The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and World Triathlon  have confirmed a powerful line up for the April 13-14 Singapore T100 triathlon, the second stop on  the new eight-leg T100 Triathlon World Tour, including some of the world’s top 20 male and female  athletes.  

Women’s defending champion Ashleigh Gentle has confirmed her return to the Republic, making the  Singapore T100 her first World Tour appearance this year after she gave the season opener in Miami a  miss. Alongside her will be recent Miami T100 champion India Lee and American Chelsea Sodaro, who  finished third at the inaugural PTO Asian Open last year.  

The Men’s Pro Race will see a new champion crowned in place of Kristian Blummenfelt who is focusing  on his upcoming Olympic title defence. Instead, another Olympic triathlon champion will take the start  line at the 100km triathlon in Marina Bay – London 2012 and Rio 2016 gold medallist Alistair Brownlee.  He will be joined by Miami T100 men’s winner Magnus Ditlev and runner-up Sam Long as well as 2023 PTO Asian Open podium finishers Pieter Heemeryck and Jason West. 

After finishing fifth in Miami, Brownlee said: “I can go away (from Miami) and prepare specifically for  Singapore and be competitive there. I’ve taken a lot of confidence that I can get that engine capacity  back swimming and especially riding really fast. After three weeks of training, from being pretty unfit  to being able to race at this level – I’m pretty happy with that. (For) running, I can’t rush. But I’ll spend  another four weeks or so of the same, trying to prepare specifically for the heat.” 

Gentle, 33, has been going full steam ahead preparing for her title defence. Speaking to  Slowtwitch.com, she said: “(Training has) been a bit of a slog, but there’s been a few days which have  been a bit more bearable and I kind of can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can see the work  that I’ve put in over the course of the months. I can see that the work is paying off and I think when it  cools down a bit (in Brisbane where she’s been training) and I’ve got a bit of freshness, I’ll see the work  that I’ve been doing and know that it’s starting to add up. 

“The thing right now more than ever is there’s no room for weakness. One of my big goals is to try and  keep all three disciplines at a really high level and that’s always just such a hard part of our sport. (But)  I suppose that’s kind of the magic of being able to race consistently is to make sure you don’t have  those weaknesses. 

“You’ve got to be prepared to be a robust, smart, and dynamic racer who can respond to different  forms of attacks from different people literally all year – and it’s going to be exhausting. I know that I  can’t be in top form in February and at my best at the grand finale at the end of November. Physically,  for me it’s not possible. I have to be smart and accept that, yeah, there might be some races where  I’m not 100 per cent firing on all cylinders, but I can still put together really, really good performances at a more controlled level and pick those battles where I know that I am at 100 per cent and have a  chance to win.” 

Lee will be looking to pick up where she left off in Florida at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, where  she ran down fellow Brit Lucy Charles-Barclay to clinch her maiden T100 win. Lee did not have high  expectations entering the season than to “see how her winter had gone, with no pressure”. 

Her winter preparation proved fruitful and her victory in Miami has catapulted the British star into the  PTO World Top Ten for the first time. Speaking about what the win meant to her, the new PTO World  No. 8 said: “It means a lot. I worked really hard. Mostly on my own, with a small team. I’m just a bog standard person who puts in the work and I’m a bit overwhelmed it’s turned into this. 

“I’ve never won a race like this against these girls. They are world champions. I never thought that I would be capable of putting together a race like that, when it matters, against quality competition. To  beat them I had to have a really good day and I guess last Saturday was a really good day.” 

Reigning men’s and women’s Ironman World Champions Sam Laidlow and Charles-Barclay had earlier  announced they will be returning to the Republic for the Singapore T100. 

Charles-Barclay, 30,said: “My first visit to Singapore last August left a strong impression and I’m excited  to be returning. The city felt like stepping into the future. Its cleanliness, greenery, and friendly people  stood out. Despite not performing my best, the supportive crowds and the battle made it one of my  favourite race locations. 

“The course was super challenging. The conditions were hot and humid and I thought the 13 per cent  bike climb onto the highway created significant gaps in the field and made for a fairer competition,  highlighting athletes’ strengths and weaknesses. I’m eager to return and am looking forward to the  Singapore T100 next month.” 

Laidlow, 25, will also be looking to build on his Ironman triumph and complete the Singapore T100  after he did not finish last year’s Pro Men’s Race.  

The Frenchman, the youngest male Ironman world champion, said: “Singapore is a beautiful city and  it’s a pity I didn’t get to enjoy much of the scenery along the route last year, so I’m glad I have a second  chance. I’m looking forward to racing in Singapore again. It was well-organised and I hope I can  properly take in the sights of Marina Bay this time. I know it’ll be hot and humid but I also know the  fans will be there every step of the way encouraging us so I’m counting on them for that extra boost  of energy.” 

Besides the professional races, the Singapore T100 will also feature a 100km triathlon (2km  Swim/80km Bike/18km Run) for experienced amateurs and two duathlon races – Standard (5km  Run/32km Cycle/5km Run) and Long (10km Run/64km Cycle/10km Run). The course will be very  similar to the one the professionals raced last August, including a unique opportunity to swim in the iconic Marina Bay and then bike and run around the Marina Bay Financial District in the heart of the  Lion City.