KEULEN SPENT BUT DELIGHTED

Wild card collapses in Singapore heat after shock TIOO win as the favourites drop out

- Melvyn Teoh

Among the star-studded field who dived into Marina Bay on April 14 were two-time Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee and Ironman world champion Sam Laidlow. But it was a wild card, Youri Keulen of the Netherlands, who stole the show at the T100 in Singapore.

And in equally dramatic fashion, the 25-year-old collapsed after crossing the finish line in 3hr 21min 1sec - his body spent from racing in the 32 deg C heat and 70 per cent humidity.

Competing in only his second T100 triathlon after finishing fourth in Miami on March 9 - he was one of four wildcard entries here Keulen was quickly carted off to the medical tent and eventually taken to hospital. He only managed to say: "I'm delighted with the win but I'm exhausted." Sam Long (3:22:38) of the United States and Belgium's Pieter Heemeryck (3:23:30) were second and third in the 100km race comprising a 2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run.