Looking at the venues for 2026, 4 in the Middle East, Singapore, Australia and 2 North America I imagine the Norwegians are also considering the amount of travel involved to get to T100 races is prohibitive, particularly if they are racing IM pro series in NZ, Texas and then Kona. T100 2026 doesn’t look appealing to me as a European fan, let alone an athlete from Europe needing to do so many big trips.
Haven’t listened to the podcast, but what was their beef with Challenge Canberra? I don’t think anybody ever said this was a big race??? It didn’t even include a pro race this year I think!
It was a joke at the end of the 70.3 worlds daily podcasts that the following week they were going to do daily pods about Challenge Canberra - just a joke, not beef…
3 Likes
Perhaps unpopular opinion, but the take on T100 making just 10 people rich and giving money to the partners it’s completely out of order and offensive.
You can’t just throw around crap like that with the excuse that it was a Spotify comment - you chose it, and decided not to categorically argue against it. Or at least Greg almost supported it, and Appo did partially, which is absolutely ridicolous.
Agreed. It’s a garbage take that I’ve heard repeated a fair amount.
1 Like
It is one of the reasons why Chris Kermode got the boot from the ATP due to his beef with Djokovic. Djokovic believed that not enough money trickled down to players outside of the elite level and Kermode’s view was that if players are not good enough to compete at the top level they should have no claim to any of the money. Kermode ultimately got ousted - et voilà.
I have said it before but Ill say it again, this sport is so small and those in the Triathlon media are so interconnected that their inflated egos come up with some of the stupidest comments.In the Triathlon space there is little accountability for the comments they come up with. The problem is, most Triathlon fans don’t really look as deeply into all of this peripheral stuff as we may here on ST and believe everything they say .
The PTO and T100 have been far from perfect but it has given Triathlon fans so much more top racing to watch (given the general lack of interest in the WTS) and so much more access to the Pro’s.
So many Pro’s can thank the PTO and T100 for the massive boost to their career oprtunities both as racers but also as social media professionals.The very existence of the T100 has made Ironman step up it’s game and the Pro’s and media are benefitting accordingly.
Some of these guys in the media space should take a step back and just say “Thank you”
2 Likes
There are people making A LOT of money, some of them are athletes. But most of them are not.
Looking at 10th Pro Series, and 10th T100.
Jonas Hoffman, $8500 prize money and $10000 bonus.
Gregory Barnaby right now - $45000 prize money and 10th is $70000.
The only way people really can justify the pro series being competitive (in money) is the top 4-5 in the series. Nobody would say Gregory Barnaby has had a great year - but this is $115000 (yes, I know he’s not guaranteed to finish there) in addition to his contract and the benefits at races.
T100 has given a ton of people the ability to make GOOD money that the Pro Series doesn’t give - the pro series is actually the one making the top 5% richer, isn’t it?
7 Likes
Hmm I don’t really understand people cheering for the tippy top to get even more. I thought people watch and participate in long distance triathlon because of the gritty stories and passion, not the extra cash won by the man with the most haemoglobin.
Adding money to the top does make it more like other pro sports, which sounds good to companies in the space. But why that idea is so popular among actual triathletes is a bit lost on me. It’s like cheering for bigger bonuses to your employer’s corporate executive board.
1 Like
I 100% agree with this statement. The IM pro series, the “Fighting Chance” series etc. has all been engaged since T100 kicked off. And frankly, its content IMO is better. AND, go watch LCB latest vlog. The content Ironman gave her from their coverage is incredible. Ironman have really stepped up, are sharing content with their athletes to in turn promote.
My worry for the sport is what happens when (not if) T100 folds its tent.
Just gotta say that the recent “are you cooler than….” segment was pure comedy gold 
I never watch podcasts on YouTube but this was a rare occasion where i wish I did
1 Like
But…I’m not talking about the tippy top. The IM pro series really doesn’t help much outside of the top…5-6? Not the way the T100 does. A couple K at the end of the year isn’t changing much for these people - $18000 for Jonas Hoffman in 10th total - chasing 5 races around the globe…that’s not covering expenses even.
T100 pays deeper, more per race, and will again next year. There is levels to everything - but it’s earned the same way we all do, saying it’s like executive board bonuses is insulting to all the people in the top 50-75 in the world that have put themselves in position to race and place in these races.
3 Likes