Hayden Wilde has compared his battle with Alex Yee for the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Abu Dhabi to Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen's tussle for the Formula One title.
The New Zealander made his intent clear by skipping two races to arrive in the capital city four weeks early to prepare for the event that takes place from November 23 to 26 on Yas Island.
The race will see all three 2020 Olympic medallists in action. Wilde has leapfrogged both Blummenfelt and Lee to find himself No 1 in the world rankings, with Yee not far behind in fourth.
French European champion Leo Bergere is second and Belgian Jelle Geens, who took gold in the 2021 Abu Dhabi race, ranked third.
“It’s going to be a great competition between myself and Alex Yee,” Wilde said at the launch ceremony of the world finals at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council headquarters on Tuesday.
“It’s like the Hamilton and Verstappen race and I’m really looking forward to it. Whoever crosses the line will take the championship world title. We’ve had a great rivalry, so to unite and finish in Abu Dhabi is awesome. Hopefully, we can put on an exciting show.”
Wilde had to settle for bronze behind Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt and Lee at the Tokyo Olympics. Lee also beat Wilde for the gold in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July with the Englishman hailing that win as his “greatest achievement” even though he had previously won silver in Tokyo.
"Adding a world title to our achievements is a big thing to triathletes,” Wilde said.
“Winning an Olympic medal is what we strive for, but a world title isn’t just one race, its consistency. To join the likes of Vincent Luis is a huge feat and doing it here would be amazing.’’
Wilde said a lot of people had told him it was a risky way to do it ahead of a race with a lot at stake. “It’s a good risk to take with the races I missed are in Europe and Bermuda that requires a lot of travelling,” he added.
“I had made plans and that was to come four weeks ahead of the race in Abu Dhabi and maximize the advantage by adapting to the weather conditions and surroundings.
“I have raced with a lot of these athletes over the last many years and am aware of the challenges. Aside from that, the conditions, the heat and humidity, and the surface that’s a lot grippier and takes a lot more energy. This is why I have come early to experience all that together.”
In the women’s event, Tokyo gold medalist Flora Duffy will be up against current world No 1 Georgia Taylor-Brown of Britain – the woman she pushed into silver medal position in Japan.
The Bermudian also took gold in Abu Dhabi last year and will be looking to add to her long list of accomplishments that includes multiple world titles and Commonwealth gold.
Britain will bring a typically strong line-up to Abu Dhabi, headed by Taylor-Brown, along with fourth-ranked Beth Potter, and seventh-ranked Sophie Coldwell.
The United States will also have three of the world’s top 10 on display in the form of fifth-ranked Taylor Spivey, along with Taylor Knibb and Kirsten Kasper, who are ninth and tenth in the standings, respectively.
Aref Hamad Al Awani, general secretary of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said the capital city is delighted to host the World Triathlon Championship Finals for the first time.
“Since 2015, we have hosted a series of international triathlon championships, and have organised community races for all ages and abilities, which has led to a significant growth in interest in the sport of triathlon,” he said.
"Now in 2022, we are poised to host the World Triathlon Championship Finals, with the participation of 130 elite triathletes.”
Mohammed Abdalla Al Zaabi, Group CEO of Miral, added: “We are excited to host the World Triathlon Championship Finals, reiterating our commitment to position Yas Island as a top global destination for leisure and entertainment.”
For more information please visit: abudhabi.triathlon.org.
If you go...
Flying
There is no simple way to get to Punta Arenas from the UAE, with flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi requiring at least two connections to reach this part of Patagonia. Flights start from about Dh6,250.
Touring
Chile Nativo offers the amended Los Dientes trek with expert guides and porters who are met in Puerto Williams on Isla Navarino. The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas and lasts for six days in total. Prices start from Dh8,795.
THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20PRO%20(12.9%22%2C%202022)
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FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Walls
Louis Tomlinson
3 out of 5 stars
(Syco Music/Arista Records)
Match info:
Wolves 1
Boly (57')
Manchester City 1
Laporte (69')
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
More from Neighbourhood Watch
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
The specs
A4 35 TFSI
Engine: 2.0-litre, four-cylinder
Transmission: seven-speed S-tronic automatic
Power: 150bhp
Torque: 270Nm
Price: Dh150,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
A4 S4 TDI
Engine: 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel
Transmission: eight-speed PDK automatic
Power: 350bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh165,000 (estimate)
On sale: First Q 2020
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Mamo Year it started: 2019 Founders: Imad Gharazeddine, Asim Janjua Based: Dubai, UAE Number of employees: 28 Sector: Financial services Investment: $9.5m Funding stage: Pre-Series A Investors: Global Ventures, GFC, 4DX Ventures, AlRajhi Partners, Olive Tree Capital, and prominent Silicon Valley investors. How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
AS%20WE%20EXIST
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