimany. “We could have waited until the end of the current Olympic qualification before making the changes, but the changes we’re making were too important to wait.

“By introducing the Triathlon World Tour now, we are creating one unified structure and brand which can unify as many events as possible, creating a win-win situation for all of us in the sport.”

Arimany said the partnership was intended to provide better opportunities for athletes and national federations while supporting the long-term growth of triathlon.

“This agreement matters because it’s about growing our sport for the long term,” he added. “Athletes and national federations deserve more and better racing opportunities, and that’s exactly what the Triathlon World Tour is designed to deliver.”

Few things can ruin a long ride faster than a burning sensation in your feet. Commonly known as ‘hot foot’, this uncomfortable condition affects many cyclists and triathletes, particularly during longer training rides and endurance races.

Hot foot usually develops gradually, beginning with tingling or numbness before progressing to burning pain across the ball of the foot or toes. While it can be frustrating, it is rarely caused by a serious injury.

WHAT CAUSES IT? Several factors can contribute to ‘hot foot’ during long rides. The most common include the following:

TIGHT SHOES: Cycling shoes should fit securely without compressing your feet. Shoes that are too tight may restrict circulation, compress nerves and increase pressure across the forefoot.

This can worsen during longer rides. Many cyclists find that loosening their shoe straps slightly after the first hour improves comfort.

It’s normal for feet to swell slightly during prolonged exercise. As swelling increases, previously comfortable shoes may begin pressing on nerves and soft tissues.

CLEAT POSITION MATTERS: Cleat placement changes how force is distributed across your foot. Cleats positioned too far forward may increase pressure beneath the ball of the foot. Moving the cleats slightly rearward often helps spread pressure more evenly across the foot. If you’re making adjustments, change one variable at a time and test the results during shorter rides before race day, as this may be the reason why you are not getting faster despite training a lot.

POOR BIKE FIT: An incorrect bike position may place unnecessary stress on your feet. Factors that influence foot pressure include:

A professional bike fit often resolves recurring ‘hot foot’ problems by improving overall pedalling mechanics. Regular bike inspections also help prevent discomfort.

PRESSURE: Constantly pushing down hard on the pedals without varying foot pressure can contribute to discomfort over time, so focus on:

WEATHER: Hot weather often increases foot swelling and discomfort, with warm conditions increasing sweating, causing feet to expand and reducing
overall comfort inside cycling shoes.

Wearing breathable socks and well-ventilated shoes may help reduce overheating during summer rides.

TOP TIPS:

Best of luck to Paralympic legend Mohamed Lahna, who will be closing in on the final stages of his epic triathlon across America this week.

He has already swum around Manhattan Island, before then cycling the 300,000 miles to Las Vegas… And now he is just days away from completing his mammoth trek by running into Los Angeles, where he hopes to have raised $250,000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation and Save the Children charities.

Born with a proximal femoral focal deficiency, a rare congenital condition that left him without a right femur, he has spent much of his life redefining what is possible after initially being told that he would never be able to live independently.

You can follow Mohamed’s progress and get information on how to donate to his appeal on his website HERE and his Instagram page HERE.

Together, we go the distance. — @247_endurance 🏃‍♂️🚴‍♀️🏊‍♂️