Qatar named as T100 World Championship Final venue for next five years

Qatar has been named as the final stop on the new T100 calendar with the World Championship Finals taking place on December 12-13 in Doha.

The tiny Gulf state has also been confirmed as the World Championship Finals host every year until 2029, with the series renamed as T100 Race to Qatar – taking a lead from ‘Race to Dubai’, the name of professional golf’s European Tour.

Raced over 100km (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run), the swim will take place in the Arabian Gulf before the bike and run legs wind around the cities of Doha and Lusail, taking in local landmarks, including the Lusail Stadium that hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final.

As well as the T100 professional races, the multisport festival weekend will also feature a series of swim, bike and run events for amateur athletes, including the opportunity to take on the same 100km triathlon distance as the professionals.  

As part of this, a qualification system is being developed, similar to the existing World Triathlon age-group sprint and standard distance racing, that will allow top athletes from each age group qualify for their own T100 Age-Group World Championship in Qatar. 

The new partnership is a joint venture between the PTO, Visit Qatar, World Triathlon and Qatar Triathlon Federation and cements a total of nine events for the Professional Triathletes Organisation’s flagship tour that enters its second season in 2025 and kicks off in Singapore in April. It is the third new venue, with the French Riviera and Vancouver also joining the tour.

Athletes contracted to compete include reigning champions Taylor Knibb and Marten Van Riel, with the best four T100 race scores plus the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final counting towards the titles.

“We’ve been very clear with our strategy for the T100 Triathlon World Tour to visit iconic locations, along with our desire to position the series as a race to one hero destination, as happens in many other professional sports,” said PTO CEO Sam Renouf.

“This five-year partnership with Visit Qatar allows us to do exactly that, with the season-long series now being known as the T100 Race to Qatar in one of the fastest growing, family friendly tourist destinations in the world, which saw more than five million visitors last year. 

“Qatar’s local population and visitors are also showing a strong demand not only to attend world class sports events, but also, increasingly, to participate in them – following the influx of events like the FIFA World Cup and Formula 1 in recent years. 

“So, as well as being a spectacular venue for the climax of our new professional series, the weekend will also host events for amateur swimmers, cyclists and runners – from first-timers through to our inaugural  T100 Age Group World Championships.” 

Commenting on behalf of the Qatar Triathlon Federation, its President Abdulaziz Al Tamimi, said: “I am thrilled to announce that hosting the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final over the next five years marks a significant milestone in strengthening Qatar’s position as a global hub for sports. This prestigious event aligns with our vision to elevate triathlon in Qatar and support our athletes in achieving international excellence.”

“As a passionate triathlete, it has always been a dream to witness a world-class event like this in our homeland. Hosting this world championship simplifies logistical challenges for athletes and reflects Qatar’s commitment to fostering a vibrant sports culture. 

“Developing our national team is a key priority, as we prepare our athletes to compete globally and proudly to represent Qatar. The presence of elite triathletes offers opportunities for inspiration and growth, encouraging the community to embrace the sport. 

“We look forward to welcoming all athletes and spectators from around the globe to share in this incredible experience and celebrate the sport of triathlon together.”

Antonio Arimany, President of World Triathlon, added: “The T100 Triathlon World Championship Final represents a new chapter for our sport, combining elite competition with global accessibility and participation. Mass participation events are once more thriving alongside the elite racing around the world and really building into a major movement in the Middle East.”

2025 T100 Race to Qatar schedule

• April 5-6: Singapore
• May 31-June 1: San Francisco
• June 13-15: Vancouver
• June 27-29: France
• August 9-10: London (9-10 August)
• September TBC: Spain
• TBC: Lake Las Vegas
• November 15-16: Dubai 
• December 12-13: Qatar