Sweating Over Singapore Leg

Wary of humidity and heat, T100 series champ van Riel runs in sauna to prepare

- Melvyn Teoh

Marten van Riel has swum, biked and run countless kilometres in several Ironmans, Olympics and triathlons, though the 32-year-old admits that he is "a bit afraid" as he heads into the opening leg of the T100 Series in Singapore on April 6.

Singapore's heat and humidity has earned the island a tough reputation among the T100 competitors, and the 2024 edition saw the exhausted race winner Youri Keulen collapsing after crossing the finish line – he was eventually taken to the hospital.

Reigning T100 overall champion van Riel did not compete here last season, as the Belgian was trying to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

Having heard from his fellow triathletes about the local conditions, he said: "I think that this is the particular thing about the Singapore races.

"It's probably the professional race in the world with the hardest conditions, the heat, the humidity, and even the course.