Switzerland’s Julie Derron will return to defend her Dubai T100 title on November 14, entering the race as the leader of the women’s T100 Race to Qatar standings.
The Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallist will compete against a strong international field at Al Mamzar, with the race marking the final opportunity for women to collect ranking points before the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final, scheduled for December 10-12 in Doha.
Derron currently leads the women’s standings with 64 points, just two ahead of fellow Swiss athlete Imogen Simmonds and three clear of Great Britain’s Georgia Taylor-Brown.
Meanwhile, reigning T100 World Champion Kate Waugh will also compete in Dubai, adding to the significance of the final women’s race before the championship decider.
Derron aims for another Dubai T100 victory
Dubai has been a successful destination for Derron since the T100 series began racing in the city.
She finished second behind American Taylor Knibb at the inaugural event in 2024. However, she returned in 2025 to claim victory, finishing more than three minutes ahead of Waugh, while Britain’s Jessica Learmonth completed the podium.
Derron has also been among the leading contenders in the overall championship, finishing third in the 2024 standings before taking second behind Waugh in 2025.
Now, she returns hoping to secure another Dubai victory and strengthen her position ahead of the season finale.
“I’m very happy to be coming back to Dubai,” said Derron. “I always seem to find a lot of positive energy there, and the support last year was amazing. This year we have a new venue at Al Mamzar, so I’m excited to race on a new course and see a different side of the city.”
Race to Qatar standings remain close
The 2026 T100 Triathlon World Tour features four women’s races and four men’s races before both fields come together for the World Championship Final in Doha.
Dubai will host the fourth and final women’s race of the regular season, with $50,000 awarded to the winner, double the amount offered last year.
The women’s season began on Australia’s Gold Coast in March, where Taylor Knibb claimed victory.
Derron then finished second behind Taylor-Brown in Pamplona in May, before securing her first victory of the season in Vancouver in August.
In Vancouver, the Swiss athlete finished one minute and 40 seconds ahead of Waugh, with Taylor-Brown taking third place.
As a result, Derron leads the standings with 64 points, followed by Simmonds on 62 and Taylor-Brown on 61.
However, the championship remains open. Each athlete’s three best race scores count towards the title, alongside their result at the Qatar final.
The stakes will also increase in Doha, where the winner will receive 55 ranking points, compared with the usual 35 available at regular-season events.
“Leading the standings is a nice position to be in, but it’s very close, and with Dubai being the last race before Qatar I want to show another strong race,” added Derron. “I’ve come close to the title the last two years. So scoring highly in Dubai would be the perfect way to go into the final.”
Taylor-Brown and Waugh headline Derron’s challengers
Derron will face several leading international triathletes in Dubai, including Taylor-Brown and Waugh, who are both expected to challenge for the podium.
Taylor-Brown enters the race following her victory in Pamplona and third-place finish in Vancouver. Meanwhile, Waugh will be looking to build momentum ahead of defending her world title in Qatar.
Other notable competitors include Germany’s Bianca Bogen, New Zealand’s Nicole van der Kaay and Spain’s Sara Pérez Sala, who currently sit fifth, seventh and ninth in the standings, respectively.
Great Britain’s Jessica Fullagar, who finished second at the Gold Coast season opener, will also be on the start line.
However, Simmonds will not compete in Dubai, meaning her current total of 62 points will remain unchanged heading into the World Championship Final.
Dubai T100 women’s professional start list
The announced start list includes Julie Derron, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Bianca Bogen, Nicole van der Kaay, Sara Pérez Sala, Kate Waugh, Lisa Perterer, Jessica Fullagar, Lizzie Rayner and Caroline Pohle.
Also listed are Audrey Merle, Hanne De Vet, Katrine Christensen, Daniela Kleiser, Sophie Evans, Megan McDonald, Djenyfer Arnold, Francesca Crestani and Sara Sandrini.
Editor’s note: The supplied release describes a 20-athlete field but names 19 competitors. The list above preserves all 19 supplied names without adding an unconfirmed athlete.
Dubai T100 attracts strong amateur participation
Alongside the professional race, Dubai T100 will offer several opportunities for amateur athletes to compete across different distances.
Organisers have reported strong demand for the Sprint and Olympic-distance events, with registration still available.
Sam Renouf, CEO of the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO), said:
“It’s been great to see international events taking place across the UAE, like the HotelPlanner Tour’s Abu Dhabi Challenge in Al Ain earlier this month. We’ve continued to see strong demand for Dubai T100, with the Sprint and Olympic distances selling well, so anyone thinking about it should get themselves registered. On the professional side, Dubai is the women’s last chance to score points before Qatar, so there’s a lot riding on it. Julie was outstanding here last year, and with the standings this tight it should be a great race to watch.”
Three race distances and relay options available
Amateur athletes can choose from three distances, depending on their experience and fitness goals.
The Sprint distance consists of a 750-metre swim, 20-kilometre bike ride and five-kilometre run.
Meanwhile, the new Olympic distance includes a 1.5-kilometre swim, 40-kilometre bike ride and 10-kilometre run.
For athletes seeking a longer endurance challenge, the full T100 distance features a two-kilometre swim, 80-kilometre bike ride and 18-kilometre run.
Sprint and Olympic relay events will also be available, allowing friends and colleagues to compete together as teams.
Registration remains open through the Dubai T100 event website.
Dubai T100 joins the Dubai Fitness Challenge calendar
The race weekend, taking place from November 13-15, will coincide with the 10th edition of the Dubai Fitness Challenge, running from October 31 to November 29.
The citywide initiative encourages residents and visitors to complete 30 minutes of physical activity every day for 30 days.
With the Dubai T100 taking place during the third week of the challenge, participants can use the opening weeks to build their fitness ahead of race weekend.
The event will also welcome spectators, with free entry to Al Mamzar throughout the weekend.
Friends, families and supporters will be able to watch competitors along the running course through Al Mamzar Park and at the finish line.
In addition, the venue will feature designated Cheer Zones, food trucks and a Kids Zone, offering activities for visitors beyond the racing.
How to watch the Dubai T100 women’s race
The women’s professional race will begin at 1:15 pm on Saturday, November 14, at Al Mamzar.
Fans can watch the competition live and free through TriathlonLive.io and the T100 YouTube channel.
The race will also be broadcast on beIN Sports across the Middle East.
For further broadcast information, visit the T100 viewing guide.
With Derron defending her Dubai title and the championship standings separated by just three points among the top three athletes, the race could significantly influence the battle for the world title ahead of December’s final in Doha.
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