One good performance could provide the biggest payday of their careers for a host of athletes with titles and cash heading into the grand finale of the 2023 Super League Triathlon Championship Series.
Some of the series’ headliners could secure six-figure paychecks for their efforts, while even some of those who have been out of the mainstream spotlight could still cash in with the Discipline Leaderboard prize up for grabs.
And all of this is BEFORE you even factor in the prize money that will be awarded to Teams – with a cool $300,000 to be awarded.
Here’s a look at some of the key amounts on the line:
Jeanne Lehair could win $135,000 – plus Team’s money
Jeanne Lehair has been a standout performer in the 2023 Championship Series, having really established herself as a rising force on the world stage last year.
She already has $35,000 secured via her win in London and second place in Malibu. If she wins the NEOM, she will not only add another $20,000 to the total, but also $50,000 for the series title.
Lehair is also the heavy favorite to take the running leaderboard – which carries an extra $15,000 in prize money, and if she has the perfect day, she can also grab the cycling leaderboard.
She is also a member of the Santara Tech Eagles, who expect to compete for the top prize of $120,000 on the Teams Leaderboard, which would increase her earnings to well over $135,000.
Léo Bergere sniffs $125,000 for three days’ work
Like Lehair, Léo Bergere has been in powerful form in the 2023 Championship Series. He didn’t race in London, but a win in Toulouse and second place in Malibu have already earned him $35,000.
Again, according to Lehair, a win in the NEOM also wins him the series, and the two combined are worth an additional $70,000 – for a total of $125,000.
Bergere is only in contention for one Discipline Leaderboard, which is the bike. It is a long shot, as he would need to win it and does not hope that Emil Holm ends up in the top three. That would put another $15,000 in his account.
As a Lehair teammate, he also knows that all of this will also be inflated by the Team’s prize money, and that’s potentially very beautiful.
A bike ride for $15,000
The Women’s Cycling Discipline Leaderboard is one of the most contested things in NEOM.
No one has dominated the series at all, with the three winners – Cathia Schar, Jess Fullagar and Taylor Spivey – not picking up any further points, so all were tied at eight. Only Jeanne Lehair and Leonie Periault, who are two points behind, can realistically count, but they should probably win on the day.
NEOM boasts a one lap course. So it really is 4k for $15k.
Men ready to swim for money
It’s basically a two-swimming-off in the men’s between Max Stapley and Hwenri Schoeman. They’re both tied on 12 points heading into NEOM and you’d be hugely surprised if neither scored, which is the only way the door opens for Chase McQueen.
Therefore, the duo will have two times in the 300m, both knowing they have to outscore the other to claim the $15,000 bonus.
Reese runs rewards
Reese Vannerson is a very young athlete who gets the chance to be around the best athletes in the world and gain the kind of experience and learning that most can only dream of.
While he’s been soaking it all in, he’s also been quietly contributing to RTS Warriors, using his killer running speed to put himself in position to win a huge amount of money for such a young triathlete.
Vannerson may have been eliminated in all three races, but he’s a strong run away from taking home $15,000 and, incredibly, contributing 28 points to the Warriors.