The Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with investment vehicle Sela. This establishes a framework for a long-term partnership focused on the commercial development and delivery of PTO events in Saudi Arabia.
Alongside the Saudi Arabia announcement, PTO has confirmed the Lusail course for the upcoming 2026 Qatar T100 World Championship Final, taking place in Doha, Qatar, on December 10–12, 2026.
In Saudi Arabia, Sela is a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company that specialises in creating and developing experiences and premium destinations across sports, entertainment, culture and hospitality. Founded in 1997, it began as the first Saudi company accredited by FIFA for player representation before expanding into sports marketing and live experience development.
Under the MoU, Sela and PTO intend to begin their collaboration on the Saudi Arabia T100 Triathlon, which is scheduled to take place on November 27–28, 2026. They also intend to work together on the expanded Triathlon World Tour, in conjunction with World Triathlon, which is planned to begin in 2027.
Sam Renouf, Chief Executive Officer at PTO, said “This MoU with Sela represents another exciting step forward for mass participation in the Kingdom and we look forward to working with them on the upcoming Saudi Arabia T100 Triathlon.
“Sela has been instrumental in some of the highest profile sports and entertainment events happening in the world over the last few years, including the groundbreaking Riyadh and Jeddah Seasons as well as international football, motorsport and boxing events. It is exactly this kind of expertise that we need to take triathlon to new heights in the region.”
Renouf added “Saudi Arabia has shown significant ambition and commitment to sport in recent years, and the T100 and the Triathlon World Tour is perfectly placed to contribute to that vision through its professional and amateur events. We are already working closely with the Saudi Triathlon Federation, following the announcement of our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in November last year, as well as SURJ Sports Investment who led our Series C funding round last summer.”
Mohialdeen Nazer, Deputy Chief of Events at Sela, said “At Sela, we are proud to sign this MoU with the PTO as an important step towards bringing the world-class Saudi Arabia T100 Triathlon to the Kingdom and building a long-term partnership around one of the leading properties in global sport.
“This collaboration reflects Sela’s ambition to create exceptional sporting experiences that resonate with athletes and fans alike. It also builds on Sela’s contribution to advancing mass participation in sport across Saudi Arabia by encouraging active lifestyles, creating more opportunities for communities to participate and delivering a positive impact across the Kingdom. Together, we aim to further strengthen Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading destination for international sport and entertainment and build an event that will grow in scale and impact for years to come.”
The Saudi Arabia T100 Triathlon will feature a men’s professional T100 race, showcasing 20 of PTO’s top ranked male triathletes, alongside a selection of amateur and junior mass participation events taking place across the event weekend.
Mishaal Al-Sulamain, President of the Saudi Triathlon Federation, said “This landmark agreement reflects the strategic role PIF is playing in building a connected and sustainable sports ecosystem in support of Saudi Vision 2030.
“The journey began when SURJ Sports Investment took a stake in PTO, establishing a long-term link with a leading global triathlon platform. Sela now brings its commercial strength, local knowledge, and delivery expertise to turn that relationship into tangible impact in Saudi Arabia and further strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a leading host of international sporting events.
“Alongside them, the Saudi Triathlon Federation completes the circle as the national governing body, ensuring that global investment and local delivery translate into increased participation, stronger athlete pathways towards Saudi medal success on the global stage, and the long-term growth of triathlon across the Kingdom, from mass participation to elite performance.”
In addition to the Saudi Arabia announcement, PTO, World Triathlon, Visit Qatar and the Qatar Cycling and Triathlon Federation have revealed the Lusail course for the 2026 Qatar T100 World Championship Final, taking place in Doha, Qatar, on December 10–12, 2026. The event returns to the city for a second consecutive year, following Hayden Wilde’s victory at the venue in the 2025 season.
The course showcases Lusail’s waterfront setting, with athletes completing a 2km swim in the Arabian Gulf, an 80km cycle through the city streets and an 18km run through Lusail Plaza and Boulevard. New for 2026, amateur athletes will be able to compete as part of a team, with relay entries available across both 100km and sprint distances alongside the T100 Age Group World Championships, individual open and age-group races, and 1km and 5km community runs.
The 2026 T100 Triathlon World Tour comprises nine stops delivering US$4,200,000 in athlete compensation across the season:
- Gold Coast (March 21–22, 2026)
- Singapore (April 25–26, 2026)
- Spain (May 23–24, 2026)
- San Francisco (June 6–7, 2026)
- Vancouver (August 15–16, 2026)
- French Riviera (September 19–20, 2026)
- Dubai (November 12–15, 2026)
- Saudi Arabia (November 27–28, 2026)
- Qatar (December 11–12, 2026)
Each T100 event features a US$275,000 prize fund, totalling US$2,750,000 across the nine races, with US$50,000 awarded to first place, US$40,000 to second and US$30,000 to third. Athletes score 35 points for first place down to 1 point for 20th place at standard events, while the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final offers increased points from 55 points down to 4 points.
An athlete’s best three T100 race scores plus the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final will count towards the overall standings. The series winners will collect US$100,000 from an additional US$1,450,000 prize pool, with US$80,000 for second place and US$75,000 for third place.
In 2027, PTO and World Triathlon aim to launch an expanded 80+ event Triathlon World Tour. This will integrate the T100 Triathlon World Tour and the World Triathlon Championship Series (rebranded as the T50), alongside World Cup and Challenge Family events.
