Good morning, and happy weekend!!! 

Relax and take a deep breath. While it may have looked slightly touch-and-go for a little while there, you’ve made it through the working week, and now it’s Saturday – YOUR day to pull on the trainers, wetsuit, or cycling shoes and get out there for a km-clocking burst of endurance.

But before you head out, why not take a few minutes to have a read through our latest edition of the Daily Split Newsletter? We’ve got the latest news, previews and analysis, as well as advice and inspiration from some of the very best in the business, ready at your fingertips.

So if you want to know more about the return to London of Alex Yee and the WTCS, check out the latest on the drafting rules change, or pick up some tips on the gear you need to tackle your first triathlon, then scroll down below and let us give you something to think about ahead of today’s exertions.  

✍️ And remember, we would love to hear from you; this is YOUR newsletter, so please get in touch with any news, thoughts or pictures that you think might interest our ever-expanding readership. Enjoy…

🚴‍♂️ Drafting decision made: Such has been the clamour for change in recent weeks that it was no real surprise when IRONMAN announced their intention to increase the legal bike-drafting distance from 12 metres to 20 for 2026. Read HERE.

🚴🏻 Roth falls in line: A similar move was also announced by Challenge Family as it confirmed its biggest event – Challenge Roth – would also be switching from 12 to 20 metres, falling in line with all of the other races on its annual roster. Read HERE. 

🤰 Sophie raring to go: Sophie Coldwell has joined the WYN republic racing team as she gears up for her first triathlon season since giving birth to daughter Phoebe in May. She explains how she is raring to go in 2026. Read HERE. 

❄️ Winter Spine controversy: There has been a mixed reaction to news that next year’s Winter Spine Race is to see its seven-day time limit reduced by 12 hours, meaning 2027’s race will now finish at 8pm on the Saturday. Read HERE.

⛷️ Olympic honour for Legend: Ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter has been given the honour of being part of the 2026 Winter Olympics Torch Relay. The American superstar has won every race that matters, while raising the bar for women. Read HERE.

The stunning, sweeping sand dunes of southern Qatar delivered the perfect backdrop to last weekend’s first-ever hosting of the Samla 100 International multi-stage endurance race. A new event born out of the Samla 200K and brought to life thanks to a partnership with Visit Qatar, an international field battled through the shifting sands and under intense heat for an overall purse worth an impressive $300,000.

Described as a race which is ‘not for the faint-hearted’, the course is designed to test the endurance, strength and perseverance of the athletes as they tackle all six stages of a 3km swim, a 21km run, a 22km mountain bike, a 4km kayak, a 22km mountain bike and 28km run.

Triathletes Jess Learmonth and Will Draper both took part, with Learmonth finishing second and Draper coming in fourth.

Jess told TRI247: “The event was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I certainly should have trained more in the lead-up! The race took around eight hours, and it flew by, the mixture of riding through sand dunes, hopping on a kayak, nearly sinking. The support out on the course was amazing. People cheering you on at aid stations, driving through the desert in Land Cruisers, shouting support and more. I would love to do it again; it was such a mental battle that I’ve not had to experience before.”

And Draper told TRI247: “A lot of people wait until they retire to go into the adventure racing scene, but it was nice for me to experience it while still training for triathlon. The distance of this and the time of year meant it was a little bit more open for current professionals to have a go, and I think this will definitely grow and grow.”

Samla 100 Men’s Results
Bradley Weiss (RSA) 6:29:12
Henri Schoeman (RSA) 6:36:21
Milan Brons (NDL) 6:37:58

Samla 100 Women’s Results
Rachel Klamer (NDL) 8:09:11
Jess Learmonth (GBR) 8:30:19
Maria Nogueira (SPA) 8:40:01

We will bring you all of the news and reaction from the opening weekend of Challenge Family events in Tuesday’s edition of the Daily Split… but here is a quick preview ahead of what is one of the most unique events on the triathlon annual tour.

Challenge Sir Bani Yas takes place this weekend on one of the largest natural islands in the UAE, offshore from Abu Dhabi, with athletes enjoying a course which runs through a local wildlife reserve that is home to around 17,000 animals – such as Arabian oryx, gazelles, giraffes, hyenas, and cheetahs.

There are various races taking place over long, middle and Olympic distance, but the pro field will be focused on the middle-distance events which get underway this Saturday morning at 10.30am local time (6.30am GMT/ 7.30am CET/ 10.30pm Friday PST/ 12.30am CST/ 1.30am EST).

More than just a race, this is also an experience for both spectators and competitors as they get to enjoy the delights of the island and the pros will also be staying on a cruise ship which is moored off the coast.

The men: There is a very strong field lined up for the race, with Switzerland’s Jonathan Guisolan taking the No1 bib, Jonas Schomburg (GER) the No2, and Belgium’s Pieter Heemeryck in at No3. Other noteable names in the men’s field include Brit Kieran Lindars and Australian pair Caleb Noble and Josh Ferris.

The women: Heading up the women’s field are Aussies Ellie Salthouse and Natalie Van Coevorden, who are joined by Katrine Christensen (DEN), Justine Mathieux (FRA), and Merle Brunnee of Germany. British competitors Rhianne Hughes and Fenella Langridge are also named in the starting line-up.

You can read more on the Challenge Family website HERE.

The World Championship Triathlon Series will return to the UK for the first time in three years as superstar names like Olympic champion Alex Yee prepare to once again do battle through the streets of London. Taking place at the London T100 weekend on 25-26 July, it marks the long-awaited return of Olympic triathlon racing to the capital, which has not been a host city since 2015.

A collaboration between the Professional Triathletes Organisation (via their partnership with the sport’s international governing body World Triathlon), British Triathlon and UK Sport, the plan is to take triathlon mainstream and create a fresh buzz for the sport.

Earlier this month it was revealed how a new Triathlon World Tour would be launched in 2027, including the successful T100 series and a rebranded WTCS which will become the T50 World Championship Series – although for 2026, at least, the T100 will not be classed as a Pro race, with the WTCS taking its place.

Speaking at the launch this week, PTO CEO Sam Renouf outlined the plans for London: “This is an incredibly exciting time for triathlon. There is new investment, new ambition and a shared belief in the sport’s global potential. Bringing the WTCS back to London gives British athletes like Alex Yee the platform to build on the outstanding Olympic performances we saw in Paris.”

Renouf also emphasised the unique opportunity the London event presents: “We’ve worked closely with the London Marathon team on the first two editions of the London T100 to create an environment where amateurs and first-timers feel as welcome as the world’s best professionals. That’s why we genuinely believe the London T100 can become one of the biggest triathlon festivals anywhere in the world.”

“I remember leaning over the barriers and being inspired by the London 2012 Olympics – being able to witness that level of competition on my doorstep, especially the likes of the Brownlee brothers and Mo Farah, made me feel like a product of that… and I hope that this new WTCS race in London will help inspire the next generation in a similar way.” (Alex Yee, Olympic Gold Medalist, Paris 2024)

Our regular look at the world of triathlon on social media once again delivers the goods as we bring you the very best posts which serve to instruct, inspire and who knows, maybe even prove to be a little bit irresponsible!!!??? But as we have said before in this newsletter, when you are putting your heart, soul, blood, sweat and very often tears, into your endurance exploits, you need more than a little dash of foolishness and frivolity to get you through those dark times of doubt and despair.

Tips: Below, we have a fascinating post from Dr Thomas Mortelmans PhD who is a coach based in Switzerland. He offers a scientific approach to all things endurance and his posts are wonderfully illustrated in a series of graphics and images.

Inspiration: Our dose of inspiration comes from Francesco Kalbermatten, also in Switzerland, who shared this video urging athletes not to forget their ‘why’.

Funny: And finally, our fun post for the weekend is from Hayden Redmond, who is a physical therapist, and gave us an insight into some of his ‘unfiltered thoughts’ during an IRONMAN.

Our social media star, Emily Bell, has picked up on the incredible efforts of Kristian Blummenfelt who revealed this week that he had set a new world record VO2 score of 101.1 ML/KG. A test to determine the maximum amount of oxygen (in millilitres) your body can utilise per minute, per kilogram of body weight during intense exercise, the VO2 basically measures the ability of the body to transport oxygen from the air to the muscles and to then use that to create energy. 

It is often regarded as the ‘gold standard’ of cardiorespiratory fitness, with the higher number indicating greater aerobic endurance and better cardiovascular health. It is also supposed to be easier to set higher scores when the athlete is younger in age.

A score of 70-85 is regarded as impressive for an elite endurance athlete, while a non-athlete man and woman aged 20-29 could expect scores of 46.8 and 37.6, respectively. Blummenfelt’s incredible score of 101.1 beat the previous record of 97.5 achieved by 18-year-old Norwegian cyclist Oskar Svendsen. When you remember that Blu turns 32 on Valentine’s Day, you realise just how incredible his score, and his feat truly is. 👏👏👏

It is also a measure of the man, that he didn’t even announce the record… he just posted video footage in amongst a recap of his last month in pre-season training.

There is no doubting that Big Blu is in BEAST MODE ahead of the 2026 campaign.

Ready to take on a triathlon but not sure what kit you need? Look no further than this essential beginner triathlon gear guide to get you started.

When you’re just starting out in multisport, figuring out exactly what triathlon gear you need can feel overwhelming. What should you be prioritising for your first race? In our triathlon kit list for beginners we’ll guide you through the must-haves so you can get geared up for your first event.

Of course, once you get hooked on the adrenaline of endurance, it is likely that you will feel the urge to invest even more into your new-found obsession, but for now, we will dispense with those little extras, and simply focus on the necessities.

Remember, you need to spend a fortune right away… there is plenty of time for you to splash the cash later down the line once you’ve accepted that triathlon is in your blood.

🩱 Swimsuit or shorts/jammers: For your regular training sessions, as a minimum you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a comfortable swimsuit or a pair of swim jammers to wear to the local pool. Look for chlorine-resistant fabrics to make sure your swimwear can withstand your training.

🥽 Goggles: Goggles are another essential for training and on race day. It can take a bit of trial and error to find a pair that properly fit your face, but a well-fitting pair of goggles should sit comfortably around your eyes and you shouldn’t have to do them up really tightly to avoid leaking. A clear pair is fine for pool swimming, but if you’ll be swimming in open water it’s worth also having a smoke-tinted pair of goggles to act like sunglasses in sunny conditions.

💦 Swimming wetsuits: For a pool-based triathlon, you can either race in your swimming kit or wear a tri suit for the whole event. But for an open water race, unless the water is particularly warm a wetsuit will usually be compulsory. Make sure you choose a triathlon or open water swimming wetsuit, rather than a generic surfing wetsuit. A triathlon/swimming wetsuit will be specifically designed to offer the flexibility you need around the shoulders to swim comfortably, and you’ll be able to take it off quicker in transition. Wetsuits can chafe around the back of your neck, so it’s also worth adding some wetsuit lube to your kit bag for added comfort.
Read the TRI247 wetsuit guide for beginners to learn more HERE.

🚲 Bike: For your first triathlon, a top of the range, triathlon-specific racing bike isn’t necessary. In fact, you’ll find plenty of beginners taking on their first few triathlons on an entry-level mountain bike or a hybrid/commuting bike. But a road bike is an ideal choice if you enjoy cycling and want to have the perfect balance of speed and comfort.

💨 Puncture repair kit: Whatever bike you choose to tackle your first triathlon on, make sure you also have a basic puncture repair kit with you during both training and racing so you don’t end up stranded. Make sure your kit includes tyre levers – they’ll make it significantly easier to get the tyre off the rim and they can save your thumbs/fingers from nasty blisters! You’ll also want at least one spare inner tube and a small hand pump or gas canister to re-inflate the tube. It’s best to get a saddle bag (which attaches to your bike underneath the saddle) to carry it all in. It’s also worth stocking up on a few bike cleaning products to help you keep your trusty steed clean and in good working order for years to come.

⛑ Helmet: Every triathlon event will require participants to wear a cycling helmet during the bike leg. On race morning, you’ll have to put your helmet on when you arrive to set up your transition zone so that the event marshals can make sure your helmet fits and fastens correctly. For your first triathlon, you don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune on an expensive aero helmet (though if you want to save precious seconds it can make a difference). An entry-level lid will do the trick, just make sure it’s specifically designed for cycling so it offers the correct level of protection and fits comfortably.

🩱Tri suit: While it is entirely feasible to either wear cycling kit or running kit for a triathlon, we’d highly recommend treating yourself to a tri suit. You won’t have to stress about getting changed after the swim (particularly when a lot of local events won’t have a dedicated changing area) and you’ll be more comfortable on the bike and the run. Check out the TRI247 Tri Suit Buying Guide for more advice HERE.

👟 Running shoes: A comfortable, supportive and well-fitting pair of running shoes really are an essential for triathlon training and racing. Running is high impact, meaning the wrong footwear can quite quickly lead to injuries. Unless you’re planning to take part in XTERRA or off-road triathlons, a pair of road running shoes will do the trick. Ideally, look for a lightweight running shoe with good ventilation to keep your feet comfortable during warm weather training and racing.

🎽 Race belt: Almost every triathlon event will require participants to wear a race number during the bike and the run. For obvious reasons, you can’t really wear a paper number during the swim which means you’ll either have to spend time pinning it on to your tri suit in transition before you head off on the bike. Or, if you’re changing kit between the swim and the bike, lose time carefully trying to put your cycling/running top on without ripping your race number. This is why you need a race belt – an elasticated belt, usually fastened by a buckle, with attachments for your race number. It’s easy to slip on in transition. Have the number facing the back on the bike, then spin it round so your number is on your front for the run.

We all know and accept the dangers of competing in endurance sports. The fact that you have top athletes battling for supremacy and willing to take the risks to shave a mere second off their overall times, is proof enough that injuries can and will happen.

But spare a thought for cyclists Laurenz Rex, Davide Stella and Fabien Grellier who this week suffered a horrific crash as they were taking part in Stage 3 of the AlUla Tour in Saudi Arabia. Hurtling down a descent inside the final 15km at a blistering 106km/h, the riders collided and went careering off the road.

The shocking video, shared by SBS Sport, shows the incident and the aftermath as the riders were helped back to their feet by support staff with their lightweight skinsuits pretty much disintegrated off their bodies as a result of the friction with the tarmac.

We wish them all the best in their recovery… ❤️‍🩹

Every athlete has a story worth telling. Whether it’s your first sprint triathlon, a comeback from injury, a breakthrough race, or the quiet consistency that keeps you showing up – we want to hear it. We regularly feature athletes from the 247Endurance community in The Daily Split to spotlight real journeys, lessons learned, and moments that matter. We can’t wait to hear from you!

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