Georgia Taylor-Brown is aiming to take the lead in the T100 Triathlon World Tour standings by winning in Dubai, with the Grand Final in Qatar just a month away. The Manchester-born triathlete trails current leader Julie Derron by three points with two races remaining, and the pair are set to race head-to-head in Dubai to gain a slim advantage before the finale, where double points are on offer.
Taylor-Brown has already won this season, taking victory in Pamplona in May, before finishing third behind Derron and compatriot Kate Waugh in Vancouver three months ago. The 32-year-old says she is in good shape to return to the top of the podium in Dubai.
Taylor-Brown confident ahead of Dubai clash
“I'm definitely thinking about the result here,” she said. “It would be nice to lead into the Grand Final, or at least be a little bit closer. There's a few points between me and Julie, so I would like to slim that down a little bit, if not be in front of her.”
“Let's see where I'm at. We've still got the two races to go, so things can still happen but I do feel physically and mentally like I'm in a really good place. I'm still super motivated.”
Derron and Waugh set for battle
The race in Dubai could shape up to be another battle between the top three from Vancouver, with Derron the one to beat after her victory in Canada. Derron won in Dubai last year en route to finishing second overall, and the Swiss star says she is focused on the race in front of her rather than the Grand Final.
“I want to do well, but I see this race as an individual race,” said Derron. “I do this one, I check it off, and then I look towards the next one. I can't control where Georgia [Taylor-Brown] ends up. If I beat her, that's an advantage for me but if she beats me, that's good for her. I think it will be exciting until the end of the year.”
A third threat to the title in Dubai could be 2025 champion Kate Waugh, after her second-place finish in Vancouver. Waugh’s early season has been hit by injuries, leaving her 10th in the overall standings, but the 27-year-old wants to keep competing at the sharp end of races even if the overall title may be out of reach.
“I think I'm in pretty good shape now. I've managed to put together a good few weeks of training. I'm pretty happy with where I'm at,” she said. “I kind of let go of the title chase a long time ago, so I just want to come and put down the best possible result.”
