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seconds. 30 seconds a report 10. Ignition sequence starts. 6 5 4 3 2 1 zero. All engine running. Hello and welcome to the 2025 Precision Fuel and Hydration Iron Man 70.3. 3 World Championship men’s race here in beautiful Marba, Spain, the south of Spain. Yes, today is only for the fellas. And from all over the world, athletes have descended upon the beautiful shores of the Costa del Soul to vive for a world title. As they did yesterday in the women’s race, it is a fullon battle against a great course and incredible competition. We’ve got a lot of athletes on the line putting it all out there, and today promises fireworks. I’m Michael Avado joined in studio by the one and only Craig Alexander and we have a great cast of characters out there supporting us including Minda Carfrey as well again as Daniela Reef at times. We can’t get started any sooner than right now. Let’s do it. Craig, how you feeling? I’m feeling good. Michael, you’re right. Yesterday’s racing was absolutely awesome. Yeah, absolutely awesome. And here I mean I don’t want to cut you off but this is just today like this is the this is the spot. This was about an hour ago right here in front of us and we’re seeing a bunch of faces. Who you seeing in there and how do they look? Well, you can see Kevin McDall on screen right now. There’s Nick Thompson, the boy from down under. We love Nick. Go Nick. Um, we saw Christian Hugan hug before. There’s our recently crowned Iron Man world champion, Casper Storis. And yeah, we’ve got a front row seat right here looking down on the men’s pro field. And as they’re setting up transition, there’s KB um looking rel the quality of field and um you know, they’re vying for the the title, the Iron Man 70.3 World title, as well as the Iron Man Pro Series. Um you know, it’s the final race today. So that season long battle is going to come to a an exclamation point today and and Christian’s in the box seat with with his countryman Casper Storis breathing down his his neck. But yeah, no, I’m excited. I just think the depth of competition at this distance just continues to increase year on year and we’re going to we’re going to have fireworks again today. Fireworks are promised. And I tell you what, you’re calling out some of these names. We did see the American Rudy von Berg, a former third place finisher. We’re going to get to dive into each of these athletes, call up some of the highlights and the favorites, talk a lot about the race. But before we dive in more to the pros, let’s talk about this. This is all of the men age groupers. We’ve got over we’ve got almost 3,400 athletes from around the world competing. They’ve all qualified to get here. And we’ve also got in addition to that, we mentioned it, we’ve got 58 professional triathletes here, the men uh the best of the best all competing under the theme of Andian passion, which perfectly perfectly encapsulates encapsulates the vibrancy, color, and warmth of our athletes here during their stay in Mara. And there are so many stories within the stories. Let’s come back quickly to Iron Man Pro Series. This is the culmination, the final race today. We will crown a champion and hand out an additional $200,000 US to that winner. Um, so a lot at stake today in addition to the race. Um, here’s Kevin McDall again. You mentioned the American athlete and you threw KB out there. Christian Blumenfeld, for those of you that are new to the show and you haven’t been introduced to this Norwegian powerhouse, really hard to count him out as a favorite any race he toes the line for, right? No, he’s he’s a perennial favorite at every race and just because of his unique ability to to change distances quickly and his consistency. That’s right. And you you uh kind of hinted at it yesterday uh highlighting the women’s race. These women tackled this very same course with absolute vigor hitting the onelap roa swim and as normal Lucy Charles Barklay from Great Britain took off and got away from everyone. Had about a 47 second lead out of the water but the American Taylor Nib did what she does best which is just hammer to the front of the race. Yeah. No, it was an impressive start to this race. Fireworks as we we’re getting pictures of Taylor on the run. So Taylor came out of T2 quick. Lucy showed composure and patience and um and then we go back to Cat Matthews here who and that you know you talk about anything is possible and anything can happen with the pro series on the line. Cat tore her calf muscle but then we were locked in on this battle between these two ladies who have developed quite a rivalry and it was yesterday Lucy Charles Barklay who got redemption from that meltdown in Kona and what a race it was. What a race. There’s your podium with Lucy Charles Barkley on top, Taylor Nib, and of course the German Tanya Noberg taking third and then we crowned that Pro Series uh Iron Man Pro Series champion Cat Matthews once again back to back. She’s won them both 200k and a big glass of athletic brewing to celebrate with SV Love. SV taking the title in Kona. Pretty big deal. And then second place here. What a season for Sway. And yeah, the girls having a well- earned drink on the podium there. And it’s just interesting this this pro series. It gives another layer of interest to what’s going on with the race itself. It sure does. And and speaking to that, and I did say second, SV took second in the series. I want to make clarify that. But heading into today’s race, the final race, you can see that our Norwegian athletes are one, two, and three. Christian Blumenfeld a top with 20,000, Casper Storz, and then Gustaf Eden a former winner of this race. All three of those men really solidified up there at the top. Who you seeing after that? Well, Gustaf Eden has third currently, but we we know Christian Hugenhag is here and Nick Thompson. And depending on the way I guess the cards fall today, those two are in contention for third spot in the Iron Man Pro Series as well, as well as the American Rudy von Berg. So, I think Christian is a lock. Casper would need to make up 12 minutes, which I can’t see happening. But, as we saw with the women’s race yesterday and that uncertainty, anything can happen. And you know, I think the whole town of Marba breathed the sigh of relief when for Cat anyway and her entourage when she pulled out, but it was clear that Soway wasn’t going to finish within a minute 40 of our winner. So that she was able to maintain her lead at top the IM Pro Series. I’m sure it’s going to be the same today in the middle. It’ll be it’ll be hard fought right up to the end. I think you’re exactly right. And we want to talk a little bit more about some of those points that we just brought up. But before we do so, let’s let someone else describe this incredible professional men’s field. This is what we’re seeing today on the shores of Marba. In the men’s race, every 70.3 world champion since 2019 is on the start list. Yellow Gaines, Ricko Bogen, Christian Blumenfeld, and Gustaf Eden. Eden having won in 2021 and 2019. Only three of the top 10 from Toppo are racing, but 11 of the top 15 from Nice, including the 2025 Iron Man World Champion Casper Stor will be there. There are however 39 athletes making their 70.3 World Championship debut. A reflection perhaps on the large number of shortc course athletes that have stepped up to the middle distance. Miguel Hilalgo, Jamie Riddle, Yonas Shamberg, Fabian Craft to name a few. As for favorites, it would be hard to go past all the previous 7.3 world champions along with the Iron Man world champion Casper Storz. Will it be another Norwegian clean sweep or will Gain successfully defend? Well, those are the questions that we will see answers to today. And as you look at these are live shots right here, Craig, that is right out our front door uh of our broadcast booth. That beautiful sunrise here. The sun comes up uh just right now and then we kick off in about 11 minutes, 12 minutes. So a beautiful setting. We are again in the Costa del Soul, the southern part of Spain, a beautiful tourista destination that has been converted into one of the best training grounds, one of the best race proven grounds. It’s an amazing spot for Iron Man. It’s incredible. Well, it’s one of the best venues I’ve been to and shortly we’ll be seeing the professional men entering the water for their warm up and yeah, just the not only just the location in the town, but the course itself is truly world championship caliber. That’s right. And as you have a quick peek at that Roa weather, we’re going to dive in deeper to that and we’ll find out if the weather plays a factor in today’s race. Heat. Heat. You know, and we know the thing about challenging yourself is you’re always is looking for what’s next. It’s the beauty of Oman. Our tradition, our hospitality, the sounds of limitless opportunities to explore. Listen, it’s Oman. And we are about 9 minutes away from kicking off the 2025 Precision Fuel and Hydration Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. Yes, day two of two today. It’s the men’s turn and here in studio, Craig Alexander and I, Michael Lovado, will be covering the action live and we’ve got some great great commentary. Analysts out on the field. I did mention Brenda Carfrey. She won this race back in 2007 in Clearwater, Florida, I believe 2000. You won in Clearwater and then you won in Vegas. Is that right? Do Do the archives go back that far? They do. They do. Yeah. 0 06 and 11 glor glory days. Thanks for thanks for referencing. So so but to be clear the very first Iron Man 70.3 winner 2006 and then you kicked it off. I remember very distinctly because then you showed up in Kona on that qualification and then the rest is history. You won everything that got in your way. So um archives are good. But here today it is all about our 58 professional men and the other 3,300 plus age group athletes. Let’s talk a little bit about what we started to go into. And this is just some of the dynamics. And I love what you said off camerara here. Let’s look at the numbers and the names with the defending champion who we haven’t even said his name yet. Yellow from Belgium. He can do some damage today. And then Rico Bogen, he won two years ago. Also in the mix with KB. Yeah, yellow obviously won the title. He’s looking to be the fourth man in history to defend that title. He’s probably been the over the last two years the most consistent um and prolific race winner at this distance. So he’s and on this course too. I I really feel this course suits him a little better than Toppo did last year. So he’s in the mix. And Rico was our youngest ever male Iron Man 70.3 world champion in Liy Finland in 2023. So his swim bike power will definitely impact the front of this race. I think you’re exactly right. And then looking through as well of some of these athletes. We’re going to get to see them all. Uh you’ve got Casper Storzes and he’s just such a wild card. I love what you said earlier where this is a guy that, you know, he started out 24th in Oceanside. He he got started to warm it up and do pretty well in the summer at the Iron Man races and then, excuse me, he was able to come in and win the world title in an excellent fashion, but now with his run, gosh, he could do some serious damage. We’re going to see everyone here momentarily. I can’t wait. And of course, we’re gonna try and give a few shout outs, a few highlights for these athletes. But what a scene right there on Playa de Volante O Leante. So again, Craig, when I look at this um little section, you said it before, it’s become a really favorite venue for a lot of people, and you can see why. It’s really set up great for Iron Man and Iron Man 70.3 racing. the fans out there wild you know right yesterday on the women’s race it was five or 10 deep along the whole course the excitement in town was incredible our defending champion wearing bib number one from Belgium yellow this man is on definitely everybody’s radar and wearing bib number two from Germany Rico Bogen who was our 2023 Iron Man 70.3 world champion our youngest ever champion on the male side. And then again on the radar of most athletes who are paying attention from Norway, number three, Christian Blumenfeld. He’s the Olympic champion. He’s an Iron Man world champion. He has just spent four weeks training nearby in Sierra Nevada outside Granada. He is one of the best runners, if not the best runner in the field. Wearing dib bib number four. Also from Norway, Gustaf Eden, who was our 2019 and 2021 Iron Man 70.3 World Champion. He was also the 2022 Iron Man World Champion. So good. And then here in Bib 7 representing Greece, Panagiatus Bados. This is a very strong swimmer, a two-time Iron Man 70.3 winner. And by the way, he ran 107 Ninja Solo earlier this year. wearing bib number eight from France, Vincent Louie. Now, Vincent’s a two-time world triathlon world champion in 2019 and 2020 and also a three-time Olympian. So, one of those shortc course superstars who are definitely going to mix it up in this race today. And wearing number nine from Norway, our Iron Man world champion and a three-time Iron Man 70.3 winner, Casper Storz. Is he ready to double up and make it two for two in 25? Wearing bib number 12 from Denmark, Christian Hugenhow. Christian was third in the 2024 IM Pro Series. Had a great race in Lake Placid earlier this year with a second place finish and is possibly the strongest man on the bike here today. 25 years old from Australia, one of the best haircuts in triathlon, two times 70.3 winner, and 23rd the last time he raced this world championship. That guy, he’s dynamic. Watch out for him. two times wearing bib number 15 from the US of A. Rudy von Bberg, Mr. Consistency, always there or thereabouts, a podium finisher at the Iron Man 70.3 Worlds in Nice, France in 2019 and just a guy who’s always around the podium. Look out for him today. There you go. And that is just 10 of our superstars that are towing the line today. We mentioned 58 total. We’re going to get to dive into a few more of the names that we believe will factor into the mix as we anticipate the kickoff of this incredible race. Right there in the background, you see Lac Concha, the big landmark there, that mountain that is named after a shell. It looks like a shell. And if you’re at top that mountain, it’s very easy to see the continent of Africa. See Morocco across the Mediterranean Sea. We are waiting for the Imno National, the national anthem of this great nation. It will be performed by La Mara Royale. Okay, that’s coming right up. And it is a beautiful anthem, uh, Craig, that we get to hear as these men nervously line up on the, uh, on the beach here, uh, Levante Beach. And as we look at these men, Craig, it looks like all of our favorites really are on the left with a couple um that are on the right. Just sort of random. We’ve got Shamberg middle and center. Uh, Riddle will be incredible. Watch out for Jamie Riddle from South Africa on this swim. Yeah, he’s a noted swimmer, especially with a beach start like this. Grew up swimming in the surf in South Africa. And also, let’s look out for Allesio Crocani. I mean, it was only a couple of weeks ago at the World Triathlon finals that he put on a clinic in the swim and actually did a bit of backstroke because uh the free the rest of the boys couldn’t keep up with him. So, it’s a it’s a I mean, the depth of swim talent in this field is exceptional, but some of those names you mentioned, Vincent Lou is another one we should look out for. Um Yona Shamberg’s a guy who’s been up the front in pushing the pace in a lot of the swims as well this year. That’s right. And now two minutes away and so many We’ll talk about this in a minute. Before we came live, you were talking about how the dynamic is just so crucial with this size of race and this many contenders. How they get out on the bike matters, when they get out on the bike matters, and where they get out on the bike matters. Just a little teaser we’re going to hit in these opening miles of the zoo bike course. But for now, one lap of the ROA swim course. And I tell you what, it is going to be on from the outset. We know that much to be true, folks. If you are not uh having an elevated heart rate at the edge of your seat, you do not consider yourself a triathlon fan. It is about to get super fast, super quick, and I cannot wait. Once again, it is one lap of this course, and they get right to it from the outset. Ah, this shot is great, Craig. As we get them all spaced apart on that red carpet, they run right into the beach and into that shallow water. A couple of, as you said, porpus dives and they are off and to the races. And I feel it coming here now. And with that, we are underway. The 2025 Precision Fuel and Hydration Iron Man 70.3 World Championship is underway. The men, a whitewashed fury coming at you with arms and legs flailing. Oh, that is the sight we love in this sport, Craig. What a sight that was. That was just incredible off the beach. As an athlete, that’s the worst time, that last 10 minutes after the swim warm up with the introductions, but that now the athletes get to do what they do best as we see almost a long line right across the water here. We see someone in the middle of the field, probably Crochiani, just starting to ease towards the front. But you mentioned the swim dynamic here. I I think it’s going to be crucial. There’s so much swim depth and you know towards the end of this swim and coming through T1 onto that golden mile on the bike positioning is going to be crucial here. Crucial and we’ll talk about why because it fascinates me sort of the number of things can happen. You’ll see a little bit of a ripple coming in from the east as we saw yesterday or the right side of your screen. Uh but realistically we’re going to do our best to pick out some names. Who are you seeing right away? I’m seeing Jamie Riddle in the violet cap and this is what we’re used to seeing. We’re very accustomed to seeing Jamie especially a beach starter. We saw him do it in Iron Man cans earlier this year. We saw him do it at the World Championships in Nice. He is just lightning quick off the start, beach start. That’s right in his wheelhouse. And he seems to be pushing the pace and that’s a smart move by him again, I think. I agree. And then caps to look for of some people we expect to be in our front pack in a pearly silver. We’ve got Vincent Louie from France like you mentioned, a superstar really out quick. And then also we’ve got Rico Bogen in a powder blue. Look for him. If you’re wondering about this ROA swim course, well, I tell you what, let’s have a closer look together so we can fully understand what these men are tackling today. Let’s have a look at the ROA swim. With two world championships done in Nice and Kona, all eyes now fall onto the Iron Man 70.3 World Championships in Marba, Spain. Let’s take a look at what the athletes will face on the course in Marba. The 1.9 km 1.2 2mile Roka swim course is an A to B lap in the Mediterranean Sea. Athletes start at one end of the beach in Puerto Vanuse and swim in a semi-rectangular shape before exiting the water at the opposite end of the beach and hitting T1. And there you have it. That’s what these men are tackling right now. And it is interesting. It’s kind of frothy out there. Kind of kind of ch a little bumpy. It’s not smooth and flat like we have seen it. No, there’s a bit of surface water moving around. It’s not like the mill pond that you like to see. I can see the the hot pink cap of Allesio Crochani from Italy there as as you predicted, Michael. One of the if not the best swimmer in the field. We can just see that arrow head forming. The the guys at the front on a tight line towards that first turning buoy which comes 300 meters into this Roka swim course and they’ll be making a hard left turn and that’s when we’ll start to see it string out I think in single file a little bit. I think you’re right and and you can see already that it is quite uh hot the pace but don’t take it from me. Let’s throw down to our boat Minda Carfrey a 2007 Iron Man 73 champ with Luke McKenzie. Folks, take it away and tell us what you’re seeing down there on the water. That is Wow. Hey guys, we are on the boat uh opening moments of this swim. It is chaos down here. I’m with Iron Man champion Luke McKenzie. I am of course Miranda Carfrey. Uh we have just chaos here. Luke, tell us what’s going on in the swim. Yeah, we just went around that first major turn here uh about 300 meters into the swim and yeah, the first couple got through quite fine, but then there was absolute malle in the mid pack and that included some of the favorites like yellow uh Shamberg is in there. Uh so yeah, it’s it’s interesting now that we’ve made this turn, it’s really started to string out in this front few. There’s actually a bit of a gap starting to form. Jamie, uh, Vincent, they’re sort of starting to really, uh, press the pace now that they’re on the downward stretch. Yeah. And the lead right now, it’s Crocani. He was started far right this morning. So, uh, interesting. All the other notables basically were on the left, and we had Crocani on the on the right. They’re thinning out. The last two notables are Christian and Gustaf. Chris looks like Gustaf is sort of on the back, very back of this pack. Christian’s sort of in the middle there, not far from Magnus Ditliff. But we’re looking at um Yellow Gins, our defending champ. He’s kind of getting beaten up a lot and and pushed around in the start of this. He is in the in the mix right in the middle of this massive pack. Yeah. No, it’s really started to string out now. I think Yella is he’s come to the outside. He’s I think he’s realized early on that he’s getting pretty beaten up. So, he’s come to the outside now. Seeming to be making a move up that inside. Magnus Stitlev not too far behind him right now. Christian is latched right on the back of this group here. So, um it’ll be interesting to see at what point in this mid pack here that we get a break. And it does look like Casper Storz is about fifth um in that front group. So, Vincent Louie up in there. Uh Crochiani again still leading. I just saw him a moment ago. He’s famous for backstroking about 15 strokes in Wllingong just a few weeks ago. Um but I saw him sort of not backstroking but certainly looking behind and seeing if he was uh creating any separation from the rest of the pack. We may see separation. Um you see in the front here they’re stringing out. So 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 but the then it gets into the the main group here. Um and it’s just chaos. So we’ll see if this uh turns into a little bit of a gap. But Casper Sauners in that front five or six We’ll throw it back to you guys in the studio and uh come back down when we uh have some more for you. Fantastic. Thank you so much to Renie and Luke on the boat. Great insight and great uh to hear you guys just call it out specifically see what’s going on with the melee down there. The madness that happens um in this professional men’s race. Uh jeez, we are seeing the Italian right up front just pushing the pace and it never ceases to amaze me when someone swimming that fast can take the time to look behind, see who’s coming, where you’re at, who’s positioned. It’s just incredible. What a swimmer. He’s an absolutely class swimmer, this man. Um we see we saw him do it a couple of weeks ago. We’re seeing him do it now. And I love this as he as again he takes another look back. Such a beautiful relaxed long arm recovery. All power under the water. Um, and Luke mentioned it that you you often see that pack dynamic in the swim. You come into the turning buoy as a group. You come out in single file. Um, there’s no intentional rough stuff usually, but you know, Yellow Gins, our defending champion, was caught in the melee in the middle, so he maybe cpped a few stray elbows, but you know, that’s what happens when you wear the number one bib. And he’s he was smart enough to sort of navigate his way to the side of the pack. And it’s nothing he hasn’t seen before as we see Crochiani just yeah, really stretching out here. I’m loving this. You see someone tapping his feet there right on the feet. So typically when the pace is on like this, you see some separation. You see single file and then the big bunch sort of that forms up behind that first chase back. We heard Ry say that KB was tacked onto the back of that chase group as they make this second turn. So from turn buoy one to two was 345 meters. So they’re about 650 m into the into the swim now. I bet a third of the way in as Crochiani again looking back. He’s definitely going for the throttle here. Michael, he is. He’s just got the gas pedal down. And I tell you what, they just made the turn, these two anyway, out of direct sunlight. They swim right into the sunrise on that first segment. A unique aspect of this ROA swim, Craig, is that we do have uh a left turn and then three right turns and a final left. And I only mention that because it’s very common for us to have one turn, one direction. And I think that in our races, what we’ve seen already is that the turn buoys are areas to get away or get left behind. And it really is hard in hard out of the buoys. A lot of the good the better swimmers will do. And some of the folks that are just on the bubble or struggling, they may find themselves in position until that buoy where it gets single file, the pace gets hard. Will we see our Italian swimmer um Cret Cretiani come out of the water with a massive lead or will he have company? Let’s see. After a few more strokes of this beautiful Roka Swim, welcome to the world’s best airline, where your journey is five-star, and so is your Wi-Fi. Experience the fastest connection in the sky with Starlink. And best of all, it’s free for all passengers. So why settle for less when you deserve the best? We’re not here to sell you on this life. You already chose it. No shortcuts, no hype, just work. Same as you. Built to outlast, endure. 40 years in and we’re just getting warmed up. Welcome to the Ohana. Welcome back. We are right where we left you with these swimmers absolutely annihilating the pace. But you do now see that Cruani has company. So a few of our swimmers have come up and taken that burden, that lead role. Um, we’re thinking in that silver cap, we’re seeing that as Vincent Louie and also we’ve got Pados next to him in silver, the Greek athlete. And and as we did get a report that that Gustaf Eden, our 2019 Iron Man 70.3 world champ, he has drifted off the back a bit, but he wasn’t feeling very confident. The press conference said, “Hey, I’m not here to win. I might not be your guy.” But still in the mix. Yeah. Interesting. Gustaf, he he’s always black and white and very honest in those press conferences. And it’s usually prophetic what he says is, but I’m loving this Allesio Crochani just leading the parade. And it’s a great tactic if you have this kind of swim strength. I think you know they say you can’t win it in the swim, but you can set up a brilliant race in the swim. We also see Vincent Louie up the front. Panotus Bardos is up there. We just got word that Casper Storis, a defending Iron Man world champion, is in seventh. Jamie Riddle is in the top five. and a couple of our other shortc course superstars. Michael Seth Ryder, he’s up in the front. Cameron Maine from Scotland, he’s up towards the front of this race, too. So, and I expect Andrew Horsefall Turner, the great swimmer from the UK, would be there. And, you know, the group is together, but there’s a little separation midpack. So, you know, I I’m I’m loving this tactic from the from the swimmers. I think they got to put everyone on the back foot early. I I think you’re spot on. And I just noticed that as we cut away from that shot, positioning for a better one. Here we are back on the water. But that high shot showed us that there is a big group. Everyone’s kind of together, but that big group was starting to get a little gap. And as we look on this backstretch of about 535 meters, this is where again they have probably a tiny bit of a a current behind him. Behind them, we may see that group pull away a little bit. As we come back to the Italian, Allesio Crochani leading it out. Has asserted himself again as the leader and he’s just making it hard. Look at that. He’s got a nice solid kick behind him, a great turnover, and a beautiful smooth stroke. Really classic swimming there. I love seeing that. Yeah, this man, he has so much grace and elegance and efficiency, but what power under the water and and the big four six beat kick going. We just got word that Fabian Craft, the young German athletes, bridging, trying to bridge that chase pack up and he’s a guy in form, winning the Iron Man 70.3 race in Zalami recently. So, um, he’s certainly a guy who has swim pedigree as well. But, you know, I just, you mentioned the conditions yesterday. I feel the conditions were slightly worse for the women, particularly on this back straight. The men here are swimming with a little bit of water moving behind them. They’re outgoing tide, so makes it harder to break away, I think, which I guess makes it even more impressive what Crocani is is doing right now. Yeah, great point. And we talked about this before the show, just thinking back to yesterday’s incredible race where we saw Lucy Charles Barklay just dominate the swim with 40 seconds and it was probably one of her slowest swims. So when you see an athlete like Lucy Charles Barklay in a wet suit in a hard swim dropping people and it’s 24 plus uh yeah that was a slow set of conditions. But today it’s not it’s not bad. I I mean I think what we’re going to see too and this opens up the conversation. What about as these swimmers are more or less still in contact? How does that change if we end up with 10, 15, 20 men hitting uh the uh transition ruby transition together and hitting that zoo bike course together? Well, it changes a lot. I think the dynamic early in this race is going to be crucial. Um different to the women’s race where there was some separation. You mentioned Lucy had that little gap back to Taylor and just Liam and then it was almost a minute and a half back to the main chase group. As we see Crochiani here slowly easing away, but the the main part of the field is altogether. It’s it’s the pace is on. They are strung out in a single line, which would tell us that it’s it’s a fast pace. It’s it’s not a bunch where the swimmers at the back of the pack keep swimming up onto the feet of of the athletes in front of them. It is a long single line. It’s a fast pace, but they are predominantly all still together. And a lot of our main contenders are in that group towards the front of this race. So I think this dynamic through T1, you know, very important. Every second will count through T1 and onto the golden mile onto the bike today. Agreed. As we watch the Italian, looks like pull away a slight bit. We’re going to throw down to Renie and Luke down there on the water’s edge. Take it away, my friends. Where do you guys want to be? Hey guys, we are riding alongside Christian Blumenfeld. He is around 30th place. So he is in the main chase group. Uh Gustaf Egan has fall fallen off the back. Another notable is Rico Bogen is behind Christian Blumenth and looking to get a bit detached right now. Yeah, he’s he’s dropping off this main group here. Uh Crochiani’s actually gone off the front. He’s away and solo off the front now. And then there’s a pack of about 15 men together. And then this is the Christian Blumenfeld group that we’re rolling along here with now. And uh Christian Bloomfeld, other notables. Mati is Matis Maji is in there. Uh we have Magnus in there. Yellow Gans just in front of him. Um yeah and it looks like it’s really strung out now with Crochion going off the front. That next group come coming back from that. It really looks very condensed there in that top 14 15 odd athletes. Still got Jamie Riddle, Vincent Louie, Yona Shamberg. He’s lost his orange cap for those watching at home. Uh, also Christian Blumenfeld has lost his cap, so he’s a bit harder to find. But yeah, coming around the corner here right now with Magnus Ditv and Yellow Gans looks like they’re leading up the Christian Blumenfelt group. Minda, yeah, it’s definitely um starting to form and that was that long 5, you know, 30 m straightaway and it was into the chop um at that point too. Another notable I’m just looking at here now we’ve come around the last turn here, Miranda, is Gustaf Eden. He hasn’t lost as much time as I think we might might have thought he would have. He got detached super early, but he really is only about 30 seconds back off this Christian Blumenfeld group. So, he has limited his losses, but the one that I’m still watching is Rico Bog. I’m 70.3 world champion. He is dangling on the back and he’s going to have to fight back to shore to keep on this group. Yeah, overall it’s uh you could kind of th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th throw a blanket over most of the group here, but uh packs are starting to form. We are on our straightaway one more turn into transition. Um but we’ll throw it back to you guys in the studio. It’s all happening down here. Thank you so much Miranda and Luke. Wow, great stuff. And in fact seeing the talion with a 10 meter gap and it could grow because once you lose that contact once you don’t have the draft it doesn’t get any easier now does it Craig? Not at all and you know we really need to pay attention towards the end of this swim and coming through T1. I I really feel the short course specialist will press the advantage there and take more seconds and and that’s going to be crucial because every second that someone’s standing still in in T1 in our Ruby transition their competitors are out on the bike along that golden mile that first really you know fast lightning fast stretch of this bike course so those the gaps will open and I I tell you what you wouldn’t want to be caught 15 or 20 deep at the back of a group hitting that first climb. And let’s talk about that for a second. While we’re watching these men, still two distinct packs we’re staring at. Tell us really specifically why. What happens if you’re at the back of a 20 person group? Well, the guy on the front is going to be pushing 55 km an hour. And you know, then when we think of the the the draft spacing, uh what the rules are here, you’ve got to be 15 meters back plus 15. I mean, the rule says a little less than that, but most of these gentlemen will play it safe and and stay on the larger side of the draft zone. So, if there’s 20 in the group, you’re you’re 350 mters behind the front of the group. And it’s it’s basic physics. I mean, if the front of the group’s going at 50 or 55k an hour along this, you know, really lightning quick early few miles of the bike course, it just makes it impossible to to get anywhere near the front of the group. And so, the front of the group will hit that climb and it’ll concertina up at the back. But again, with the rules being the way they are, you can’t just overtake one or two athletes and slot in if everyone is legally spaced. You have to overtake the whole group. So really, you got to play it smart. You got to be super vigilant and careful that you don’t encroach the the draft zone. And you may just have to be patient and let the front of that group get away from you until potentially the flat section between the first two climbs or the plateau section in the middle of the bike course. Great answer, great insight here. Uh thank you so much for that. As we get a really nice perspective here as we come right into shore, uh we’ve got our leader from Italy, Aleandro Crochani. He’s going for it and he’s really getting to the end of this Roku swim course with some flare. Um, just a reminder though, if you are kind of visualizing this course, he’s still got to make a hard left and angle his way straight in, but he’s almost there. Zipping on out to the boat. We’re going to hit up with Renie and Luke one more time, guys. What are you seeing? You’re live. Go. We are with race leader right now, Allesio Croci. You see him? Just take a little look behind his shoulder here. He is about 15 seconds clear of that main group. And that main group does have Vincent Louie. It has Shawnberg in there. Has Jamie Riddle in there. Uh Casper Storz, Luke, who else have you seen? Uh yeah, we saw Andy Horseful Turner in that group, Miranda. And they’re coming around the buoy now. It looks like there’s a significant gap now forming uh behind that group as well. So they’ll probably have about a 10 to 15 second lead by the time they get to shore. But this is a very impressive swim and uh since the turn out on the backstretch uh Cretchion’s really put in quite a significant gap here. It’s very impressive swimming. Um but let’s see now as he exits the water uh what that’s going to mean for him on the bike. Yeah. And these gaps um still relatively small, but uh we will have a massive group of men in transition alto together getting ready for that bike ride. Crochiani again taking a few more looks over the shoulder. We’ll throw it back to you guys so you can catch them through transition. Thanks. Thank you so much Miranda. Thank you Luke. Great stuff. That’s Luke McKenzie, Minda Carfrey, our crack on the water team, guys. Once they took that final turn, it was 200 meters straight into shore. We’re looking at the at the clock 2135 when you see that number and we’re about there. That is the previous course record. So we are not breaking that record set by Marco Albert back in Clearwater 2009 long time ago. But as he rolls in, he is still having an incredible swim. Notably faster than yesterday I think conditions are. But look at this melee behind. Yeah, this chase back has some quality in as well. But yeah, incredible swim by Croatiani. And you can see this part of the course here, Michael. It’s sheltered by the land. So protected from the swell and the wind. It’s it the final meters of this swim, the last 200 from that final turning buoy in have been very calm. As we expected, there was going to be some separation in this swim. We heard Renie and Luke cover off all the main contenders. Basically two main chase packs. And let’s watch Crochiani here as he’s ppassing the last few meters. He stands up and he’s the first man on land. And I’m sure he’s not going to muck around. He’s going to fly through Ruby transition here. He’s going to maximize every second that he’s got. He’s probably got 15 to 20 seconds. He’s added an extra 5 seconds on, I think, in the last couple of hundred meters. And it’s a great swim by him. I think he can get out on the bike course, get in his own rhythm, and a lot of the main contenders that we’ve been talking about with the bike power. We heard that Renie and Luke mentioned that Rico Bogen’s a fair way back and Yellow Gins is in Chase Pack 2 as Chase pack one hits the the land now. That’s right. And I tell you what, Wahoo Element Rival tells us it was 2221. So, 22 minutes 21 seconds for the first male out of the water, Allesio Croiano. Sorry, I I called him Alessandro. Nice work, Allesio. As we look at these men rolling out of the water, seeing them here in transition and looking at these splits. What an incredible display. Some of the names right second out of the water, 28 seconds back. So, absolutely just blowing it out. Looking to some of our contenders down the road. Who’s the first one you see that ought to be a little further up? Well, Shawnberg’s in the front group, 33 back. He’s one of the stronger riders. He’s in great position as is Jamie Riddle and Panagiatos Batos in that group as well. Kevin Mcdow in that group 36 Casper Stor is one of the big race favorites in Chase pack one as well. So, and what a giant group. So, if you go all the way to 39 seconds back, 15 men closed out with Taylor Reed and as we jump Fabian Craft 43 seconds back and looking again refreshing refreshing folks on screen, you’re seeing absolute pandemonium, but it’s controlled pandemonium. These men know what they’re doing. Craig, you said it really well. Our short course athletes are experts in making very quick work of a Ruby transition area and today is no different. Watching as we see a sprint, an absolute sprint to get to the mountain line which is under that arch and it is absolutely what we described where they’re going to hit this. It is going to be so fast in that opening mia the golden mile. It is going to be so fast starting now. It was chaos through there. We saw we can see go up. So he’s had a great swim as well. Obviously a short course specialist. He finished second in the WTCS standings this year. Interestingly, Casper Storis was right up in the mix. So, one of our early race favorites out on the course as we see Chase Gray Chase Pack 2 has come into transition now. Yeah, Storz only 20 seconds down at the start of the bike. So, he did a nice 15-second jump in his transition to catch right up. You see, yes, we can see Rico Bergen, our 2023 world champion. A bit probably a bit further back than we expected. He’s a man with immense bike power, so I’m sure he’ll be looking to make some inroads along this flat, fast section, the early miles before they hit that first climb. That’s right. It does start out very fast on this zoot bike course before we hit the big climbs and predominantly hitting all those climbs and the elevation gain in the opening uh half or beyond of this race. Uh this is unfortunate. Looks like we had a little uh upset there. Often that’s our defending champion. That’s our defending champ. And often with for yellows getting on. Look at that. just the height of getting over the leg over and it sounds a little bit basic but Crowley it is tough. I mean that’s a tall bottle behind and and you got to leap on and you’re a little bit tapped from the swim. We can see Matt Hansen at his transition wreck there. So he’s a little bit further back than probably he would like but this we we expect to see this from Matt. He’s hitting his two best disciplines now. So yeah, that was a little unfortunate for Yellow Gans, our defending champion. And you’re right, Michael, the the aerodynamic setups now with the drink bottles behind the seat and up on the cockpit, it it does make mounting these bike the flying mount is not as easy as it used to be. That’s right. You got to really hit some air to get the legs over and then on the dismount as well. Let’s take a look at those flashing lights because what I’m seeing there is the race ranger are uh drafting technology in full effect and it will tell these athletes what they need to do uh to get away from one another if they are in that danger or or illegal draft zone. Um, but just beyond that, uh, this is a section, Craig, where we do absolutely see these athletes really trying to shuffle and stay legal. Take a look at these Ruby transition times. Our top three fastest men, Yella, our defending champion, 103 with the fastest, Rico Bogen, the 23 champion in 107, and then Steppnak in 107. That is quick because it’s a long transition. Yellow again showing his class and experience. Although everything he made up, he he possibly lost with that little um mechanical or whatever it was that we saw him having to deal with as he mounted. These men have to be extremely extremely cautious and vigilant here. The pace will be will be lightning fast. But as you can see, the race ranger lights will come on and give them an indication. And this this part of the bike course it is the fastest part of the course apart from the descents we’re going to see later in the you know in the mountains. They’re flying along here. These men are fresh and the pace of they’ll be trying to position nicely to hit that first climb. No one will want to be on the back of this group hitting that first climb. Oh, and I’m thinking how difficult it is to get around because you said this earlier. If you’re at the legal draft distance 15 m back and you want to go around someone, everybody’s 15 m. You have to go around them all. Um, but let’s talk about this weird stat here. 43 men came out within a minute 10 of one another. So, just crunch the numbers. uh that that just necessarily means that we’re going to be very tight and closely bunched and we are going to say where are we in regard to this race. The zoo bike course begins on a very prestigious stretch that links Mara’s city center with Puerto Banuz which is very famous section of luxury hotels, a beautiful marina and exclusive villas and luxury boutiques. So you’re stretching that link. It’s called La Mia Deoro, the Golden Mile. So, we roll through this in the first couple kilometers of this race, Craig. And man, that is a lot of men uh trying to stay legal and clean. That is a lot of men in a short space. Yeah. Well, they’re again, they’re just going to have to pay attention. Um you know, everyone who knows the rules and the race ranger lights, it’s very clear that the technical officials on course. So, nobody wants to get a draft penalty this early in the race. You especially going through these roundabouts, it can condense up and then spread out again. I’m interested to see Yona Shamberg. He’s a guy who has shown in every race he’s done this year that he wants to light it up early on the bike. Um that’s been the tactic he’s employed really successfully at a lot of races. I think it’s a great tactic for him. He’s an absolute monster on the bike. We saw that he was seventh um onto the bike course and currently still sitting in seventh. So we’ll keep an eye on him. It’s still Crochiani leading and and also our other shortc course superstar Vincent Louie in second place right now. So, as predicted, a lot of the the real high quality swimmers, they’re right at the front of this race. They position themselves beautifully. Someone like Vincent, a lot of experience. He didn’t have to lead the swim, but he he wasn’t far from the lead. Great transition and now out onto the bike course clean. And this is where you want to be towards the front of the race. Okay, exactly what uh we wanted to see as well. Here is a stat from our uh Christian Blumenfeld, one of the crowd favorites, very likable, very interactive with his fans all the time. uh he is in 27th position. So he’s made up three spots from where we saw him last in the swim. And this is something that you obviously have to be very vigilant about. If someone slots in, they’ve obviously determined that there is space. Um and if that is correct or not, you are still that that that responsibility is yours as that athlete that got slid to to back up. You you have to get out of there. Yeah. If if the light indicated the race ranges says there’s space you can slide in. A lot of these a lot of these athletes will ride right on the limit of that. they’ll ride right on the limit of the draft distance so that an athlete can’t slot in potentially they have to go and make the pass the next athlete in front. But you you’re 100% correct. Once a passing athletes leading wheel gets in front of the athlete being pass leading wheel that the onus is on the athlete being passed to then drop back out of the zone. Yeah. To drop back out. And so uh there we always say there’s only one way out of the draft zone and that’s through the back. You can’t get you can’t get that that pass just by by inches or centimeters and then just say hey I’m going to go right around. You actually have to drop back 15 meters and then go around. And uh I want to come back here again to Yonas Shoberg. He finished sixth in Nice and that was where we watched him very intently on the bike just dominate and push and like you said he’s so strong. He’s had a nice year so far. He hasn’t had any big big wins as far as the Iron Man 70.3 circuit goes, but that sixth place in Nice was impressive. He also came off that with a 236 run. So he’s definitely he was in that battle at the front. And and another notable result is we just got a little glimpse of my little Aussie mate Nick Thompson there making his way up through the field. I excited to watch Nick race today because I think this is a course that suits someone with his skill set on the bike and Gustaf Eden as well. Um this course suits them. Yeah. Back to Shawnberg. I think um the European Championships in Frankfurt, he was building a huge lead. I mean he had a two to three minute lead early in the bike when unfortunately had that mechanical with his handlebars. So yeah, he’s shown a propensity to to really just go hard off the front very very early in races and I’m sure he’s not going to change his MMO today. Yeah, it worked for him. So stick with the plan. And that was also telling of his psyche. He had a handlebars that broke. He’s like, I can keep going. Uh why not? Like I don’t I don’t need this to be attached. Uh very uh very brave. But here is another great section. Some of these roundabouts. We’re still on relatively flat terrain. We’re going exceedingly quick here through these sections. I mean, if you look at the kilome hour, 42, 43, 44. Yeah, we can see Ben Canoot on on screen here. Another noted swim bike. swim bike and a man who’s had two silver medals at Iron Man 70.3 World Championships. So, great pedigrees. I think we’re looking I’m not sure who we’re looking at here. We’ll get a closeup in a minute, but yeah, Ben Canude has got certainly great pedigree at um Yeah, there he is in the red, white, and blue kit here in the foreground of your shot. He’s made a recent coach change. He’s now working Neil Henderson out of Boulder, Colorado. A a very storied uh coach and someone that’s worked with top cyclists in the past. So, Ben trying to really get back to that level he was at when he took second in Chattanooga behind Javier Gomez. He he’s been there and he wants to get back and he’s raced two of the best in history. I mean, he got second to Javier Gomez in Chattanooga and then second to KB uh in St. George, Utah. So, he’s locked horns with the best and yeah, he’s making his way towards the front of this race. That was one of the best little battles, too, against KB. Uh you couldn’t tell who was going to win in St. George to the very end. But you’re probably wondering a little bit more specifically about this course. The Zoot Bike course has it all. We’re going to dive in to exactly what it looks like. Let’s watch together. All eyes now fall onto the Iron Man 70.3 World Championships in Marba, Spain. Let’s take a look at what the athletes will face on the course in Marba. The onelap 90 km 56 mile zoot bike course will provide a challenging but exciting and scenic ride. With a net elevation gain of 1,785 m, 5,857 ft, the course leaves Puerto Bonuse Beach, traveling along the famed Golden Mile Palmlined Avenue that runs parallel to the sea. Athletes then turn inland and begin the amazing climb to the highest point on the course around 20 km in. Descending down further inland to the turnaround, athletes will then retrace back to the high point before taking a slightly different road on the descent back to the beautiful marina community of Pa Bonuse and T2. And there you saw it. All of the ins and outs of this beautiful course. Really challenging, really beautiful. I doubt that any of these men will have a chance to uh take in that scenery. Unless something has gone terribly wrong, uh you don’t want to see that. Right now, the frantic nature of this opening stretch of road is exactly as you you described it. Um for orientation, I’m Michael Lovado sitting with Craig Alexander and we are watching this incredible precision fuel and hydration Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. Uh this event has been going on since 2006. So, count it, the 20th running uh today and we’re going to crown a champion. Will it be a defending champ? Uh will it be a two-time champ, I should say, or brand new 70.3 world champion. Oh man, so much time before we know the answer to that question. Um but just watching also I think notable these roads are buttery smooth for the most part. Uh Daniela Reeve pointed out to us yesterday that there are a few little hiccups, a few little bumps here and there uh once you’re out, you know, on the on the mountains, but realistically quite good road surfaces. Yeah, beautiful road surfaces. It looks like Rico Bogen’s making his way to the front as most people predicted he would at some point. We got Jamie Riddle and Shawnberg up towards the front as well. I caught up with Jamie uh a couple of days ago, he’s been battling a little hamstring injury. So, he said to me his plan was to really go harder on the bike than normal. And that’s saying something because he normally goes hard on the bike anyway. So, but um we can see Rico Bogen, he’s up into third spot. And yeah, this he’s riding his wheelhouse here. He’s I don’t want to say he’s the strongest bike rider in this field, but he’s he’d been in the top three. Yeah, that’s right. And and as you as you come right off of that, we did also note something that is kind of unique as we look at just the stats of some of our past cycling well of our of our event. We have seen here’s we got KB and yes, thanks for pointing him out KB right there. First time we’ve seen him on camera. This man Christian Blumenfeld representing Norway. Man, when you’ve won the Olympic gold and then come back and won Iron Man World Championship and then you’ve won well pretty much everything. You’ve got to have a little bit of confidence, but there’s also levity with this man always. Oh, he’s just he’s he’s a great ambassador for our sport. He’s just that combination of champion mentality and mindset, but humility as well. And you mentioned his results. I mean, that 202122 season on the men’s side, it was historic the way he was bouncing around. We we see athletes go up in distance, but he was going up and then coming down in such a short turnaround and short space of time as we see him making contact, bridging up a little gap there and making contact with this first chase group. Um, it’s not going to be long till they hit the climbs here and I mean it’s like Christmas out there. These race ranger lights are like Christmas lights flashing on and off the whole time. So, I really think this these the roundabouts and the technical sections here where it compresses up, the bike group compresses up and then spreads out. These guys have to be hyper hyper vigilant not to roll into a draft zone. I think that’s Mel Hidalgo there on the right who again one of our short course superstars. Finished second in the WTCS series this year, World Triathon series. Just a man with great pedigree, but he’s also won 70.3 races. He has a quite a diverse skill set. He sure does. And as we watch Christian Bloomfield out of the saddle passing two men, okay, getting a double pass, we have to also say that this guy only two months ago would have taken out another Iron Man world title had it not in for the 229 uh marathon of Casper Storz. 229. I just like saying that. I didn’t know when we’d get there, but we have a race on our hands watching these men take one of the early climbs. Will we see a breakaway? Well, time will tell. Go hey. Oh, come on. Heat. Heat. N. Heat. Heat. Oh my Not. You are. Today’s broadcast is brought to you by Precision Hydration. Personalize your race hydration with Precision Fuel and Hydration and by Oman. Beauty has an address, endurance has the destination. Experience Oman. And as we come right back to where we left you off, we are watching a breakaway attempt here by uh Shoamberg and Riddle. And Craig, you were saying that Riddle was going to go harder because he hasn’t been he’s had a little bit of a hamstring tight uh tightness or a little bit of a niggle. He’s going for it on the bike as is Shoberg, which is a little bit of a broken record. Shoamberg likes to go off the front. I don’t think those gentlemen need any excuse to go off the front, but um yeah. No, it’s good to see some early aggression on the bike. It’ll be controlled aggression. I I think part of it is just to create some separation on this bike. We saw how closely bunched 45 athletes came through groovy transition and then out onto these early miles of the bike and it was lightning quick as we see Ben Canoot trying to make his way to the front of the race which is great to see. Seems to be on a flyer today. But yeah, Shamburg and Riddle are taking this up the road and it’s nice. I think it’ll create some rhythm in this bunch. I think so too. And when we just talk a little bit more about um our American athlete there, Ben Canude. I did catch up with his coach a couple weeks ago and he said finally he just moved from Arizona to Colorado. He’s at altitude. He’s finally feeling like he’s back where he used to be where he was that top three contender, top three finisher, uh specifically second place at world champs. So, it’s cool to see and he’s going for it. Um, I want to bring in another uh for another time today, a very special guest, uh, an Iron Man athlete, a competitor, um, someone that also really got pretty aggressive in the ProAm a couple days ago. Uh, yes, again, it is our Iron Man Group CEO, Scott Daroo. Scott, thank you for being uh, here with us today. Uh, thanks for having me and it’s an incredible pleasure and an honor to be with you guys and what an exciting race we’ve got unfolding here. It 100%. And and and what’s neat too is that uh we didn’t we didn’t expect anything different, but we just didn’t know what to see, who we would see up here. So now you’re looking at Christian Blumenfeld. Um what are some of as we just go right with it? What are some of your early impressions of this race, this group of guys on the road? Well, that swim started earlier. You could feel the energy. Uh a little bit of tension in the air, uh but everybody excited to get started and uh and so that that swim was just chaos. Uh, and then, uh, you know, Crow, as you mentioned, they came out in T1 and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen 45 guys come in all together. Uh, but, uh, it’s shaping up to be a really exciting race and, uh, you know, Shawn Berg and and Riddle, uh, now KB are are pushing off the front and, uh, that’s really exciting to see. I think where this is going to shape up to be one incredible bike ride. I would agree. And it’s interesting. Watch this. He’s talking to the cameraman. And I believe he’s Yeah, he’s telling him to get out of the way if it’s not get the cameraman out of the way. He’s he’s saying, “Hey, these athletes need to slide over.” But it feels to me like he’s being very fair and saying you need to move over. Like I can’t have a draft. I mean, that’s what I’m sensing. Um it could be that he’s telling them to to tell the athletes up the road to move over. Craig, what’ you pick up on that? Yeah, it’s very unusual to see this much dialogue out on the course and especially from KB. He’s a man of few words in general, let alone on on a race course. So yeah, I’m not sure what was going on. We’ll we’ll keep an eye on that. It was definitely some dialogue with either the cameraman or the bike on the bike or the or the technical official as we come back to the front of the race. And what a sight that is down this first climb. There hasn’t been any separation. This group still seems to be together, but it Shawnberg looks like he’s pushing hard on the front. And and we know Jamie in second place, he’s his again his strategy for today was to push early and hard on the bike as we we come back into the field and see KB. I’m not sure what that was. I as we see one of the the media personnel come up next to KB here. I think that was some dialogue with the technical official there. Probably telling Christian to move over to the barriers. That’s what it looked like. But Christian was adamant he wanted to come out and make a pass. So we’ll keep an eye on things. Well, there you go. And and looking at this shot, Scott, down the road, you see all those men very different to yesterday. I’d love to take a quick second and just get your reflections on that women’s race losing Charles Barklay, Taylor Nib, and Tanya Neber. Just the top three. What were your impressions yesterday? Yeah, I mean, you know, Lucy and Taylor both coming off of Kona and the experience they had there to see them recover not only physically but also mentally and emotionally uh and come out and compete and race uh for number one, number two, uh was so inspiring uh and uh and Tanya coming in third uh in her second 70.3 ever. uh that sets the bar pretty high for her. Uh so we had an incredible incredible race uh yesterday and with the Iron Man Pro Series and and Cat taking the back-to-back win in the Iron Man Pro Series yesterday, uh I couldn’t think of a better way uh to finish the 2025 season uh for the women. Well said. And uh as we run right back here to this perspective, which I really like, still the dialogue, Craig, what are you thinking? Are you picking anything up that I’m missing? Yeah, I’m not on uh you know he’s still demonstrating with the to so it’ll be interesting to see if he’s been assessed a penalty. I’m not sure why he would he looks like he’s in a good rhythm now. He’s leaving a good gap to the rider in front. I think we just saw Yellow Gans the defending champ uh come past. So yeah, we’ll keep an eye on KB. That’s right. And uh as I come back, Scott, just another um interesting question because you brought it up and uh certainly um disappointing for Cat to to have to pull out, but also with the Pro Series, Iron Man Pro Series, she won again, great way to kind of have a consolation prize, $200,000 consolation prize. So wrapping the season, what are your thoughts on that is specifically that amazing series? Yeah, I mean the Iron Man Pro Series, you know, every second matters and it’s the full season narrative and uh I think it speaks to uh what’s possible now in the sport where obviously the crescendo of the sport being uh the Iron Man World Championship is the pinnacle event. The the Iron Man 70.3 World Championship is the pinnacle middle distance event. Uh but now with the Iron Man Pro Series, we’ve got a storyline and a narrative that runs throughout the entire year and gives the athletes another way of of winning and uh and really uh you know taking the crown for the season. And I think it’s added so much intrigue and drama and just the storyline to the sport. And all of this is about how we invest in the athletes and uh and invest in the sport to help grow grow the sport of triathlon. I love that. And it and it it’s such a great race within the race. It’s such a great component. It keeps people going engaged throughout the season. Uh very good stuff. And now we’re seeing uh a really nice shot here of Christian Blumenfeld. Of course, uh everybody knows his stats at this point, but the man seems to be on a mission. He is aggressive, assertive, was 27th position at one point and has now rolled himself right up to third wheel on the road. So, he’s really crushing I mean early on. He’s also got company, our defending champion, Yelin from Belgium, which I’ll just say this, he was standing on the side of of the Ruby transition, the yellowines, like he had something go wrong and he still made himself to the front. That’s a good effort. Very impressive in a short space of time on the road as we see again off to the side. I’m not sure what’s going on with Yellow and his bike there, but he seems to be he seems to have good legs and good form today. And I really feel we’re on the part of the course that suits him. You know, we we talk about aerodynamics and absolute power, but on a course like this, what’s per kilo, you know, when the when the gradients get up around 5% average incline, what’s per kilo really comes into play. And he’s a smaller 62 kilo athlete, yellow gain. So when you compare that to Rico Bogen who’s 80 kilos, this is the terrain that really suits yellow. So he seems to be up the front of the race. We’ll keep an I’m not sure what’s going on with his bike there. Something that’s that’s two incences that you absolutely don’t want to have at a world championship event. One Yeah. One of the things I don’t like and I promise you I had no idea that was coming when I was referencing the past uh sort of foilable. But coming back, Scott, I just want to look at this scene and we’re watching beautiful cornering of these athletes coming down. This is kind of picture perfect Spanish racing. You saw the whitewash village there in the background. Just a quick uh bit of of insight into how amazing it is for Mara to be here. How important span Spain and Iron Man’s relationship is. Just a little bit about that for us, please. So much history uh with uh with Iron Man in the country of Spain and certainly here in Marba. Uh the community of Marba has been so welcoming to us. I mean, we’ve been, you know, the vision for this this event started a couple years ago. uh and the the leadership of Marba starting with the mayor and her team uh have just been incredible partners uh as we’ve uh developed that vision together and to see it all come to life. I could not be more proud of our team, the community of Marba, the volunteers who come out from around the world but certainly here uh throughout Spain to come and support our athletes and cheer them on and support them on the course. Uh it it takes a village uh to make this happen. Uh and Marba really showed up uh this uh this week in a really really strong and positive way. Wow. Incredible. I I agree with you and I I said this yesterday. Thank you so much for uh being a a contributor to bringing this race here because I feel like I’m super grateful just to be in the south of Spain in the Costa delion of Andalucia. It’s so nice. I just love it. Yeah. And it’s the people make the place and the people here bring the passion, the the hospitality, uh the warmth, uh and just the excitement around the sport. And you walk around Marba uh for the last week since we since at least I’ve been here and you feel it no matter where you go. You go to the restaurants, you go to the shops, uh certainly here at the race, all the spectators coming out and supporting all the athletes. It’s been incredibly fun to watch and I think it’s a great testament to where the sport of triathlon is at today and what the future holds. I I’m really excited about the future of the sport uh for uh for all of the triathletes around the world. Well, I’m equally excited and I am always happy to sit and chat with you. You’ve got great insight and uh really just a true fan of the sport as well as being uh at the helm of our ship. So, thank you so much Scott Daru, the CEO of the Iron Man Group. Thanks for taking time and being here with us today. Thank you. an incredible pleasure and have a wonderful, wonderful day. Enjoy. Get out there and watch this race for us and we’ll catch up with you soon. Craig, I want to just jump in and share something with you. You might have seen this. Wow. What What are we learning here about our defending champ? Well, our awesome spotters out on course have just relayed that yellow had a little had a little spill, a little stack coming out of town. Um lost his visor, potentially got some shifting issues now. So, we’ll keep an eye on that. But again, just speaks to the class and the form that this man’s carrying. in this event that he’s still up the front of the race. It’s it’s ter it’s terrible when you have a mechanical at any race, right? You just never want to see this those bad luck uh instance, but you certainly do not want to have it at the biggest race of the year and to have crashed to have uh you a couple of hurdles early on that you’ve got to clear and and that you weren’t expecting is very very difficult. So, um it it speaks again though to the to the heart of a champion, right? Champions don’t sit down. It’s the champions mindset. They’re they’re ready for anything. We we see it. We saw it in the women’s race yesterday and we see it time and again with the best athletes in our sport. They know how to deal with adversity within these races. That’s why they hold the position within the sport that they do. Correct. Correct. 100%. As we come back high again and take a peek at this uh incredible uh zoot bike course where the magic and the beauty uh of this area only matched by the challenge of this terrain. And uh Minda and I talked about this yesterday, Craig, just the the unique nature where it’s it’s not as technical uh a bike as we saw in Nice, but it is certainly far more technical and demanding on a downhill, a descending nature, than any other course we’ve seen. Uh how does that factor in especially now early in a lot? I mean, I I really think it brings into play all the the skills of cycling, not just the absolute power and the fitness, but the ability to corner, to hold momentum over the rolling hills, to still stay arrow and maximize that element when you can. As we see KB, we’re getting great shots of him using the whole road here. And I mean KB, he’s had a great start to this race. 50 seconds down, but still relatively in touch coming out of T1, but he’s made his way really quickly towards the front of the race. I mean, look at the names on the leaderboard. We got Jamie Riddle leading. We got Yonas Shamberg up there. We’ve got Christian Blumenfelt, Rico Bogen, Panatoss, Patatos up the front, one of our shortc course superstars. So, there’s a lot of firepower right up the front of this race and we are seeing some fireworks early and I think that’s going to continue as we get to the plateau at the top of the climb at about 19 km. You bet. And as we watch these pros, we want to kind of remember that we’ve got 3,400 age group athletes. And many of these athletes, pros and age groupers alike, are racing here this weekend. And they’ve benefited from a very realistic preview of this stunning bike course in their training via Ruvie, the official digital sports platform of Iron Man. Let’s hear a bit from them right now. Welcome to Marbal. My name is Petra SK and I’m co-founder and CEO of Rowi, the official digital sports platform of Iron Man and the virtual cycling app which helps you to achieve your sport dreams. I established together with my brother the company 15 years ago to resolve our own problem. As a semi-professional cyclist, our indoor cycling winter preparation was quite boring and not so efficient. We resolve it. Right now, ROI has more than 250K active cyclist and traits. We digitalize the cycling world. We enable you to ride her real courses from your home. Stay motivated, be efficient, and get race day ready. For example, you can ride Kona as many times as you need. It’s just simple and easy to use. You need ROI and smart trainer. Today, we celebrate almost one year of partnership with Iron. It’s an incredible year of learning discussing of row value for you athletes and partners and we are excited about the next years. We want to resolve the preparation for you athletes too. We have committed being the best digital sports platform for triathletes and we mean this seriously. We have already digitized more than 75 Iron Man and Iron Man 70.3 courses and in our pipeline we have much more. We will enable you to write any iron man course in the focused mode. Soon you will be able to import any GP courses and much more. And finally, we are here to bring you value all the year. I wish all the best to all participants of precision fuel and hydration Iron Man 70.3 World Championship in Marbella. Good luck and keep going. I’m Craig Alexander with Michael Lovado and Mirinda Carfrey and you’re watching the 2025 precision fuel and hydration Iron Man 70.3 World Championships from Marbaya, Spain. Rinnie, we’re here with the men’s lead group. Still on the climb and we’re getting word that Yellow Gans, he’s had that little spill, that little stack, and now he’s stuck in one gear. Yeah, that’s not not at all uh ideal for a course like this. Uh it’s not ideal for any course, but uh when you’re riding mountains like this, um you need access to every single gear. And when Yeah, it’s just going to be a tough day for him. I mean, hopefully I don’t know if he can get it sorted or if he can just um grit and you know, grin and bear it for now, but uh honestly, we got the man in green right now, Christian Blumenfeld, and he’s right in a great position like sitting right in that main pack. Um keeping out of trouble. Everything looks to be um rolling along smoothly for for him right now. I was really surprised in the swim to see Rico Bogen so far off the back of the pack. Um, chatting with Luke and wondering is there something off or a right with him. You never see him that far down. He was actually off the back of that main group of athletes. So, really surprised to see that. But he’s right up in there now. So, clearly the bike legs have shown up and he’s still feeling good. Yeah, the bike legs have definitely shown up. It’s it’s interesting in a in a stacked swim field like that, you can get boxed in at the start or if you miss the start or your positioning is a little off. You can end up further back in the pack. But yeah, he was definitely detached off the back, which spoke to something else. But he’s his bike legs have shown up and he’s right on the front of this group and doing what he likes to do, which is just put out immense power. So yeah, I mean this immense power. Apparently it’s 400 watts for 80 km. Like that’s the goal. Yeah, that’s that’s what he holds in uh you know the 80k bike uh races that he does in triathon. So um just an incredible talent, but Jamie Riddle still sitting on the front here and having a real crack of it. Yeah, Jamie Riddle looks good at that last shot we saw of Christian. I it looked like he was getting a little detached off this group. We can see him coming into the back of the picture here. So he’s sort of yo-yoing as we say off the back of this front group, but we are starting to see some a bit of selection at the front of this race. certainly a front group forming and it’s really been just Shamberg and Riddle who have who have laying down the power and have created this gap. And here here’s what I’d like to know as as we talk a little bit about our Norwegian duo and looking at Christian Blumenfeld. He’s got about 22 seconds at the last check over Casper Stor. How much of the effort early and on the bike in particular for KB is he trying to just get away because hey last time he got outrun by his training partner. Is he trying to get away from those guys early? That that’s a great qu a really great question cuz I feel in Nice maybe KB along with Lelo were the aggressors who who bridged up to our four breakaway early leaders and and Casper Storis was almost the beneficiary of that. he was able to sit back and be more measured with his pacing and it seems he’s doing the same thing here. But this is what we’ve come to expect from KB. He’s he just wants to get to the front of the race and he’s doing it again. Casper Stor is although we are saying there’s some separation starting to form, it’s seconds, not minutes. And the main 30 or 40 athletes are still all within close proximity of each other. So it looks like Casper’s being patient again. It was a strategy that served him well two months ago and I’m sure he’s not going to change too much in terms of the way he paces in his strategy. It is half the distance and it’s a definitely a more explosive effort, but it’s still a a measured steady state effort within that. Correct. And look at that overhead shot there of our road. No straight lines here as they climb climb and climb up this zoot bike course. Take a look at the graphic below as we approach Ohhen. And uh you’ll have a little bit of a crest there before some nice downhill uh segments. And then of course the real meat of the climbing comes again on the way back. We we just have I I’d say quite a varied course here. Um we’re watching the dynamics change in and out. We’ve got Jamie Riddle at the front. Jonas Schoberg in second. Yellows our defending champ in third. Rico Bowden in fourth. Christian Blumenfeld chasing him down. Who is going to be in front at the start of the descent coming up? We’re not here to sell you on this life. You already chose it. No shortcuts, no hype, just work. Same as you. Built to outlast, endure. 40 years in and we’re just getting warmed up. Welcome to the Ohana. This is baby. Endurance isn’t just about medals. It’s about showing up. 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I’ve kind of recovered, but also been a bit tired and then like borderline sick for a very long time. It’s been a good season here to finish it off with a bang. Hopefully, can be in the mix to do something. My third place in the pro series should be pretty safe, I hope. But um yeah, let’s see how it goes. And here we have the other Norwegian ants. How are you, Casper? I’m good. I hope. So, yeah. Looking forward to race. It’s going to be nice. Are we waiting for Christ? As usual. As usual. As usual. I found her walker. I I invited myself. That’s great. You can tell me that. I’m just going to stop you. I just told her to not go too hard in the hills. Let’s go. We’ll see if I can get not Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Can I get all can happen in a race, but like 12 minutes is maybe too much to ask for to take the pro series, but uh I focus more on the race here than Yeah. battling Christian for the pro series. You never know. That’s kind of though. Yeah, my fellow Norwegian friend uh Sebastian is uh is racing and uh yeah, he’s strong on a swim in the bike and uh also a good runner. So, I think he can shake it up. And it’s a long time since I raced Yala. So, it’s going to be cool to race him again. I don’t have power. I don’t know how much we pushing. 340. 340. So like 10 minutes at 340 watts. So I guess it’s going to be more push on race day. Yeah, I think still Christian is the one to beat. He’s uh been training almost better now than before N. So uh yeah, I think it’s going to be exciting. Is it you can’t dwell on something in the past, but you can learn. We live, we laugh, we learn. Wasn’t it? Live, fry, learn. Live, cry, learn. Laugh, cry, learn. And those guys living, laughing, crying, and learning. So, actually that’s quite quite savvy, quite good words to live by. Um, and the reference there uh to the other Norwegian, the other other other Norwegian, Sebastian uh Wernerson watching out for that 23-year-old. When you get the call out from uh from someone like Gustaf Eden, you’ve got to you’ve got to be proud of yourself. Hey, you’re in the mix. You’ve got a lot to live up to as well, though. As well, no pressure. No pressure, Sebastian. And and and just sort of throwing it out there. It he’s we’re saying Casper Sores needs to get 12 minutes to get up on the Iron Man Pro Series. 12 minutes. It’s a tall ask. It’s a tall ask when at the pace these men run at. So yeah, I mean look that the Iron Man Pro Series adds another layer of intrigue and interest for sure, but at the moment these men are racing for an Iron Man 70.3 World title first and foremost. Um that’s a nice little cherry on top, particularly with the the prize purse and the prestige of winning the Iron Man Pro Series. But yeah, I think right now their mind’s on other things. It sure is. And I want to just remind everyone as we faded away from that fighting chance that if you want to see more of those, uh, we’ll show you some more, but go to Iron Man Try and you see the full episodes as well as proseries.ironirman.com and you get more inside action there. Um, as we come back here to our race and we are lucky enough to be joined by another special guest, a man in this sport who needs very little introduction. Uh you may not recognize his voice, but you’re about to hear the buttery soft tones of a very fast athlete, uh iron man world champion, just one of the small titles to his credit. This of course is from France, Sam Lelo. Thanks for joining us, Sam. Yeah, thanks for having me. It’s um yeah, already shaping up to be an exciting race and uh I thoroughly enjoyed watching the women’s race yesterday. So yeah, it’s um yeah, it’s been so far I mean everything’s kind of as expected, I think. um a very very dense uh dense race though. I think at one point I just checked a few few minutes ago and there was like nearly 30 guys within a minute. I think now seems to be a front a front group of riders that have pulled away and uh again as expected uh Magnus is now leading the race and uh and going full gas on the section that really suits him. I think uh he came in almost as an underdog and I I told everyone here that um that yeah I actually fancied his like fancied him for the win or definitely the podium simply because he’s had a bit of a frustrating season uh despite showing early on that he was really good in South Africa. Yeah, it’s a great point. I mean Magnus was one of the I mean his stars been on the rise for probably 5 years now. He had he’s had a couple of incredible backto-back seasons. This season started amazingly well with a win at Iron Man South Africa. Then he had the punctures in Utah. He had that drafting or not drafting, sorry, the littering controversy at the European Championships which really messed with his race and and and was battling illness in Nice. So, not the season, but still we we can’t ever count out the pedigree and and as you mentioned, I mean, he’s got the uh you know, the big frame, so probably the early miles of this course don’t suit, but he’s now in his sweet spot at that plateau at the top with his absolute power. Yeah, I mean, I’ve raced Magnus a lot over the years. Um, and although in Iron Man I seem to have always for the full distance, sorry, I’ve seem to have got the better of him, when it comes to uh the half iron man racing or or the T100s, he’s always been so so strong. Um, he has an incredibly high FTP and as you said, he’s a he’s a bigger guy. Um, and he’s just very very good. I think he he’s obviously done a lot of work uh when it comes to aerodynamics, but at very high speeds because at the end of the day now, the races are getting so dense that this is where the differences are made. you know, everyone can ride at 40, 45, but not everyone can ride at 65. Uh, and now we’re seeing that now. You can see the the field is being stretched out by Magnus and and Jamie’s hanging on. There’s even a gap there, it seems, between Jamie and Jonas. And, uh, yeah, the pressure is definitely on right now. Yeah, this is a great scene seeing Magnus Ditliff on the front of this race. It’s interesting just talking about the attention to detail and the marginal gains as the average speeds get higher and higher. All of those things come more into play than ever before. And you guys do a lot of testing with equipment and Magnus is one guy who’s who’s known for the testing, changing things up, innovating with his drink bottle position and all those sorts of things. So, and and this is the part of the course where it’s really going to come into play. Yeah. Um, Magnus is someone who’s very secretive, I would say, about his uh optimization and and testing. Uh, I think he even came to Kona last year with a kind of a full bike pretty much that it wasn’t allowed in the end. Um so yeah he’ll probably uh he’ll probably be one of the guys who’s there pushing uh the innovation and I think even the cycling world to some extent has to thank triathlon because they they’re obviously have so many rules that we don’t have necessarily and so it it forces us to look for new new solutions you know and um Magnus is someone who who’s also very close to um Fusion’s headquarters living in Denmark so he he can um he can spend a lot a lot more time than some of these athletes who who don’t necessarily have access to it. Um, but yeah, I mean this course is really interesting because it’s actually you’d think if you’re doing a 2hour time trial or 90 km time trial, the guys would just stay at around whatever 350 watts, but this is really a course where you’re either at threshold or letting off the gas and um and trying to know when to push to push the power is really really important. So do you think to that point it’s not your traditional time trial um effort that it brings some of the short course guys into play here because that’s sort of their sweet spot in terms of threshold over threshold V2 max efforts recovering a little under threshold. It’s it’s kind of a different power profile to your normal time trial. Yeah, it’s it’s very different. And um for the for the the guys like Magnus who want to get away and who don’t want to be the faster runners, they’re they actually have a bit of a a bit of a dilemma, which is a similar dilemma to I had in in Nice, is that Magnus right now is probably not riding to go as fast as possible. He’s riding uh to get away from the best runners because to ride as fast as possible, you need to apply a lot of power in the slower parts of the course and then kind of let off the gas in the faster parts. but he knows being a heav guy that the chance of him getting away from the lighter athletes uh his best chance is going to be on them fast descents. So, um yeah, it’s interesting to see that. Yeah, it’s amazing. I I just love the different tactics and strategies that you need. I mean, every every course has its specific performance requirements, right? And um I think it’s one of the great things about where the sport has has headed the last three or four years, just it’s not just a blanket approach. You got to be really really specific um for the course and the athletes you’re racing against. We got some vision before of Casper Storis, our Iron Man world champion. He seemed to be in the mix. And also Miguel Hodalgo was was on the screen um not long ago as well and he seems to be in good form and and is an athlete who can bounce between distances. So we’ll keep an eye on him. And I’ll say this, the first mention of a possibility for Magnus Diva being on the podium comes from you and I want to kind of dive back into that. if you see him getting on the podium, what sort of lead does he need? What kind of time does he need to generate uh in front of these guys off the bike? Sam? Uh yeah, it’s a tough question. Um I think I think Magnus is is is also a really good runner obviously. Fantastic. And um I think over the likes of Christian probably uh 2 minutes or Christian or Hidalgo or Casper. Um but yeah, it’s it’s difficult because the the density is so high now that this you can’t really say he needs this much. There’s so many athletes that could run maybe 1 minute slower than Magnus, you know. But yeah, I mean for sure so far Casper’s done everything right. Um and the big big uh advantage that Casper has got right now is just his confidence. you know, he’s he’s pretty confident that if he can be within uh a minute or two of these guys, um and I think that’s really what what kind of shine through in um in Nice was his confidence. Uh to have the confidence to let the other two uh Norwegians go in front and just carry on running at 3:30 um is yeah, it takes a lot of confidence and I think that’s something it’s one of his biggest strengths right now. Well, let me put you on the spot and reframe the question. This this run course, I mean, you’ve seen the course, you watched Milan race yesterday, you watched the women’s race. What do you think it will take to to win on this course? Um uh I I think it won’t or what do you think Christian will run on this course? What do I think Christian will run? I I think uh so actually the first thing my my partner said when she came across the line was like wow that that run was really really hard like much harder than she expected having to go over the bridges and then the corners and then the rough terrain a bit on the along the beach. Um so I actually when I was making my predictions I I predicted yellows winning the race. Um I I thought that Christian would make the bike really hard but then maybe uh suffer from it which we’ve seen in the past with some with some cramp issues. Uh but obviously Yella uh has had some mechanical which uh on this course is is not ideal at all. Um and yeah I think one thing I mean I’ve I I’ve gone out and I’ve wrecked the bike. Um and the the way back is a real long drag. Um, and I I think at this at this level in the first 40 50k, all the guys uh are pretty similar. You know, if you put them on the 40 50k time trial, they’d all be within a minute of each other. But on the way back, that’s where we’ll really see uh the guys who have have worked on that strength endurance. Um because it’s it’s a long drag back before hitting the final descent. Some great course insights there, Michael. I know. Fantastic. And just to be able to pick the brain of a champion like Sam has been fantastic. I’ll just say, do you have a little bit of FOMO? Do you wish you were out there? I knew this question was going to going to be asked. Um, not really. Not really. Um, I mean, I I’ve actually, a fun fact, but I’ve actually never or should I say I’ve never finished a 70.3. I did one 70.3 when I was 18 years old, and other than that, I’ve never done one. So, uh, yeah, I need to be on a start line before coming to a world championship. It’s the beauty of Oman. Our tradition, our hospitality, the sounds of limitless opportunities to explore. Listen, it’s Oman. You know, and we know the thing about challenging yourself is you’re always looking for what’s next. Oh, come on. Hey, hey, hey. Our broadcast today is brought to you by Oman. Beauty has an address. Endurance has a destination. Experience Oman. And by Brightling, Aspire for the ultimate finish line reward. And today we are tackling an amazing course here in Marba. I’m Michael Evado sitting here with Sam Lelo and Craig Alexander. And we are watching the Zoot Bike course. We’re not even to the halfway point, but this precision Iron Man 70.3 World Championship is offering everything we asked for. Sam, we left with you saying you don’t really miss being out there, which is cool because we get to benefit by having you here at the booth. Um, we’ll come back here. Now, we’re looking at Rico Bogen. Do you think we’re going to see him push on through? Our 2023 uh champ here at this race. Yeah, Rico is an interesting athlete cuz um he’s very very aggressive and he’s someone who he’s either he either he just goes until he blows basically. So, which which I like, you know, and I’ve been like that in the past. And um so but it also means that he’s either going to probably be on the podium or or uh or way out of top 10 with this density. Um so yeah, he’s just going to stay at the front and he’s someone who for a bigger guy has really got some quick run speed, you know, so he could he he’ll probably be up there for the first 10k of the run pushing it still. Um but yeah, again, I really think that once they get to the turnaround, that’s when we’ll start to see um who the who the real men are, let’s say. I like it. I like it. and Rico Bogen interesting like you said I mean to that to that point he’s only won two 70.3s one was the world championship you know and then he you know so it’s it shows that he’s probably putting it out there and you got to swing swing swing sometimes you hit the home run sometimes you strike out yeah it’s it’s his big play isn’t it go for the win go for broke and as fans and people watching it it makes it interesting for us um looking at this front group on paper I mean if I were to ask you who were the best three or four cyclists on the men’s side of our sport at this distance I mean some of names you come up with would be Magnus Ditliff, Rico Bogen, Yona Shamberg, and and they’re all at the front of this race. So, um, you know, it’s shaping up nicely. I love Sam’s point, though. You know, 40 50k into a 90k bike ride, you can gloss over a lot of the deficiencies in the cracks. That that climb coming back from the turnaround, which is slightly past the halfway point in this ride, I think we’ll get a better indication. And and also just just the the slightly cooler temperatures here. I think it it sort of lends itself to more of a Rico Bogen play. I mean, the cooler temperatures keep the heart rate’s a touch lower, the core body temperature a touch cooler. So, it it kind of makes it easier to to expend that energy on the bike as we get a a nice closeup of Yellow Gans. Not sure if he’s still having those mechanical issues, but if he is, he’s he’s certainly packed his riding legs for for Marbay this year. Yeah, these are perfect perfect temperatures to race in. And I mean even the the water is kind of on the cooler side. So sometimes when the wet when um temperature can be kind of just on the limit of being uh wet suit illegal can can also play a role on on the race dynamic and you can see a lot of guys actually overheat on the swim already and then just be completely cooked for the bike. Um which which is great that we don’t don’t have that today as it means that everyone is just going out there and going full gas. Um I just saw there on the tracker one interesting name is Matis Marguire who’s actually quite he was in the pack behind and he’s made it to the front pack now. Um so he’s probably the fastest on course from the start. Uh which again for a bigger guy to say he’s gone over that climb um fastest and then and then caught up onto that group. Um yeah, it’s it’s interesting and I think that now maybe maybe him and Magnus or something could work together on the way back once he’s uh recovered a bit. But yeah, I’ve I’ve known Matt Matis, sorry, for since my junior years and uh he was so so strong on on the bike back then already. Yeah. Well, Matise is known in the in the T100 races for just exploding the field and he’s had I mean backed it up with good runs. He’s had a whole bunch of top five finishes this year. So, yeah, it is interesting. You mentioned Magnus Ditliff earlier and and now Matise bigger guys, but still managing this early part of the course really well and probably coming to a part of the course profile that suits them suits them better. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. This is um it’s interesting to see. Obviously, everyone knew the field was incredible uh this race, but I I really feel we’re almost seeing a change in how the races are going to play out just because there’s so many guys still at 45K. Um and it’s yeah, it’s going to people are going to have to rethink their strategies, you know, in the future or for for someone like me. Uh, for instance, I if I wanted to win this race, I would have to drastically uh work on my run, even if it meant kind of letting go of of the cycling maybe because um yeah, it’s very very difficult to get away when you’re 15 m behind someone. Um, you’re saving a lot of a lot of watts. Um, and obviously the faster you go, the more watts you’re saving uh at 15 m uh or 20 m. And um yeah, so it it will really be a run race, I think, today. That’s great insight as well. And and it it really I I just love you’re analyzing yourself. You’re in offseason. You’re thinking about it and um it does the dynamics changing. You’ve really got to figure it out. What’s the best way to play your cards on the day? Uh let’s get back into the dynamics of the ups and downs and now getting bunched up and really having to stay out of trouble. Talk to the viewers, Craig and Sam, about that that difficulty in staying legal, not getting the penalty, intentional or otherwise. Yeah, I think it’s an interesting dynamic and Sam alluded to before the the different draft rules at different events here. I I really feel in a a group with this much power and kind of evenly matched guys, you have to be hyper vigilant first of all that you don’t get into the draft zone, but I think these are guys are good enough and experienced enough and the pack the selection it’s it’s a lot smaller now and they know each other and respect each other. can you can stay outside a bit to I guess to counteract that concertinering effect. You know, you get strung out over the over the crest of a hill and then, you know, when you hit the next crest, the guys in front, they’re going up as you’re still coming down and carrying speed. You just got to you just got to watch that. And I think it it plays to the the tactics, but also your own pacing strategy. If you can spread out a little bit further, it just means you can hold power a little bit steadier. Yeah, for sure. Um the camera right now is on on Jonas and actually just made me think this is probably the first race we’ve seen Jonas um race smart which uh normally he’s he’s on the front. He’s out of T1 first. He’s out of T2 first and he he almost races with his legs and his heart and not not so much his brain, but I don’t know if this is a sign that he’s not having his best day or that he’s having a great day. Um but yeah, he could definitely be one to watch because he he’s a extremely fast runner. I think um he recently finished third in in the T100 also just which was one week after the IMAT World Championships. Um so yeah, maybe with a bit of freshness he can pull something out of the bag. Yeah, amazing powers of recovery. Got third in that T100 and 7 days later. I mean the nutrition, the super shoes, they they all I guess improve recovery, but I don’t care. That’s still unbelievably impressive. Um it’s interesting. It could be maturity or it could be a sign he’s not feeling good, but it also could be a mark of respect that this is the strongest field that he’s raced in this year and he knows who he’s up against and maybe he does need to just manage his race a little bit better than he has previously. Yeah, I mean it’s right right now whoever’s on the front of that pack will be pushing I would say 100 watts more than someone like Jonas right now. Um, and that’s, yeah, I mean, half iron man is difficult because it’s now the level and with nutrition as you said and and the and the science behind it, you can race full gas. So, it’s um, yeah, it’s a bit of a gamble because obviously you want to race aggressively. Um, but again, you you’ve got to be smart. You’ve got to be smart, you know, and the chances of one of these guys coming off the bike uh, with a with a minute lead and if they do, what what has that cost them? Um, so I think all of these guys know right now that it’s going to it’s going to be a run race. I think some some of them like Mattis Oh, well Mattis is at the front again now. Um, so yeah, this is a really really impressive ride for Mattis because he’s made it back from pretty much the the second the second big pack. Um, and he’s pushing and even Magnus there looks to be leaving at least 20 m. Yeah. So yeah, now I I’m hoping that him and Magnus can work together. Um yeah, just so we can see that the the bike does have a bit more of a a role on the race, but even if these two come in with a minute or two uh over over the best runners, it’s going to be really tough for them to hold that off after it took. Yeah, for sure. I mean that that Matise and Magnus, this is their play. If if they want to win this race and take the toddler, they need to make a move, you know, the remaining miles of this bike course. I feel Shamberg Yellow Gains, I mean, I feel Yella feels he can run a fast time on this course. So, he’s in the box seat right now. Um, yeah, I I I did a podcast with uh with Yellow a few weeks back and he was up in Andor um and he he raced a lot this season obviously and he just felt that his he was having good races, but when you race a lot, it’s also difficult to to do a big blocker training and he just felt that his kind of all of his levels, his thresholds were kind of slowly going down a bit. And so, he made the decision to go to Andor and do a proper proper block before this race and that can definitely definitely pay off. And that’s what you need if you want to win a big race uh like this. How’s the podcast going? What have you got to do to get an invite on it? I I’ll find you a VIP pass. There you go. And I tell you what, a fighting chance presented by Hoka is a race week series that pulls back the curtain and gives you behind the scenes looks at everyday lives of these elite triathletes around the world. And this week we caught off the caught up with the guy that you guys are chatting about, Yonas Shoberg. Let’s hear what he had to say. I try to hide as much as possible, but I think my character is more like being aggressive. Try to push the swim, push the bike. How do you feel being in Marba? Uh just got here last night and then first day here. Expected a bit sunnier to be honest, but you can’t have it all. But the race course looks nice so far. So yeah, 45 not faster, isn’t it? How’s that training build been? I had a lot of fitness still, but I was working now on the speed a bit more. Still worked on my bike. Got a new bike, a new setup. That was also helping for the motivation to keep me going after knees because normally you have like a little dip after an Iron Man afterwards. But I was pretty fine. I enjoyed it. So you already have a WhatsApp group going. Are you in that group? I was in the group. I was a main character in the group. Job was to do like push it around the boys to break up the swim. I did it actually in the uh this uh this is a little bit of a hilly uh hilly course. Yeah, but I think the harder the better normally for me. I actually like it when it’s even hotter. So, I hope for a hot humid day, choppy water would be perfect. Uh, but you can’t have it all. I think my shape is pretty good. Last session went really well actually and didn’t do attitude. So, this time I’m coming from sea level. I feel like feeling fresh and that’s the most important thing. I know it’s big field. Uh, I think one of the strongest ever. The Norwegians are here. I think hard to beat them, but I tried to do my best. Uh I think I have a good shot or like being in the game and then bit of revenge like coming from knees try to beat this time going for the podium. Yeah, thanks very much Yonas Shoberg from Germany and his fighting chance presented by Hoka. If you want more of that, watch some short AFC episodes on Instagram and then at Ironman Try and AFC, you’ll see the full episodes also on ProSeries.irman.com. So, check that out also on the iron manathon YouTube channel. And uh if I look at this, I I I love the attitude. I love the confidence. I love a little bit of swagger. And uh but also real. I mean, he knows this is the deepest field. He’s got to he’s got to get serious. He’s got to do everything right. Um ju just pausing for a second. 236 he ran a knees, got that sixth place, and bounced back pretty quickly. I think that’s that’s a that’s a great sign. Either the fitness rolling in or some cards played well. What do you guys think about that, Sam? I mean, that’s impressive. Yeah, I mean 236 is one thing, but um 236 after the state he was in in the last 30k of the bike is even more impressive. I I I I rolled past him um at like kilometer 150 I think. And honestly, I think I was going like three times his speed and I was like this guy’s done like done done. And he lost 8 minutes I think or something in the last 30k and then and then and then by the end of the run I was like looking behind hoping that he wouldn’t catch me. So, um, yeah, it was it was impressive and it shows that he’s, um, he’s someone who definitely doesn’t lack fitness. Uh, he’s apparently someone who trains a lot, um, and who’s very, very strong in training. So, I think he’s just, um, yeah, lacking more, I would say, experience over the distance, but, already this is his his first year in uh, in long distance coming from short course and um, yeah, he’s had a great season so far, I would say. Yeah, I think it speaks to amazing physical conditioning and mental toughness as well. ability to hang in there, manage himself as we see Matis Majerier just doing what he loves to do, which is get on the front, drop some great power. Hopefully he can get some help from Magnus Ditle and Rico Bogen because at the moment we’ve got a few noted runners sitting in this front group and they look to be sitting pretty. Can Matis get away? Will he make this little gap stick or will that group roll him back in? Let’s find out. Welcome to the world’s best airline, where your journey is five-star, and so is your Wi-Fi. Experience the fastest connection in the sky with Starlink. And best of all, it’s free for all passengers. So why settle for less when you deserve the best? We’re not here to sell you on this life. You already chose it. No shortcuts, no hype, just work. Same as you. Built to outlast, endure. 40 years in and we’re just getting warmed up. Welcome to the Ohana. and we are watching the precision Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. I’m Michael Lovado. I’ve been joined today by a great crew, including Sam Ladello, uh, Iron Man Champion of the past. And of course, I’m sitting with Craig Alexander, three-time Iron Man winner in Kona, and a two-time winner of this Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. Uh, great insight from all of these incredible uh, guests. And what you’re seeing on the road is a lot of back and forth. We’ve now got Magnus Ditle at the front. He’s he’s kind of bounced back and forth now. Yellow, our defending champ in second place. Fantastic. Just two seconds back. Rico Bogen uh won two years ago. He’s now in third. Yonas Schoberg, who we heard a lot from, the young German, 31 years old, uh is in fourth with uh the Frenchman Matis Majerier in fifth. I said that fifth and also Christian Blumenfeld, the guy on camera that’s wrapping up your sixth uh top six right there. And Craig, it it’s it’s a little bit of a gap here that we’re seeing that that group of five pull away from KB. Not too worried. I think it speaks to again the nature of the up down kind of go when you have the legs and stay confident with that gap. What do you think? Yeah, it’s a dangerous position to be on the back of the group. Um when you get on these rollers, you know, you’re cresting a hill and the front of the group’s doing 55 60 km an hour on the other downside on the other side of the crest. So yeah, KB’s just got to pay attention, but he’s got enough experience as again we get a great closeup of Matis Majerier, and he just looks quite composed and comfortable doing what he loves to do, which is just use his bike strength to, you know, set up a good race for himself. And I really see this front group is being sort of split in two. We’ve got the the power bikers, you know, we’ve got Matis, we got Magnus Ditliff, Rico Bogen, Yona Shamberg normally, although he looks like he might be racing a smarter race. And then we’ve also got Jamie Riddle, we got Yellow Gans, we got KB in there, Casper Storz, um Pang Panortas Batos, who’s a noted runner, has run multiple sub 110 half marathons this year in 70.3 events. So, um, yeah, it’s an interesting dynamic. I I really feel those bikers, if they want to get on the podium, they have to create some separation from the more noted runners in this group. That’s right. And Potatoes did that 10759. So, under 110 by a couple minutes. Uh, the numbers still very staggering when you say them out loud. But, Blumenfeld here out of the saddle looking over shoulder taking a chance to do a few things. Get that power from being up, get a little stretch of the back, and also take a peek behind to see where they’re at. All at less of an arrow cost. um when you when you’re going up a hill like this, you lose less of those aerodynamic advantages. But I think he looks great. I think I think that um he’s positioned well. His run again, one of the best in the sport, if not the best consistently. But God, it it’s I think we know this, it’s going to be fire when they leave Ruvie T2. Absolutely. I mean, I guess on paper, and I I know we don’t race on paper, but on paper, I feel we’ve got the two best runners at this distance. Um, certainly over the last two years in Yellow Gans and and Christian Blumenfelt. And you can probably throw Casper Storus into that mix as well because there was that epic jewel that um, you know, that KB and Casper had in Axon Province earlier this year in the Pro Series event there. So, where they ran 107 low and and really they were shoulderto-shoulder until the last kilometer of the run. So, um I think Yellow Gins is on that level though. So, and you know, looking at KB, he we’ve seen him on screen a few times as we’re looking back to the front of this group and we see Magnus making the pass on Matise. So, Magnus is going to lay down some watts now and maybe try and string this group out a little bit. But, you know, we haven’t seen much of yellows, but when we have seen him, apart from when he’s been sitting on the side of the road, he’s looked comfortable. He’s looked He has I I agree. He look He’s looked good. He’s looked just He’s doing what he needs to do. He’s using all his class and his experience to position well. We saw Christian, you know, bridge up up the first climb and he was demonstrating with somebody maybe about the lead motorbikes. Who knows what that was about? I’m sure we’ll find out after the race. And but yeah, we’ve seen him sort of dangle off the back a couple of times too. Um, and I guess the only question mark over his race for me and Nice was did he expend too much energy trying to get up to the Martin Vanreal Shamberg Riddle group and whereas Casperis was just sort of maybe a little bit more patient in that race. So this is a shorter race. Um, so so time will tell, but yeah, it looks like this group has certainly they’ve they’ve created a big gap on the main chase group and we have some of the best runners in the sport in this group. So this for me is where the race is right now. Well, yeah, some great some great insight there as we come to Magnus Ditlev. Uh the the interesting thing I pulled out of the chat with Sam Ladello is that the way Magnus gets away is not ever going to be on a climb. He’s going to do it just opposite. If he wants to get away from the riders behind, he needs to really excel on the easier parts of the course, the downhill, really maximize his aerodynamic advantage, really maximize that high power. Uh what are you seeing here? Yeah, I I just see that this gap at the back with Christian again as sort of blown out. It’s deceptive camera angle, but it looks to me like to be I don’t know 30 m, maybe more, 40. I think you’re right. And you know, this is more the I think the dynamic that you you’d want to see if if you’re comfortable. You don’t you certainly don’t want to be at 12 when there’s only five or six in the group, but you’d be at you’d be more at like 17 m. 17 to 20 m, I think. that 17 to 20 meter gap is comfortable. It means you don’t have to accelerate too much. Um there’s no yo-yoing as they call it. Um you know when you keep getting strung out to 30 m or 40 and then you’re back to 12 and then back to 30, it’s just using energy that really you may need in the run. Yes, indeed. And and I think back if I kind of come to how we were talking about NI and looking at this race where I believe and and shoot me down here if I’m wrong, it happens often. Uh you can afford a little bit more risk. You can for you can sort of you pay a little bit less on the run in a race like this. If you do overextend or race a little bit inappropriately, we’ll say. So 13.1 miles or 21K, it’s it’s not easy. It’s not quick, but before you really get in trouble, the race is over. Uh I think at this 70.3 distance. And so that that’s just saying, can you come out here and maybe you’re in this group, can you just sort of say, I’ve got to go. I’ve really got to go for it. Now is the time. Kind of light it up and see what I can do. Yeah, definitely looks like the back of this front group is being distanced. Martis, his addition to this front group has it’s like dropped a hand grenade. It has at the front there. So Christian, he I mean he’s just got to keep things steady here and he knows what he needs to do. I mean he can see that group. They’re just they’re probably 10 to 12 seconds up the road in front. So it’s interesting. Jamie Riddle’s still in the group. I think Shamberg’s still in the group. Yellow still in the group. So certainly not ideal for KB. Um he’s just been gapped off the back as has Casperis and it looks like Paneeras Pats has has also as well. So just that relentless power on the front, you know, it looked like Martisa Magnus just taking turns to keep the pressure on and it’s finally starting to pay dividends for them. I agree. And now we’re looking at the Italian Allesio Crochiani, our swim leader. Uh they’re still in the mix, not getting dispatched uh by these other athletes. So great stuff there to see Bib 58 uh pushing along there. And then we’re back here and I think you’re right. There’s our there’s our player. That’s the the variable that came in the Frenchman chasing the DNE. So Magnus did leave up on the saddle on the right side now in white uh with um with Matis here coming by. I mean what an effort because that’s just that kind of hill where you can get up and just dance on the pedals and really push and hurt the folks that are trying to stay with you. And that’s an assertive effort right there. That’s a move. Yeah, the I this is an orchestrated movement. and by orchestrated. I don’t know if they talked about it before the race, but clearly the race situation the way it is, these two have locked eyes and and said, “Let’s just let’s keep the pressure on.” And I love it. They’re they’re winners. This is their their big card to play and they’re going to play it. That’s right. And watching the man on front here on the pointy end of the race. We caught up with him earlier. Let’s hear what Matis Marier said to us earlier. I know you didn’t have the 70.3 worlds you wanted last year. How you feeling coming into this race this time around? H for sure I want to I want to to have a great race because last year I had a a draft penalty drafting penalty. So yeah, it was I was really disappointed after the race. So I will try to to not have a blue card this time. I will try to push hard on the bike to to do a great race. Yeah. Do you think this course is like perfect for you? Really suits you? It’s good because the the the bike is going to be toss, you know, and it’s going to be difficult on some part to to draft because uh it’s uphill, but uh you know, I’m quite a heavy guy uh on the circuit. So, it’s good for me, but I I would have to push really really big power on the on the climbs because uh some guys are lighter than me and really strong on the bike, for example, yellow gins or like that. But yeah, it’s good good course for me. But um I will wait for the way back to to push my my power, I think. Yeah. So on the downhill, you think that’s where you can take advantage on the the first downhill it’s really fast and I think if you are in front of the group, uh you’re going to do big efforts and the guy behind you, it’s only 12 m. So it’s going to be easy for them. So it depends. If you’re alone, yeah, if I’m alone, I’m going to push hard to to make the gap bigger. But if you’re with the group, it’s better to stay behind. There you go. That’s the man that is at the front of our race today. Here he is on camera. A bigger, heavier guy. He doesn’t look that way on camera, but he’s chasing again uh the great Dne, the great figure of well, he’s right in front of Magnus Ditlev now. Uh but have a look there. Our latest time split shows uh our defending champ up front um here. Is that correct? Wow. Does that does that gap ring for you? I mean, they’re showing 30 seconds yellow. Is that is that accurate on the tracker where he’s pushed ahead like that? Yeah, Michael. Uh Yellow Gins, it looks like he’s the form runner in that front group now. It looks like we’ve got uh he’s leading. Yes, that’s correct. That’s him. Um just passing uh Jamie Riddle um on the left there. But uh it looks like KB is off the back of that group 30 seconds and Batardos and also Storz. So uh those three notables um you know in the runner group of this uh pack now uh sort of the pressure on them. Yeah, the pressure is on for sure. I mean we saw that we’ve seen some assertive moves Randy um where these guys are just I think they’re making them I mean they’re really making their mark. They’re making everyone behind work. It’s it’s just it’s going to be a very fast bike. We were just under 230 for the women yesterday. The men uh really pushing the pace to the low twos. Yeah, I think this tracker split we just got is clearly is not right. It’s not quite right. Yeah, it still looks like Magnus and Matis are on the front. Yeah, I think so, too. And and just seeing that there’s not 30 there’s no 30 seconds between anyone. No, but but to Rein’s point, it’s there’s kind of an internal battle going on in this group here because clearly these these boys know the run pedigree of a yellow um uh Jamie Riddle. So um you know, in a perfect world, they don’t want to be rolling into Ruby T2 with with, you know, um athletes who are going to run 106 or 107. So, um, we’re getting some footage here of he grabbed that second bottle. That was good. We saw a slow-mo, missed bottle, grabbed bottle. Always an art there to keep the speed where you need to be for the race, but not be going too fast. Um, and lose the chance to get the bottle. Back with Magnus Ditv here. Um, and noting all of that hydration everyone is tending to, grabbing the water. Well, that’s because we have reached 61° F or 16° C. This of course is our race weather presented by ROA. That feels like about 59 due to that 59% humidity. Um Craig, this is it’s great weather to race in, but it feels warm when you’re exerting yourself. What’ you see? Yeah, I think it’s great racing weather. What I’m seeing is yellow’s just man, he looks like he is on a flyer today. Um we we know we know his versatility and his consistency across the disciplines. He’s a great swimmer, great biker. um and possibly the best runner in the field. We know he’s in good shape. We know he’s looking to defend the title, but just the way he the confidence and how good he must be feeling to to move around Martis into second place there. Um yeah, that’s a telling sign for me. I think, you know, when when you know you’re one of the runners in the group, there’s no need to do that kind of thing unless you’re just feeling super comfortable. And to me, he looks like he’s feeling super comfortable. I think we’ve got Seth Ryder on screen there. it looked like um just got a quick flash view out of the corner of my eye. But yeah, for me that that’s a telling sign that yellow is feeling really good. Um and you know, we talked about he’s one of the four 70.3 champions. He’s in fact the defending champion and looking to make history and become only the fourth athlete on the men’s side to do so after Michael Rler in 2009 210, the great Sebastian Kinlay 13 and 14 and and Gustaf Eden. I’m gonna say Gustaf did it even though there was a year missing in the middle but in 2019 and 2021. to yellows on a flyer today. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Meet Kicker Run from Wahoo. A revolutionary indoor running experience where you just run and your feet set the pace. We call it run-f free mode, a gamechanging technology that allows you to change speeds naturally, just like you do outdoors. You can even let popular training apps control the speed and grade for you. Kicker Run by Wahoo. It’s time to run free. It’s the beauty of Oman. Our tradition, our hospitality, the sounds of limitless opportunities to explore. Listen, it’s Oman. Take off. You are This Iron Man 70.3 World Championship is brought to you by Precision Fuel and Hydration. And these athletes, including the front man here, Magnus Ditlev, is absolutely dialing in the machine, tending to all the fueling, the tactics. The effort is on point. He’s looking over his shoulder and he’s got to be noticing. Oh, well, there’s our defending champ. Uh, don’t really want to be too close to him if I can do anything about it. Renie, what do you think? Yeah, I think uh you’re spot on there, Michael. Uh, having the defending champ right on your wheel, that’s just a telling fact for everybody, you know, seeing Yella have that little spill um early on the bike. Um, he had to hop off, situate himself again, and then he hopped off again um with that gearing issue. So, he hopped off the bike twice and he’s still sitting in that front pack. So, um having that change of speed and that ability to be able to um troubleshoot in the moment and then get back right into the action, that just tells me that that’s somebody who is having a day. So, that somebody who’s feeling good, their legs are good. Um and if one if we learned one thing, you know, we saw those uh runners Casper Storis, uh KB, and Betardos sort of just ever so slightly getting off the back of this group. If we w learned one thing from yesterday, watching Taylor and um and Lucy go back and forth, this course kind of like the climb’s almost not quite long enough to really create enough separation for it to be meaningful. And so, you know, when they go over the top, if you’re chasing, you’re willing to take more risks and you can see the athletes in front of you. Um and it’s like it’s do or die. I need to get back onto this pack. And so, I think that’s what we saw with Lucy. Um Taylor is a little bit more tentative and leading on that descending section. Um you know and as we see Casper off the back a little bit there, but again soon as it gets to the desense, it’s do or die. I have to get back onto this group. I will take more risks than the guys in front of me. And then and then the um you know, they’re back together again. So I think that might be the case again today, but uh cracks are certainly starting to form. Cracks are here. Go ahead. Yeah, I was just going to say that I think that’s a really great summary and analysis. We see Simon Westerman here and he, you know, as much as some they are drifting ever so slightly off the back of this group, you know, KB and Casper together and they’re with Westerman. So, I don’t think there’s there’s panic stations um at all and this race is far from over. We’ve got some climbing to go and then the long descent into town. Uh but yeah, just the fact that Yellow with everything that he’s had going on in his races, just sitting up in the the first two or three athletes for me speaks to exactly how he’s feeling. I’m looking at Casper Storz and I’m saying, “Well, this is the guy that won the Iron Man World Championship two short months ago with a a best 229 marathon. He’s 53 seconds back at this point in the race. I feel really good about his odds to also have a run that is in that 107 territory. And and Sam Lelo pointed out and you talked about this yesterday, Renie and Craig, you you you mentioned it right away. This course, it’s not flat and fast. It’s somewhat flat with varied terrain, different surfaces that you’re hitting bridges. It’s a t it’s a tough run. You can get a great time, but anyway, I say that because I believe that Casper Stor is really someone to watch on the run. Yeah, I think you’re absolutely right, Michael. But we just see Casper, the gap is starting to grow and you saw him sort of looking over his shoulder. Someone else come around and take a turn. I’m not making inroads here. So, there is a little bit of desperation there. But again, there’s a lot of um, you know, coming off a world championship and yes, it was, you know, they had a bit more time than the ladies did yesterday, but it’s still a big emotional high. It’s a lot to come, you know, come back up for for another world championship event. You’ve already won the biggest race in the sport. Um, that’s not to say that he can’t have a good race here. Um, but when you already have that in your back pocket, it’s less like I don’t know. I feel like KB has more of the I got third, I really want it. The hunger is maybe not quite as much there, but uh yeah, I mean, you know, he’s still in this race and um and looking very solid. There you go. Well said, Miranda Carfrey. And it’s always fun to have your insight here as someone who’s won this and the Iron Man World Championship before. So, good stuff. Thank you. Um, as I say this, beauty has an address, endurance has a destination, and in case you missed it, in Nice, Iron Man announced a landmark global partnership highlighting a major new adventure destination to host Iron Man and Iron Man 70.3 events, including the 2029 Iron Man 70.3 World Championship, which is going to be epic. Let’s take a look at what is to come with Iron Man and Oman. Beauty has an address. Endurance has a destination. Experience Oman. The Iron Man Group and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism unite to realize a new bold vision and are proud to announce Experience Oman as a global premier partner and official destination of the Iron Man and Iron Man 70.3 series. Taking center stage in 2026, Experience Oman will become the naming partner of the Iron Man Pro Series. And in 2029, Muscat will proudly host the experienced Oman Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. Omar, a country rich in heritage. A country that strives to move forward and evolve. Where every mile of the course is steeped in history and offers spectacular scenery. A place where you can race in the pristine capital Muscat one day and climb a 3,000 meter high mountain the next. In 2026, Oman will become host of premier events, including the first full distance Iron Man event in the region with the Experience Oman Iron Man Oman, Experience Oman Iron Man 70.3 Middle East Championship, Muskat, and the continuation to host Experience Oman Iron Man 70.3 Salala. Oman offers you the opportunity to recover in one of many freshwater pools and rest beneath a sky filled with a million desert stars. Wander through lush green landscapes and follow your senses to the mystical Frankincense Mountains. We can’t wait to welcome you to this incredible country where you can race in a breathtaking destination. And back in the mix here on the Zoot bike course and we are an hour and 57 minutes into the 2025 Iron Man 70.3 World Championship brought to us all by Precision. And uh Craig, we’re at 60 over 60. So between uh that 60 and 65k mark. And there’s a little bit, as you can see, of favorable terrain here downhill, kind some flattish sections, and then we got another little grinder up on our way back. Um, really a lot of hard racing on the bike still. Yeah, I think they’ve got about 10 km, 10 or 12 km until they hit the the descent back down to to the flat coast ride back into T2. And that last footage we got from the back of this group was that Simon Westerman, Casper, Storis, and Christian had hooked themselves back on. So they’d hitch their wagon back onto the front group. And you know, we’ve been talking about the terrain here, and Renie mentioned it before. Some of the uphill sections and the false flats were not quite long enough to distance and or or create a permanent separation. There was some 15 and 20 second gaps. We’ve seen that, you know, Christian didn’t panic. He was able to bridge that up. But at what cost? And and we’re probably not going to find out at what cost that came at until we hit the run. Until we hit the run. The run is so telling. Marinda Carfrey, I’m going to say this. It’s always fun to uh watch you put some of our guests on the spot. So, it’s time for me to put you on the spot here before we send you off to uh call our Ruby Transition 2. Um, who do you think right now factors into our podium? I won’t make you say the order, but who’s our top three by your perspective? I mean, I think Yellow is just looking so good today. uh Christian Blumerfeld if he hangs in there, which I think he will now. Um he has that big 62 or 60 or 62 front um dinner plate on his bike and and that may be why he sort of was struggling to hold on um on some of the uphills to be honest. Um but that’s going to serve him well in this downhill section which is the end of this bike course. And then uh if Casp Casper Storz uh can still hang in there, which I believe he can at this late stage of the race. I think they’re the three big names. I mean, Crowley, is there anyone I’m missing? No. Jamie Riddle, I I feel as a runner, but I’ve heard he’s coming in with a slight question mark over a hamstring. Um, maybe not in his best run form, but no, I think they’re the the three glaring favorites right now. Yeah. Interesting. We talk about KB’s one by on his bike. He thought it was a 60. Apparently, it’s a 62. So, just another little detail that slipped through the net there. But that that gearing certainly will help him on this down long the long downhill sections and the descent back down to the coastline. So I just feel Yella has been tucked into this group really been efficient with his energy expenditure. His tactics have been amazing. He’s been in the front three or four of this group the whole way. Um and he looks great. Um you know Martis and Magnus certainly shaped the front of this race. They their absolute bike power. they were able to navigate the the early part of the bike course that didn’t suit their strengths and put their fingerprints on the middle part of this bike course. And it’s certainly going to have an impact on the outcome of this race, but a lot of our best runners uh and our big pre-race favorites are still in the mix. And as we refresh and refresh, we want to thank uh Miranda Carfrey for joining us again. We’ll we’ll see and hear from her again later when she hits that re uh Ruby T2. Notice though, Rico Bogen at the 64 kilometer mark has that slight margin over Magnus Ditlev. And so Rico Boen, we know he races aggressively. The German who won as our youngest ever Iron Man 70.3 champion two years ago in 2023 in Finland. I mean, he went for it. He just got himself up there and then battled hard on the bike. Look at him here. Yeah, he’s we see him taking a quick peek back. He’s pushed off the front here. Um it’s it’s only seconds though. It’s only seconds and it’s very late in the bike course and um we see him continually looking back over the shoulder. He he definitely doesn’t want to roll in to Ruby T2 with the group. Um but this is a very late play as we see um Christian making the pass on Shamberg here and they’re going up a slight uphill section. So you get that, you know, in these groups it just compresses. You get that concertina effect. He’s coming past yellows and I’m not sure why I’m not sure why KB is he’s he’s very vocal today more more so than we we normally see him. He’s coming across Martis now and it feels like Matise and the rest of the group are quite content to let Rico just drift slowly off the front at this late stage but KB doesn’t look like he wants any part of that. Very, very interesting. And it could be one of those cases where he found himself getting into maybe the accidental pass, right? You get close to the person in front of you and you have to go through the whole bunch. He was obviously capable of it and maybe he’s just sharing some words of insight. It is fascinating though because we don’t typically see that dialogue or in his case a monologue just shouting out uh it’d be fun to maybe ask him about that later. Out of the saddle, powering through the climb using that giant uh chain ring that he has up front. And uh speaking of giant chain rings and power plays, we’re excited to bring in uh oh gosh, fourtime Iron Man win uh champ world champion, five-time Iron Man, 70.3 world champion from Switzerland. We have the great Daniela Reef back in studio. Daniela, thank you for being here with us. Thank you. Uh looks like it’s just happening here. The move um Rico Bogen really pushing this pace here and uh Christian looked like uh he didn’t want to let them go and now Jamie is part of the action as well. I think that’s really interesting now. I think they’re really trying to get um split that group now because as it’s a little bit of an uphill, that’s the way to do it. And then as it as we come to the downhill, it’s going to be hard to do any passes anyway. So, I think that’s really important now how they line up on just before they go and hit the downhill. Yeah, Jamie Riddle has been just fun to watch this year. Every every race he’s been a part of, he’s either really pushed the pace at the swim, started the swim, mid part of the swim. We saw him at the Iron Man World Championships in Nice, you know, around the turning buo. He’s tried to just string the group out and he’s had a really smart bike ride today. He was aggressive early, got in this select little group, and now he’s coming to the front later in the ride after sort of conserving in that middle section. So, I think he’s having a really smart race. As I mentioned to you before, Michael, I caught up with him briefly a couple of days ago. I know his dad, Alec, very well, and I know Alec will be at home watching. So, um, shout out to you, mate. Um yeah, he he had a plan and he he seems to be executing it to the letter right here. So great composure for a young athlete who’s really just stepped up in distance after being a shortc course superstar and representing South Africa at the Olympics only last year. That’s right. Great triathlon family. We we love a good triathon family here. The roots run deep and uh that is a great mention. KB on the driver here seeing if he can catch up to the front. We’ll find out what these legs have in them. Stay with us. Heat. Heat. This is where I want to be. Endurance isn’t just about medals. It’s about showing up. Even when your brain says go and your body says no. Showing up means taking care of yourself, skin, and all. Because when you train hard, your skin works hard, too. That’s where Bulldog comes in. With products packed with brilliant natural origin ingredients that help prepare, protect, and recover your skin. No fuss, no nonsense. Bulldog skincare is man’s best friend. Official men’s care products of Iron Man Europe. Today’s Today’s race has been brought to you by Oman. Beauty has an address. Endurance has a destination. Experience Oman. And by Precision Hydration. Personalize your race hydration with Precision Fuel and Hydration. And as we look at these beautiful shots of this fantastic area, a triathlon hotbed and iron man uh location. Now, a destination that we all enjoy coming to, Costa Soul, Andal Lucia, Spain, and we’re looking at these beautiful whitewash villages. So much history here with the sport and beyond. And we have an absolute race burning, heating up here, and I’m excited. I’m sitting with Daniela Reef and Craig Alexander. I’m Michael Lovado and we can’t wait to dive into the stats here. Um any surprises Daniela at this point uh as they’re kind of cresting getting ready for that desc. Yeah, I would say one one of the surprises probably that the strong riders have not made their proper move yet. Um I mean they’re trying now but I think it’s they’re really struggling to get rid of um Christian Blumenfeld. He’s really strong riding really strong. But I think also what’s surprising is um they’re in the top nine. Um Simon Westerman, the Swiss young Swiss athlete. Um he comes from the short distance. So, he’s right up with this group and uh that’s definitely a surprise, I would say. I I didn’t um yeah, he’s just he’s doing uh like Olympic distance and now and starting to do the 70.3. So, he would be very happy to be uh in this group in this front group. Yeah, I think Westman’s having a a great day. We haven’t talked too much about him, but his positioning in the front group’s been amazing. He had a great swim. Um I just feel the course profile maybe didn’t lend itself to the bigger bigger guys early and and really by the time I mean we they got to the front relatively quickly but by the time Martis and Magnus got to the front we were 40 45 km in um probably didn’t leave them enough real estate to really exert that that bike power but again it speaks to I guess the versatility and the consistency of a yellow and a Christian. and they just they have no weaknesses. And if you if you you know if you’re going to beat them, you have to find a way to do it. They just I mean I look at KB and I think well well potentially his swim can be a weakness. He can be distance but he has so much bike strength that he gets to the front of the race before it gets organized and before people can exert that that dominance. But but Danny’s right. I mean they’re on this fast descent and they’re going to be coming along the golden mile on the coast very very shortly. And it looks to be that I think in my humble opinion the runners in this group are Yella, KB, Casper, and Jamie Riddle. So, um, they’re in the box seat. And it’s just Danny, I want to ask you, I mean, the separation we look at, you know, after that top nine, you know, Panayotus Batos who was what with the group, he’s he’s now two and a half, three minutes back. And there’s some great athletes that that first chase back is four and a half, five minutes back. Yeah, that’s a lot. Okay. It’s and also considering that we have such strong uh runners in this front pack. So I would definitely say the the podium is going to be uh made in that pack. And as you mentioned earlier, I think also the reason why the strong riders like Rico Bogen, Magnus Ditlv are struggling to get away is that the packs are kind of finding themsel in the little downhills as we have these rolling hills and that makes it really hard for strong riders who can push a a consistent hard pace where Christian and also Yella and Marier he they’re able to just bridge that gap again in this little um uphills or downhills. So that makes it really hard to uh yeah break up um that group. Yeah. So good. And and watching uh Rico Bogen at the front uh reminds me of a fighting chance presented by Hoka, which is a race week series that pulls back the curtain and has a look at these uh pro triathletes, elite triathletes, and their everyday lives. It’s so fun. And let’s just dive right into what Rico had to share with us this week. You haven’t seen the course yet? No. What have you been doing? Yeah, I did uh two days study yesterday and today it was an online seminar. So I was on my laptop all the time and so now now I can watch the course. How are you? Good again. Yes. Are you good? Good. How’s the body feeling? Yeah, it feels good. uh what went at two weeks train camp in Mayoka did a good train cup uh plugged there and yeah now little bit of resting so coming body is coming around it’s good so what’s on the plan today yeah now it’s one one and a half hour easy ride uh so I will go first I think uh on a bike course and so yeah tomorrow I will ride complete yeah do you feel more pressure less pressure this year to perform form. I think the pressure is the same. Uh I I have number bit number two now because yeah two two years ago I had a world champ title. Uh but I think the pressure this time is from other athletes higher because we have so many good great athletes. I just looked through the start list and I would say we have 15 mens who could win or who could possibly be on the podium. So yeah, it’s a very very strong Of course, bike course could suit me because I have the absolute high power and and I think everybody has to put high power and and yeah, so I think that the bike course uh will hurt everybody. I hope that everybody has a little bit of destroyed legs and and then let’s see how we can run. Yeah. Thank you to Rico Bogen and a fighting chance presented by Hoka. For more of that, watch short AFC episodes on Instagram at iron manry. And of course, full AFC episodes on ProSeries.ironirman.com and follow the Iron Man triathlon YouTube channel. And I am happy to say that I do have something in common with Rogan. And you don’t know what it is, but it’s that I also take selfies when I ride my bike. I thought you also studying. That’s it. Nope. That’s it. The only one. Uh, no, but it’s good. It’s fun to see that, right? A great interview. It’s good to see, I think, behind the curtain. And he’s here currently in second place. Uh, pushing it back with Yellow Gans, our defending champ. This is just something again, how much of a nuisance is it to not have eyewear? I mean, it seems like a simple question, but he lost that. Is that is that troublesome, Danny? Yes, it is. Uh, I’ve experienced it myself in Kona um 2023, and I think from an error perspective, it doesn’t really change that much. We’ve done the testing with and without the visor just because of the heat uh difference and I mean if you as fast without then you could consider it but the thing is just you know the vision um they’re going to go around 90 95k an hour down this hill um that’s going to come soon and that’s going to be hard to just keep the eyes open and the wind and also you don’t want to have flies in or any like any little animals flying in your eyes. So, it’s it’s a I mean, he’s he’s shown a great race, Yella. I think also with this mechanical problems and I mean, he seems like he’s just, you know, taking step by step, making the best of every situation and he’s still um yeah, he looks great and he’s just not letting any distraction um cause him uh that that, you know, chance to to fight for the title. Yeah, he’s rolling with it, isn’t he, Craig? He’s rolling with it. And as we see Casper Storis on screen now, there’s a lot of looking back over the shoulder positioning. I I feel like we’re getting to that tactical part of this bike ride where it’s been full gas for an hour and a half and now people are doing a head count, taking inventory of who’s in the group. Although they they would have taken inventory of who was in the group right from the beginning, but I think it’s getting to the business end of this bike ride now. And you know, I saw Casper Stonis look over his shoulder. Yellow Gans do the same thing. So, I think they’re sort of sizing up and and getting ready for this run. There’s still a little bit of climbing. They got a couple of kilometers to go just to really crest this last climb and and really check off all the elevation, gain the 785 m on this bike course before they start the fast descent. And Danny mentioned it, they’re going to be hitting warp speed coming down this hill. them. That will be a it will be a distraction not having the eye where I think you know the just the the wind blowing in your eyes and the vision um as we see them all up out of the arrow position. Um so yeah all the the big attacks from Rico and and Matise and Magnus while it did certainly shape the race and create a gap of five minutes back to chase pack one it certainly hasn’t disrupted this group. It would have hurt some legs that’s for sure. So I’m starting to think about this run now. who’s with this high power output, this high intensity, who’s been fueling, who’s had the grams of carbs coming in. And one thing I’m also noticing, Danny and Michael, sitting down here at T2, this wind has really has really picked up. And there’s there’s a lot of this run course, it’s really exposed, particularly that break wall is a one mile or a one and a halfk section that’s really exposed to the wind. So, there could be some tactics in play in in the half marathon, but yeah, I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. We still got still got a little bit of bike riding to go. It looks like they’re on that descent now. Yes, this descent it winds down from the Sierra Blanca through the sharp curve. Sweeping views toward the Mediterranean offering athletes relief from the climb and the technical challenge as well of descending. Uh the Puerto dehen often used in cycling tours as well connects the inland village of O’Hen with the coast and is known for its pamic vistas, but these guys are not seeing the vistas right now. They are focusing on again the challenge. You said it really well, Danny, yesterday. Going fast, even if it’s not sharp turns, is very demanding. Yeah, and Christian Blumenfeld here um riding the bars, taking this corner. So, uh yeah, very impressive riding from all of the men here. Um yeah, it’s going to be fast that best section again. We’re picking up the speed and uh yeah, that’s the, you know, passion for cycling, right? When you have speed. I mean, u it’s good to see um Christian if he has really a 62 on it on on here. Um, that’s going to help him definitely. I I believe there’s even some sections he might not be able to pedal with a 62 because they’re going to go so fast. But, uh, yeah, looks great. Um, Rico, just looking back, um, see if they if the competitors are still with them. I think there was a little bit of a gap, but I’m sure Christian will try to uh, bridge that up again. Yeah, it’s been interesting. Christian and Casper have had to bridge up a couple of times, 15, 20 second gaps. I don’t feel Yellow has had to do that. Um, so I don’t know if I’m reading too much into that, but every I mean, you know, Danny, a 15 20 second gap at at 45 50 km an hour that that that’s a chase that goes for 3 4 km that you’re burning some matches there. Yeah, definitely good point. I think every little sprint you have to do is going to um take some little corns from your legs and um you Yeah, you want to save this little uh energy and you know that buffer for the run as well. So, it’s we will only see when they start to run who um had the biggest effort from from this uh bike course uh ride and um that’s where we’re going to see who’s who has the energy left to really attack that run. Well, and it’s always interesting because in a race like this where you’re kind of flat out, right, is it’s the effort relative to your capacity. And so, everybody has a different capacity, not just overall, but on the day. So you may show up if you show up at 98% of your best, that’s the day you have, but then you’re at a percentage of that. And it’s just so fascinating because it all factors into when you show up on the run and you hit that hookah run course, what you’ve got left and then when you deliver it cuz so so here’s a question. When you hit the run, how important is it, Craig, to start the race at your effort like Lucy did yesterday versus just go with the flow and run with your people? Well, I think that’s the the magic question. Do you go with the race? dynamic or ultimately you you can only control your own pacing and your own effort and and I think you know it’s a great point like you say you come in with 98% but that’s the magic of winning a world title is getting it right on the day that matters. Yep. You know there’s no point having 100% capacity in your last race simulation or your most important track session. You need to have it today. And that that’s that’s why we run the races. We we dissect. We look at past results. We look at most recent form. We predict. And that’s part of the fun as fans of the sport. We we like to get under the hood and see, you know, who’s doing what. But there’s there’s questions that are only going to be answered once they hit T2 and out onto that run course. I just feel as we see Rico making tricky situation here. Um going 80 and then they’re going having some passes here. I think it’s Rico passing um um Jamie Riddle. Jamie Riddle. Thank you. Um yeah, it’s very impressive riding of these uh front front group. Um, I think also from from this perspective here, we can see there’s a tiny little gap to Christian again, but I mean, let’s talk maybe also about his V2 max. I mean, he’s if he has to do a few uh sprints, he’ll be fine. I think it’s he’s one of the athletes who can definitely um deal with this attacks and um being able to go maybe in a in a lactate zone for a few times and still recover from it. It’s such a great point and Michael alluded to that with everybody’s individual capacity. He’s one of the guys because of his past history, but yellows as well, three-time Olympian, they they train that V V2, that ability to spike heart rate, spike power, recover at threshold, and do it again. So, it is intriguing. I I feel in Nice watching Christian with Sam Lelo on the bike, they maybe burn a match or two and maybe again, I’m reading too much into it, but in the end, ultimately, Casper ran the 229 and he was more patient on the bike. But I think we’re going to learn a lot um the first few kilometers of this run because you don’t want to give up too much time to any of the other contenders. You want to ease out at your own rhythm, but you still want to be in contention. Heat. Heat. You know, and we know the thing about challenging yourself is you’re always looking for what’s next. It’s the beauty of Oman. Our tradition, our hospitality, the sounds of limitless opportunities to explore. Listen, it’s Oman. We’d like to thank you for joining us here in Marba. We are 2 hours and 23 minutes into the precision fuel and hydration Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. And I’m Michael Lovado sitting together with Daniela Reef and Craig Alexander. We’re watching and talking during our little break about the top nine and how they’re rolling in and about to conclude uh this Zoot bike course and what will be left in the legs, who has played their cards to the best of their ability to enable them to have the best two-lap hoca run course. Um, so much action before we get there, so much important riding before we get there. Uh, but that 12, 14 second gap, 15-second gap that you saw earlier, you’re seeing right now on the downhill, it’ll come right together when they get on the flats that close out, uh, the zoot bike course. So, um, a lot of exciting action as we look down at one of the beautiful Pueblo Blanos, the whitewashed, uh, homes, uh, and houses here in Andalosia. This is what it looks like to come off the bike into Ruby T2. Uh, this is going to get pretty quick, folks. I could never move this quickly, but into the Ruby Transition 2. Off the bike at the dismount line, carrying your bike and running through as you as you approach uh where you’re going to leave your bike. So, actually, we’re going pretty nice pace here. This is a little bit slower than we went through this uh teaser yesterday. Um, but this is again a nice look. The folks on the right there are going to be cheering. And what’s super unique as you come up as a professional and rack your bike, throw your stuff in the bin is those spectators on the right side of the screen are right there in your face. They are so close they can take a picture of everything you do. Feel right in the action. Probably a selfie. And then you’ve got your running shoes, your visor, all of your gear to tackle this race on two feet. You keep moving, but you’re still inside of the Ruby T2 at this point. And the run clock has not yet begun. You uh come around this roundabout and then you head out and until you go under uh that arch. It’s not officially uh or sorry up this bridge. It’s not officially the run time. Boom. That’s where we start. So the run begins and gosh guys, you got to go up that bridge right away. Ouch. It’s a lot of corners just straight coming off the bike. And uh yeah, also great atmosphere. We saw it yesterday at the women’s race. Um the spectators just right there um cheering you on. It’s actually quite tricky because when you want to focus on a fast transition and you have so many people yelling at you, it can be quite distracting. So, it’s important to also focus on what you have to do. Get the shoes on as fast as possible and then go on the Hoka run course. That’s right. Fly human fly. You cruise under that banner. Lots of inspiration. This Spanish crowd and of course all of the people that traveled in because so many people have come here to watch this race live. Craig, this is that fast section where they’re crushing the final KS of the of the zoo bike course. Yeah, it’s the part of the course the locals call the golden mile along the coast, flat and fast. And yeah, it’s been an amazing ride. Just the chase pack one, I mean, 5 minutes back, they’ve they’ve blown this race apart. And for Yellow Gene still to be in there, Jamie Riddle, and I mean, we I guess we expected Yona Shamberg to be in there, but this I mean, I would call this group the Uber bikers. They are they are uber bikers the time that they’ve put in. Um but yeah that that T2 that Ruby T2 I had the uh privilege of standing down in there and the crowd are right on top of the athletes. It’s an amazing atmosphere. They were five deep. I mean I was literally 3 feet from from Taylor and Lucy as they came in and um this this run course Danny I want to ask you. It’s if we look at the pro profile it looks it looks flat but there are some twists and turns. There’s a lot of out and back sections. There’s some U-turns. There’s that section along the brake wall which is exposed to the wind. Um, you know, flat doesn’t always mean fast when you are flat doesn’t always mean fast. Uh, it could it can mean hard. You’ve got to keep the the heart rate up the whole time. But running is about rhythm and efficiency. And when you’re breaking rhythm and momentum all the time, it it takes a toll. Yeah, I believe it’s another reason why you can fit someone who can deal with um rhythm breaks. Um also there’s quite a lot of bridges, so you have to go up and down and then yeah, like you mentioned um a lot of turns and um here we saw we see Jamie just having a little to sprint back to the group. Um yeah, he’s uh definitely want to be up there in the front when he’s coming up uh out off from the uh from the bike. But yeah, let’s go back to the run course. I think also the the surface um is quite special. You we have a lot of changes. Uh some sand sections which actually feel really nice, but if you want to be fast, it’s maybe not the fastest. You slip a little bit with the shoes. And also, as we have the high carbon stack shoes, I think um having that all these turns, you you want to make sure you stable in the turns. And uh that’s getting harder and harder with the with the kind of spongy uh foam. Yeah, that’s right. You got to make sure those hocas are tightened up in uh in T2 um and not just be too hasty because it really does make a difference. You don’t want to swim around inside your shoe that’s already got a high stack height. Uh great observations, guys. And then um I I think looking at uh yellow, I just want to come back to two uh points. He has had two times where he has not been on his bike. Two times where he has been standing on the side of the road at transition, at exit, and then again later. What kind of effort mentally does it take to overcome that and just put that behind you? Yeah, I think it takes a mental effort, but again, that’s that’s the winning mindset. An athlete who comes into this race and feels like they have a legitimate shot at winning knows that they’re going to be obstacles and challenges thrown at them all day. And that that is part of navigating and winning a world title is that not only do you have to bring great form and fitness and be able to execute on the day that matters, make smart decisions, you have to overcome some obstacles and some adversity. So we saw what we did see was his composure and experience under pressure. He he was able to get back on his bike after the crash. Didn’t have his visor, was stuck in the one gear, had a mechanical, had to get off again. Seemed like he got some mechanical support and got that sorted. And again, to me, that just is checking more boxes. Why he is one of the race favorites and he’s one of the men to watch today. And I’m just super interested to watch this positioning as they come in. This has the feel of a short course world triathon event. I think Jamie Riddle just sprinted to the front, too. I think he really wants to get off that bike first. Um maybe also, yeah, we we don’t know how his run is going to be. He was struggling with that um injury from with his hamstring, but I mean, he looks completely fine on the bike. What do you think, Craig? Yeah, I think Jamie is a little worried about that hamstring and I think this is another good move. He He is a young athlete who has experience above his years. I think he wants to hit the run course maybe even if it’s only a handful of seconds ahead of some of the faster guys so he can get in his own rhythm. Um it’s it’s not a winning break he’s trying to make now. It’s more about positioning and and course management. Yeah. And it saves him maybe a few seconds. And if you can go 5 seconds slower in the first kilometer, that’s a it’s a nice little um extra. As we see two of our two of our race favorites, we just saw yellow taking a little chance to shake the legs out there as KB saw that as an opportunity to make a couple of quick passes and he’s trying to position now. So yeah, there’s a little bit of jostling for position. I mean, these are not gaps that win or lose a race, but they make it easier to win or lose the race. Yeah. Maybe also mentally, you know, sometimes you want to I think it’s also like Christian, he doesn’t have to go off the bike first. He has one of the fastest run in this group. But it’s also about saying, “Hey, I’m here. I’m, you know, presenting yourself as I’m I’m present.” And also like Yeah. the mark the how do you say it? Mark the mark your territory. Yes. He’s marking he’s marking his territory right now. Yes. So it’s it’s just been amazing to watch. I mean, yesterday we got the absolute treat of watching the best women endurance athletes in the world and you know, it was a masterass in the end from from Taylor and Lucy. Um, and they were a class above and and we’ve got a slightly bigger group here, but again, it’s the best in the world. And um, I loved what Danny was talking about, not only the physical demands and requirements, but the mindset and and and you know, the mental posturing that takes place at this point in a race. Well, and yesterday we saw that uh very well when when our ultimate winner, Lucy Charles Barklay, let Taylor sort of let air quotes, but let ta Taylor nib go. And you have to understand when it’s the right time to let someone go, not be concerned, maintain a positivity and focus on what you’re doing. And then she re, you know, she was able to collect her, come past her and drop her, put three minutes in the end. And I think that with the men’s race is going to be super challenging and they’re up for the challenge. But nine guys coming into transition essentially together. Nine guys transitioning different speeds all out on the run. Do you care when you get a split you’ve lost 20 seconds to another athlete. You have to understand it’s still 21k. Yeah. But also the transition will make a big difference. And it’s interesting actually. I think Casper Storz he’s he’s playing it smart. He’s just in position nine. he doesn’t get involved in all this uh you know territory marking and he’s just there trying to wait for the run and that could actually save him some energy as well. I I and I think it speaks to athletes being self-aware and knowing their strengths and weaknesses. KB and Yellow with that IT background although Casper has it as well but if you if you’ve done all the testing that they’ve done and you know your V2 max can withstand that then you can you can do that in a race. Casper’s probably thinking you know I don’t have I train with Christian every day. I don’t have his explosive top end, his ability to shut a gap or make a pass that quickly. And he’s probably thinking I don’t need to if I can run a 107. So yeah, and also I mean it looks like it’s quite tight here. Um also he might just not want to risk a penalty um in that last section. Um I don’t know if that’s even possible, but I I guess as soon as long as they’re on the bike, uh you you can risk a penalty and that’s definitely the least you want uh going into a run um against these fast runners. One thing I will say is when you know we heard Casper Stoners say he thinks it’s going to take a 106 to 107 to win. So they’re running at 310 per kilometer pace. So yesterday we saw Lucy just let Taylor get out to 20 seconds and and maybe that was a learning from Kona. She shut that gap in Kona way too quickly potentially. I don’t know. But I know her and her coach or her husband coach Ree and her coach Dan are very smart and analytical. So maybe that was a conscious choice. I think when they’re running paces are a 310 on average and closer to 305 in the beginning, you don’t really want to give up 20 seconds because it’s going to take six or seven kilometers to get back. Yeah, that’s right. And here we are coming into the Ruby transition to the men are off the bike and look how fast they’re already running. Bike in hand, helmet must stay on the head and you get to your rack before you can remove it. Again, the rules of the road. Take a look at this Wahoo Element bolt. First off the bike, Jamie Riddle representing South Africa. A time of 20942. We’re going to roll to Minda Carfrey in transition. Renie, take it away. Thanks you guys. We have one, two, and three right here in transition. We have KB, Rico Bogen, Yellow Gans all side by side. It’s tight down here for these boys. They’re getting their shoes on. We have Casper Storz as well. Bogen is out first. We have KB right behind him on his heels. Yella taking a minute to get his shoes on. Jamie Riddle was first into transition and he is out on KB’s heels as well. Yella taking a minute. His bike has fallen. He’s putting it back up. So the bike troubles continue for Yellow Gans right now. Jamie Riddle is out there. We have Jonas Stroberg out there. Matis Majerier out there as well. Yella just went out in front of Matis. And that was Casper Stone is out as well. So fast and furious here in transition. We have Simone Westerman as well from the Swiss athlete just going out and Magnus Sidle last out of that group out onto T2. You see him with that bag. Uh yeah. Uh Fast and Furious as always here in transition. We’ll send it back to you guys in the studio. Oh my goodness. Minda Carfrey with the update. So fast. I could barely follow along, but I loved every second of it. And I mean seconds uh here. those athletes out onto the run and okay, another struggle, another bike issue for um uh our defending champs. But he overcame and he’s in there and I I still count on him to have a great run. Yeah, it’s I mean it’s these seconds they they matter. Um also um Casper Storz didn’t have the best transition. Uh that would that would be around 15 seconds. that’s already a deficit uh when he starts the run and uh yeah that’s that’s going to hurt to to bridge that gap. Um it’s it’s not like um Christian is going to start the run slow and yeah definitely every second matters at the moment. Yeah, absolutely. And I think look again is it a is it a race winning gap that I mean we see KB’s got about 15 seconds on on Hela now. So I I don’t know but I certainly wanted wouldn’t want to be running up 15 seconds. KB is going to go out at close to three minute pace or 305 pace. We see Jamie Riddle there. Rico Bogen right on their shoulder and yeah, we can see them all coming through in the background. Yona Shamberg’s back there. Yellow Gans is there. Casper Stor is, as Danny mentioned, he took probably an extra 5 or 10 seconds in transition. So that’s that’s 80 meters on the road. So, you know, when we’re and like a lot of the fans out there, we’ve been looking at the you know, the fastest times that these athletes have all run this year in 70.3 races. there’s not a lot of difference between their PB. So, you know, you want to feel that there’s going to be athletes shoulder-to-shoulder coming to the 19 and 20k mark of this half marathon. And that’s where you want to have matches still to burn. And look at this. There we have our Ruby transition two times. The top three fastest men Christian Blumenfeld got through in a minute for Rico Bogen 106 with Yonas Shoberg in 111. But 104 that did it. That took uh KB Christian Boomfeld from midpack to front of the pack and 15 seconds. You just said I don’t really wouldn’t want to have 20 seconds you said and now 15. The dynamic and the the race is set up for the twolap Hoka run course. Danny, do you want to put a prediction out there or is it too early? Um yeah, I mean Christian looks really good. He he looks he’s been so strong and uh definitely he’s uh yeah I that’s my prediction. Christian Blumenfeld. Uh Jamie Riddle still there. I mean, he’s definitely running. He’s running smooth. So, um no no signs from uh any um injury at the moment. And uh yeah, I think Yella and also um Casper, I’m there. I would say these three are my pick. There you go. I don’t think you’re wrong. It’s great to uh pick a champion like Christian Bloomingfell when he’s at the front of the race. But if you want to know more exactly of what this course looks like, I would love to walk through with you for the Hoka run preview here. Let’s see it first class. Let’s take a look at what the athletes will face on the course in Marba. The Hoka run course 21.1 km 13.1 mi is two loops and takes athletes onto the picturesque Marba prominard which parallels the Mediterranean Sea. The course then twists and turns inland where athletes will find themselves on one of the classic avenues again, the Golden Mile, before dropping towards the exclusive Puerto Ben Marina. Then a spectacular out and back on the jetty with the Mediterranean on one side and the inner harbor on the other and which on a clear day you can see Gibralta and Morocco. After two laps, the finish line beckons and the athletes head back to the water’s edge and the finish line on the beach. And that’s right, thanks Laura Siddle giving us the 411 on the run. And how about this? Jamie Riddle, the South African uh quickly, you know, quick stepping it right up to the to the shoulder of Christian Blumenfeld. And once again, we are seeing uh KB having a dialogue there or a monologue talking to his competitors. He he was kind of visibly peeking over his shoulder and voicing to Riddle. And then look at this. We’ve got Yona Shamberg coming up to to make it a trio. And yeah, KB, he just continues to get to the front of these big races. And um interestingly, you know, you know, we were talking about who we thought were the run favorites or who had the run form, who had the pedigree as we get a shot back to yellow. Checking the watch there. checking the heart rate and the and the pacing and um he’s not quite in the frame yet but yeah still looking good looking nice and fluid and you know yellow KB and Casper have all been at altitude they’ve done a specific altitude training block in preparation for this event probably a luxury that the women didn’t have with a four-we turnaround post their Iron Man World Championships and and not that yellow did race in Nice but the other two men did and I just think yeah these men have had a very specific preparation for this as we see Shamberg joining the fight now and you know it’s great to see Yonas um laying down a different style of racing and normally he’s normally ultraaggressive swim bike and maybe hanging on for dear life in the run. feels like he was able to ride within himself. Um, ride really smart, manage himself on course, his pacing, his nutrition, and yeah, reaping the rewards for that. Now, he looks super comfortable. So, we have a we have a trio at the front, but let’s see if Yellow can can bridge up. So, Craig, again, a man whose mo was winning on the run. Uh, this this is something you’re very familiar with. Do you like what Yonas did, do you like that company? Do you like to be do you have more strength being a group of three or kind of solitary as we see yellow just make a a lightning fast pass on Rico there? Yeah, yellow looks amazing too. Word on the street is he is in scintillating run for him and been laying down some amazing sessions in and Pandora. So um do you think he’s going to plan or he’s trying to bridge up because I mean he looks fantastic. He looks super fast, but I I almost cannot imagine he can keep that up for the whole whole whole race. You know what? After watching him race in Toppo last year and Hayden Wild gapped him early, he he sticks to his plan. I think he sticks to his plan. Last year, we saw Hayden gap him coming into T2 and he just stuck to his own plan and was able to reap the rewards later in the run. So, only time will tell though. Welcome to the world’s best airline, where your journey is five-star, and so is your Wi-Fi. Experience the fastest connection in the sky with Starlink. And best of all, it’s free for all passengers. So why settle for less when you deserve the best? We’re not here to sell you on this life. You already chose it. No shortcuts, no hype, just work. Same as you. Built to outlast, endure. 40 years in and we’re just getting warmed up. Welcome to the Ohana. And approaching 3 kilometers into this Hoka run course here at the precision Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. And the shot we just went away from was one of the best I’ve seen. Rico, I’m sorry. Yellowines are defending Iron Man 70.3 world champion just rolled right onto the back of Christian Blumenfeld. At that moment you saw Jamie Riddle the South African just be dispatched and not for a lack of effort. It was what the threesome Shonberg and Gins and of course Christian Bloomfeld did together. Wow. The pace is on Danny. I like what I see. The pace is on for sure and I think yeah smart move. I mean that um Jamie is maybe just realizing, okay, this pace is just a little bit too fast. I mean, he’s super impressive or and I think as Jella was catching up to the trio. Um yeah, the pace is just picked up. Interesting move also. I mean, here we seeing Casper uh still a little bit far back, but I think he’s Yeah, he’s looking great as well. He’s he has some more seconds to catch up, so maybe he’s just taking his time as he did in in um Nice. And now we’re seeing Yella going for it up the hill. There’s this only little one hill in the whole uh race. And uh yeah, that’s where he does the move. I’ve actually been dreaming about this race and this scenario, but in my dream it was a it was a trio and Casper was part of the trio. Okay, so uh you know it’s these are the fireworks we were hoping for. Look at yellow gains. He looks awesome. KB responding. This is the race we wanted and we’re going to get it with Shawnburgg has now been dispatched. That V2 max you were talking about, Danny, that ability to change pace um get back in rhythm, change pace again. Uh as we see Jamie making that lefthand turn and you know Yella and KB are no no strangers to this type of running. Um interestingly, I think you made a great point. We in Nice. We also saw Casper with the slowest T2 that was able to run up onto the back of the group at the first turnaround which was 5K in Nice at the airport and then sit in into the headwind. This pace is a little bit hotter than the Iron Man World Championships though. It is, but it’s still the tactic is really smart because we talked about this before. Casper Storz, he knows what he’s capable of and so he needs to do it when it’s right for him. uh that 18 to 20 second gap, it feels like a ton right now, but 10K in, it’s probably going to be different. This right here though, I echo that, Crowley. This is incredible right now. Two of the best, bar none, two of the best runners in our sport at all distances. We have it going on. Yellow’s the defending champion, dumping water on and leading out Christian Blumenfeld. Danny, they are running so fast. running so fast and then just having the you know some some little water but yeah no no time to have much drinks. Uh the temperatures is perfect condition so I think uh yeah as soon as you as long as you keep some in nutrition in you they should be fine. Um yeah interesting move also from yellow when he when he catched um Blumenfeld he took a little bit of a rest maybe one or two seconds or 100 meters and then he went for it and Christian um reacted very fast. Um, yeah, they’re I think if they’re going to battle it out and um it’s going to be hard to uh catch them. I uh What’s your predictions? Yeah, you’re braver than me. I’m not sure. I think my prediction for the next 5 minutes is that Casper Storis will be up into third place shortly. I mean, this Yeah, this is a dream come true for triathon fans. Yella looks smooth as butter. KB looks like he always looks that slight forward lean, the leg turnover. This is amazing. This is awesome racing. Um, again, just the twists and turns on this course, I think it suits the kind of strength runner or the runner who can change pace and get back into rhythm quite quickly. They both look great. They both look super comfortable. And, you know, you’re right. I mean, again, we’re just seeing the championship qualities of Yellow Gans and that experience. He bridged the gap quickly, took a minute to sit on the back of the group and relax and then put in the effort right on the hill. The part of the course that probably suits him being the the lighter athlete. He’s such a smart racer. Oh, just flawless tactics there. And it’s it’s sort of what you would uh hope your mind allows you to do in the moment. But your dream of these three, I think it’s going to come true. I think we’re going to get Storzes uh our Iron Man world champion. I think we’re going to get him up there. He also has again that that track record and that history of running like these two. Um so, brilliant spot here. Light on their feet, both of them. Very smooth. different styles, but lock step here as they charge through lap one of the Hoka run course. And there’s the image right there from the side. It’s amazing image and I’m just so interested that Yellow’s just gone to the front. And I mean KB looked like he wanted to push the pace out of out of Ruby transition. Maybe that was because he knew Yellow was struggling a little bit. And again, maybe a master stroke in terms of tactics. He’s thinking, you know, I can I can make yellow work a little harder than otherwise he would have to to bridge that gap. And just interesting to see KB settling on the shoulder here and Yellow be content to get on the front. But this is a fast fast pace. As we come back to to Yonas Shamber, you’re having a great race again. Yonas still looks good. I mean, it’s all relative, isn’t it? 303 minute or 305 pace. Looks super quick and maybe some of these other lads not looking as quick, but that’s it’s still 310 pace. Casper looks great. I mean, he’s he’s such a beautiful and, you know, uncomfortable efficient looking runner. I want to I want to send a shout out to Seaman Westerman. What a what a great swim bike he’s had. And for you know a guy a lot’s been made. There’s I think there were 37 athletes making their Iron Man 70.3 World Championship debut. He was one of them and yeah, he’s he’s having a great race. Yeah, good shout out. I’m glad you brought that up now because we may run out of time to chat about him um as this battle heats up from hot to hotter. So Storz, as you said, about to roll past uh Yonas Schoberg. Will he kind of close this gap and make it three a breast? Well, I shouldn’t say about that that gap still still holds. But with Storids also looking so economical, I think it just it allows you I I think just with that efficiency of form, it just really allows you to um make those big moves and and drop the hammer if you’re running 305, drop it a bit, make an assertive move. But yeah, a peek at the watch and uh here he goes, the Norwegian rolling up. He looks like he’s sticking to his plan. and he’s checking his watch and he knows what he is capable of. He mentioned it before the the race. Um 106 he said is going to what it takes to to do the to have the win. Um so he does know what he needs to do. Um I mean how yellow is pushing the pace at the moment. We might go faster than that but um as Casper is um catching um Jamie um Jamie is still having a great race but he’s yeah he knows that he’s he can’t go that pace. I mean that the fact that he’s actually run the first part with the the front group is super impressive and now yeah as they do the pass um no exchange just uh yeah Jamie is more looking back that means yeah he’s checking who else is coming but I think fantastic race from Jamie Riddle um I don’t yeah he’s seems like he’s hurting a little bit he’s actually smiling great for good for him he’s I think he must be super happy that he’s able to run and be in that I mean still top five of is of the biggest um race in this uh yeah in this sport. That’s right folks. We are looking at Jamie Riddle from South Africa looking fine getting passed by Casper Stornheads. Up the road we have Yonas Shonberg from Germany and the dynamic duo leading it out of course and Christian Blumenfeld. The battle is on. Who is going to have what it takes to wrap it up in first place? I can’t wait to see. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, It’s the beauty of Oman. Our tradition, our hospitality, the sounds of limitless opportunities to explore. Listen, it’s Oman. You are just walking. Our race is brought to you by Oman. Beauty has an address. Endurance has a destination. Experience Oman. And by Morton. Get used to it. And as we say that, getting used to a successful race. This man Casper Storz of course coming from the uh shortc course racing getting right in and right comfortable with Iron Man and Iron Man 70.3. He’s there. And this just a little back and forth again when we were watching during the break on the side there. We had Christian Blumenfeld in front. Now we have Yella Gin in front again. And Daniela, you and I were talking off camera here about the tactics with regard to the wind. Share more with our uh viewers here today. Yeah, the wind is certainly um picking up a little bit and as we see Yella really going for it in that little downhill and yeah, he’s not holding back. He really tries to do that move early. I mean, we’re still early in the race. around 6 kilometers into the race and uh yeah, look at this Christian just bridging back up. Uh really impressive. And then also Yonas Jonberg. Um he’s moving actually super fast. Um he’s only uh about 12 seconds back of this leader duo and he’s running uh under 3 kilometers uh um pace. So that’s super fast. Yeah, he’s he’s not getting left behind too much. No, he’s he’s interesting Shawnberg, isn’t he? because he he looked like he got unhooked quickly, but maybe he just adjusted his pace according to the effort and uh he’s holding strong. So, he he’s having a great race and looks like we heard Sam Lelo say earlier today, was he um just learning the ropes a little better and it seems like he’s I mean, as his season’s progressed, he’s his form’s improved, but as his race course management has improved as well. So, I’m just looking at these front two gentlemen, something’s got to give here. I mean, yellows, they crested that little bridge. He looked unbelievable. But then Christian just ran back up on the shoulder and these men are absolutely flying. This is the race that we hoped we would get. And, you know, in the leadup, all the talk this week was, you know, about the Norwegians and and yellow being, you know, the favorites. And often though, you know, the race doesn’t actually live up to the hype, but I think this is this is absolutely living up to the hype. Great great shots here from Yonas Shamberg. and he as he can see the duo in the front. So that’s actually really a big advantage mentally. He he he sees he sees where he needs to go and he can really focus on trying to bridge that gap and he seems like he’s yeah he’s really really running strong and as we see uh Casper Sternes he’s also just right in right there he can see Yonas Jamberg just maybe let’s say 80 meters ahead of him. So yeah, that’s definitely mentally also very helpful. And as we see the doer, leading duo just doing the turns. I think Yella seems like he’s a little bit faster in the downhills where um uh Christian is a little bit faster in the uphill. So it’s going to be interesting how they play cat and mouse. That’s right. And yeah, go ahead. We’re we’re just approaching here just to orient. We’re approaching Puerto Vanus and they’re coming into uh this amazing stretch down uh near where we are sitting currently. And as they uh pop into this section, you are going to see him get out there exposed onto that seaw wall with the 1.5 kilometers or or mile stretch where the the wind will be at play uh in for certain. Yeah, absolutely. They’re on the little stretch. They’ve just come past their little T2 compound and they’re doing a little out and back before they head out to that seaw wall. Yeah. Well, out there on the seaw wall, we have our very own Miranda Carfrey. Can’t wait to hear what you’re seeing out there. Minda, take it away. Hey guys. Yeah, we’re down on the jetty here waiting for the lads to come through on the run. There’s a bit of a wind here and from the ProAm earlier this week, we knew that running with the wind felt great. Running against it, not so great. So, the athletes will take a right, head down to the end of the jetty, come back into a headwind. So, it’ll be interesting to see who’s tucking in, who’s playing some head games and tactics on the jetty here. But, uh, yeah, they should be coming through momentarily. uh crowd, couple of crowds around here, but mostly our spectators are not are not allowed on the jetty. So, we’re just here hanging out, enjoying the sunshine. Beautiful. A lot of choppy waters for the age groupers, the remaining age groupers getting out of the water here in transition. Um, a few bikes left. Poor souls just heading out onto the bike now as the pro men are almost at the end of the race, but uh yeah, we’re still moments away from the guys getting on the jetty here. I’ll throw it back to you guys and then once they get on the jet here we’ll we’ll come back again. Wonderful. And the true proam is this race because the professionals and the amateurs here in the course together uh what you said of course some some athletes just starting their zoo bike course or uh just kind of navigating the early stages while our professionals are here. And I want to tee this up because I have a memory of this. And Craig, you were dreaming about today’s scenario. I can still remember very vividly seven years ago in Port Elizabeth at the Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. At that time, it was the best race I had ever seen. And I I believe that with a 106, 107, and a 108 for our finishing run splits where we saw Yon Fredino over Alistar Brownley and Javier Gomez. Such a good race. And you know what? We’re beating that here. Let’s get right back down to Miranda. Thanks for listening, Reie. Take it away. Hey, so we are on the jetty now and this is Yellow Gans and KB. It looks like KB is content to sit on Yellow Gins’s head. Both on on his shoulders, sorry. Uh, both men kind of in Terminator mode now. There’s not really much emotion. Very relaxed faces. And now we have Yona Stroberg. This young man is having an incredible race. Sitting in third. He looks fantastic. He comes around the corner, makes quicker work of that turn. And then we have Casper Storz next onto the jetty and he’ll make this right hand turn here. Casper looks really relaxed actually of the, you know, three men ahead. He looks the most relaxed and comfortable right now. He’s chasing Yonas down. Uh looking great. Uh but again, they’re in a tailwind now. They’ll come back into the headwind. Uh we’ll see who’s tucking in and who’s sitting up the front happy to do the work. But uh yeah, I mean the race is still wide open. Those podium spots are um who knows? Send it back to you guys. Thanks. Thank you so much, Renie. You could just feel the excitement as she watches those men up close and personal. What a great shot here. Puerto Bus in the background. That marina there and everything you see in there. It’s It’s quite nice. It’s quite nice. It’s just a little bit of a casual setting there. all those boats. But Greg, what are you seeing here? Yeah, I know this section of the run course. I I’ve had a couple of jogs on it this week as I know Danny has. And they’re in a big tailwind section here. So the the prevailing win today is coming out of the east and they’ve got a big tailwind section. They’re going to run from where Rinnie was on that corner. It’s about 750 m down to this turnaround. So they do a 1 and a halfk on this jetty. Half of it will be with a big tailwind, but shortly they’re going to make a turn around the little lighthouse at the end. Then they’ll be coming back into a a block headwind. And it’s a very strong win today. Much stronger than we saw for the women’s race yesterday. And you can see here’s the shot out to the little lighthouse at the end. Um nice tailwind section here. KB sitting in. Be interesting to see who’s going to take the lead into the headwind. If KB comes around, I’m sure he’s just going to be content to sit back there. And look at the background, Danielle. You can see those flags really showing us exactly how much tailwind they have right now. When they come around, do you think Yelin forces KB to the front or do they just keep charging? I could imagine that he has like a look and you know when when you do the turnaround, he could kind of let him go because it at that speed what they’re running, it’s definitely going to make a big difference if you’re in the front or if you’re sitting in the in second place. Shberg looked so good as well. We kind of counted him out. He got caught, dropped, so to speak, but you know what? He’s fighting very well. Yeah, he went up very very quickly with the lead too. looked like he got almost had a grand piano dropped on although he never he never looked like he was struggling but he just the gap opened quickly but I think that was just an orchestrated move by him um just to settle back into his own rhythm and he looks great as they make that turn now and this is where the wind will hit them and I want to say I don’t yeah I don’t want to go too early but I feel yellow looks just a a little more comfortable Christian always has sort of a half smile half grimace I can never tell what it is as he checks the watch there and yeah Jonas is still right up to Casperis Again, I feel the last two or 3K those that gap from this lead two back to back to Uranus and back to Casper is pretty much held steady. Feels like the top four on course are all running a roughly the same pace now. Yeah. Dancing around 3k per kilometer. Go ahead. All four definitely running really really well. And I think also Christian he he’s he’s a fighter. He will not let go until he’s either cramping or falling over. So, um, we we we met him yesterday, last night, and, uh, Taylor walked by and he remember his her joke. She said, “Just don’t get second.” And I’m sure he doesn’t want to get second. Although second place here is better than second place anywhere else. Uh, no, for sure. How funny. I mean, you’re going for the win. Uh that is Taylor speaking from uh Taylor’s great and honest and uh very fun perspective. Unfiltered perspective. Unfiltered. Thank you so much. As we look here at Casper Storz, our Iron Man world champion here, fourth place on the road of the Hoka run course. Kind of just gradually, I think, honing in on and narrowing that gap to third place, Yonas Shoberg from Germany. Yeah, he’s closing the gap. It’s taken I thought it would might happen a lot quicker, but yeah, full credit to Jonas. He’s running well, too. These lead four men are putting on a show for us. And Casper just he’s very methodical. He’s I guess reminiscent of what we see with Gustaf when he’s in his best form too. Just checking the watch. Really for him that’s the main metric rather than the race dynamic and the race situation going on around him. And Casper’s the same. We saw saw him do it at the Iron Man World Championships. There he is again just checking the pace, checking the effort level. Um be interesting to see. I think these two men can form a little partnership of convenience here too, especially with with the wind direction the way it is. And I have to also think that when you’re going Let’s let’s head on down there to the seaw wall with Minda Carfrey. Take it away, Renie. Let’s go. Okay, so we’re on the jetty. We see the top two men coming through now. Lots of athletes going both ways here. We have yellow happy to lead this section. It did seem like Christian was not in any distress. He was kind of happy to sort of sit back, but again being very smart here. Uh sitting behind to the left. The wind is coming from Yella’s right shoulder. So nicely tucked in there behind Yella. And yeah, again being very smart, playing it smart. Yellow sort of asserting asserting his um authority a little bit. Maybe he’s happy to sit in the front. He’s like, I’m good. I feel great. Uh so definitely some mind games going on between these two right now. Um, now we have uh our third place at the moment. Yonas Shamberg actually, it looks like Casper Storz is almost on his shoulder now. So, uh, Yonas uh, third right now. He does look really good, but uh, Casper Sais looks fantastic. He is, uh, just running up onto the shoulder of Yonas Shernburgg. And now we see our two coming back through. We still have yellow Gans sitting in front. Both men look pokerfaced. They look cool, calm, collected. Uh, but I feel like I don’t feel like KB is in any distress. He’s sort of just going with Yella, let letting Yellow make the moves and Yella’s happy to stay on the front there. So, um, and yeah, as we see Casper Storis now running up onto the shoulder of Yonas Shamberg, I think that third place is about to change uh, in the race here. Casper Sonis, our Iron Man world champion for 2025, now on the shoulder of Yonas Shroberg. Again, Yonas having a phenomenal race. uh usually around a 110 marathoner. Um again, we’re talking probably a 10 107 106 time to win possibly today. You guys will know better than me. And now we have Rico Bogen. Rico Bogen, our champ from Finland running through. He’s in fifth place right now. He looks like he’s working very hard, but that’s I feel like that’s how he looks when he’s running. He’s always got that uh grimace on his face. He’s always gritting it out, always working super hard. And now we have Magnus Ditlv as well about to make his way past Magnus Ditliff of course uh a champion phenomenal athlete and he is now going to go make that turn around and we have Rico Bogen on his way back on the jetty now. Yep. He’s got that grimace going that signature look and he is holding on to fifth place uh and steady steady in fifth right now. But Magnus Ditless looks great. He’s uh you know a very very fast runner as well. So uh again the minor places uh certainly up for grabs. It seems like first and second probably locked in at this point but uh these minor places on the podium and even the top five are still up for grabs. We’ll send it back to the studio. Thanks you guys. And thank you so much Miranda. And and it it here we come back to an aid station here with our defending champagne in front with Christian Blumenfeld taking on a water just behind steps behind here. And again a reminder where we sit. We’re only 10k almost to the halfway point of the twolap run course. These fellas are ripping it just tearing up the road. And uh yes 3154 for 10 km. Just chew on that for a minute. And then that’s yellow. and then 3210 for KB. Uh these are some wicked times. Those men are really just taking this race and and going for we may see that that honestly that that 105 it’s going to be 105. It’s going to be 105. These class runners, they’re not going to slow down too much. Interesting to see how KB always drops back about 10 meters through the aid stations. Um you know we talk we heard Renie talk about that the top five is still up for grabs. It is definitely still up for grabs. as I saw Mel Hidalgo run out onto the jetty and it’s about a 5minute or just under fiveminute return trip out to that lighthouse and back. So Rico Bogen, Magnus Ditliv, they would have seen Medel come Miguel, sorry, come out onto the jetty. So yeah, there’s still plenty plenty for them to run for. Obviously a top five at an iron man 70.3 world championship up for grabs and some lightning fast runners coming out of that first chase group as well. There it is. And we also want to point out, we got word from our spotters that Jamie Riddle is back running, but not just running, running fast. He’s right behind Ditv. So, great to see the South African back in the mix after walking briefly earlier and struggling. Anyway, uh so here we are. And uh Jonas Schoberg, he’s just given that MVP attitude today, not dying for anything. He’s now got uh the threat of Casper Storz right behind him and he’s just rising to the challenge. Every time someone swings at him, he swings back. Great to see that. Yeah, and they’re holding strong. They’re 31 seconds back. Um, for one split, they were actually catching up a few seconds. So, yeah, they’re they’re still um quite having the duo in sight and uh depending on how Yella and Christian are battling it out. You just you just never know. They’re going to go on the limit, probably over the limit to to get to fight for that win. And um that’s what makes uh racing interesting, right? Then everything can happen. I I just get a sense that Yella’s going to make a move somewhere before we get on that break wall on the second lap. I I maybe the little hill, the gravel, the hard packed gravel section. Um you know, you would be worried, you know, let’s let’s just cast our mind back a few years to the Tokyo Olympics and KB sprint finish over Alex Yei and and Hayden Wild. I mean, this man has a finishing kick. So, um, not that Yellow doesn’t, but I I just I feel the way Yella’s running, keeping this pace high. I think KB, like Renie said, is is mildly comfortable at this pace, but he’s also knows he’s got an extra gear, and maybe Yellow does as well. We will find out, but I just get a sense that he’s going to want to make a move somewhere before the last two or 300 meters of this run course. I think you’re right because that sprint that KB unleashed in 2021 was also a really long sprint. He did not unleash that in the carpet. He was way out and and was able to get away. So, great great point, Craig. And as we come back here, uh we see our leader just smooth and he looks exactly as he did. Both of these runners look to me zero breakdown, zero compromise the integrity of their form since they started. They are still just charging forward. Um and and so many turns and they’re taking them so quickly uh staggeringly fast as they come back to another beautiful uh palm tree line stretch of our gorgeous Hoka run course. Danny, yeah, soon they’re going uh back to to the sand part um along the coast. Beautiful uh beautiful line. But yeah, they’re both looking fantastic. Um the pace is absolutely incredible and this could be one of the fastest run we’ve ever seen in a 7.3 race. And then Rico Bogen really fighting and battling in battling uh it out. Um he’s yeah he’s super strong rider. Um strong runner too. But there’s it’s just yeah the level at the moment is so extreme that um yeah it’s just it’s even if you run at 109 you you’re not the fastest runner anymore. And 109 is super impressive. Yeah. You’re not in that race. You’re not in this race with one. I think this will be the fastest 70.3 half marathon we’ve seen. And until further notice, that 2018 um race in South Africa for me is still the greatest race at a world championship. Let’s see how this unfolds, though. So, I kind of feel Danny, I don’t know, I’d like to get your thoughts on this hard packed gravel section. I feel it suits Yeller a little more with his higher turnover. Christian’s more of power out the back with his run form. Um likes that energy back from the ground. This sort of it’s it’s not loose gravel. It is hard packed, but I feel it’s sort of it leans itself to a higher turnover being just more efficient on it. It is only a short part of this course, maybe another kilometer or so, but Christian seems to be hanging in there. Okay. But you might be right. I mean, it’s when the in the first part of the race, it’s where he made up how many seconds? 15 seconds in the first two kilometers. And um after this section on the sand, we have that one little hill. So, my prediction will be that there he’s going to do the move. Yeah, that’s where he we saw that before where he just kind of got in front and put the effort out. That’s a tiny hill, but it’s a it’s a hill that really uh digs in and can hurt any athlete that maybe is on the rivet. Both athletes either an incredible poker face or they’re just really really well within themselves. Uh every time I get a close-up shot, uh I I notice that. But we’re looking down at the beautiful scenery here of uh Marba, our host town and this precision Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. And again, if you’re just joining us, you’ve come just in time. I’m Michael Lovado, joined by Craig Alexander, Daniela Reef, and soon we will welcome back Sam Lelo to our show. A cast of characters that knows this sport inside and out. Huge, huge fans. And it’s fun to sit here and watch from this perspective. Another aid station is here and we’re watching. It’s pleasant. It’s great running conditions, but every single time they cool off, they drink. Craig, how important is these uh you know, 9K to go to still continue to take the fifth fuel on? No, absolutely. I mean, they’re not getting a lot at each aid station, but it’s just enough. And again, Danny talked about it yesterday in the women’s race that the higher intensity and the slightly longer duration of this race as well requires more calories, more carbohydrates, and these guys know that. So, they’re on top of that. Again, we saw KB just drop back a little bit further to make sure he got what he needed through the aid station. Yellow definitely getting what he needs. And we see the gap back to third and fourth slowly opening a little bit. And I think that’s that’s the pattern we’ll see here on this second lap. I don’t think these men are going to slow down. I think this is going to be a sub 105 or thereabouts. I mean, Yellow Gans ran a 3154 for the first 10K on a twisty turny course. It is unbelievable running that. I mean in context that he’s averaged around 311 pace um with all those twists and turns and 2 km of it in into an exposed wind. Um that’s just phenomenal right and that’s after a hard bike, right? It’s not like they were just sitting around. They were actually biking very hard. So yeah, super impressive uh racing here. That’s right. 3 hours and 15 minutes into this 70.3 and we have two well back to two more champions here. Yonas Shoberg on the left with the white hat backwards representing Germany and then the man Casper Storzes who carries that heavy Iron Man World Championship title on his right shoulder. Uh but they look so smooth and I just have to say again I’m impressed because I didn’t have Yonas Shamberg on my pre-race bingo card. I I I knew he was going to be up in the front, you know, a top five, top 10 probably, but right here battling it out for a podium, I’m impressed. Yeah, it’s he’s had an impressive race and Sam talked about it when he joined us during the bike league. He just looked to be managing his course management looked a bit better to previous races and maybe that was from experience or maybe that’s just respect for the deeper field that he’s racing here as opposed to his other races earlier this year. But whatever the change has has been, it’s it’s working a treat for him. His recovery since Nice has been incredible. I mean, he ran a 236 there, as you mentioned. He backed it up with a a great race at the T100 7 days later in a very fast 18 km race and he’s had seven weeks to prepare specifically for this and yeah, he’s reaping the rewards of, you know, a great specific training block and a great season. And I’m going to I’m going to play I’m going to play my cards first because we’re early and I love to probably be wrong, but anyway, I’m going to say this. If I had to pick someone, I’m going with G. And I’m going to say before you leave, you’re not leaving now, Craig, but if you had to pick someone now, who you picking? Oh, don’t do it to me. I’m sorry. Do you want a little time? I mean, it’s not that hard. It’s only 50/50. One or two chance. It actually is that hard cuz they’re both amazing. But I’m going to go with KB still. I I picked him in Nice. He didn’t come through. I don’t know. I just think he’s got that ability to suffer. And I mean, at this level, when when we say that and and you know this, Danny, and you know it as well, Michael, we’re talking a percentage point of a percentage point. They both have an ability to suffer. They both have amazing V2 maxes. Incredible mindset. I don’t know. I don’t know. I’m just going to sway back towards KB. There you go. I like it. Danny, do you want to weigh in just here as we watch these champions battle? I guess I have to now as I was bragging so much. Um I mean I think Yella is the faster runner on paper, but I mean how deep the um Christian can can uh how do you say how deep he can go is super impressive. So, I mean, I guess I’m going for yellow in that. Oh, you flip flop. That’s a quick should. Okay. Yeah. 50/50. I mean, they’re both amazing. Yeah. But here we are. So, a little bit of a an uphill with that hard left. They came off the coast. Hard left onto a more concrete surface, a harder surface. Again, we talked about that change. Asphalt softer than concrete. Concrete obviously much harder than that. Hard pack sand. So many different terrain uh changes here. The shoes, the quality of these Hoka Run shoes that we use are incredible. They manage all of them, but it’s worth mentioning. It’s not easy on the body. Right now though, KB matched that move. He’s just coming back again. He’s It’s amazing racing. Yellow definitely put in something there. The change of surface, the little slide uphill suits his running style a little better. But yeah, KB is just so tough. So you I mean, I don’t know. Let’s He heard you, but you know what? He heard you when you said that you didn’t want to be nearby KB at the sprint and he tried to break him there, but it’s still locked together. Mono Amano. He’s going to have a couple more opportunities to uh to shake things up and try and unhook KB, but yeah, he’s KB has an ability to suffer unlike most. So, let’s let’s see how this unfolds. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gives uh if he starts to attack when he sees some kind of weakness in yellow. That’s right. So folks, we have a twoperson battle for first and second. It’s tight. Nobody could predict who is going to come out on top, but we’re going to keep trying. Keep guessing. Welcome to the world’s best airline, where your journey is five-star, and so is your Wi-Fi. Experience the fastest connection in the sky with Starlink. And best of all, it’s free for all passengers. So why settle for less when you deserve the best? Endurance isn’t just about medals. It’s about showing up. Even when your brain says go and your body says no. Showing up means taking care of yourself, skin, and all. Because when you train hard, your skin works hard, too. That’s where Bulldog comes in. With products packed with brilliant natural origin ingredients that help prepare, protect, and recover your skin. No fuss, no nonsense. Bulldog skincare is man’s best friend. Official men’s care products of Iron Man Europe. Heat. Heat. And as we come back to the Hoka run course, we are actually with third and fourth place. Another great battle between Casper Stores and Yonas Shoberg. And now I will be happy to share with you I am the middle the sand of a sandwich. An Iron Man champion sandwich. The best kind of sandwich there is. Danielle Reef still with me. And now Sam Lelo has returned. I guess you guys are the bread. I’m the peanut butter or the jelly. Either way, Sam, we were just talking a little bit during the break and you were mentioning something about what you saw with the Gins Bloomfeld battle. Share with our audience what you saw there and what you’re seeing now. Yeah, I mean, um, Yella’s really got some good running gans as everyone knows. That was a really bad joke. I’m sorry. I had to I had to place it. Um, no, Yella is obviously a lighter runner and I think he would in his head he thought that the only the only place uh where he could really break Christian was on the climb and um so he tried it and we we saw that and uh Christian just about held on and I think that might just be the mental advantage now that uh that Christian has got. So um yeah, but equally Yella’s had um quite a few unfortunate events, you know, in in coming off his bike and then even in T2 and stuff. So he’s also got a small advantage there knowing that he’s there at the front despite all this. Yeah, despite all this and just as we were talking as well, looking at the other battle, Storas made his break on Shoberg. They were and had lost about 59 uh to 60 seconds to the leaders, but Storis has now taken off and and and left firmly holding third place. Danny, uh, we were kind of expecting that as we come back to our front two. Do you agree with what Sam saw there? Yeah, absolutely. And I think also just, um, the move from Casper, I think maybe he knows that if he wants to have a shot and that win um, he needs to move now and it’s going to be interesting on the next little um, time split. There’s still one minute. I think the win is definitely between these two. It’s opening up. Um I think um actually Yellow really wants a fast overall run whereas Christian is kind of renowned for being able to go over his limit having a extremely high V2 which which means that if it comes down to the last kilometer or 2 km um there if there’s one person you don’t want to bring along uh it would be Christian. Oh 100%. you don’t you don’t want to be anywhere near and we saw this and uh Crowley referenced that 2021 Olympic uh sprint finish and I felt like it was a very long sprint finish. I felt like he just wound it up and just extended and dipped into that uh V2 max. And Kristen Kristen is still like looking at his watch. He still looks relatively in control. You know, if you’re just hanging on purely um and yeah, I I feel like Kristen has still got a kick in him. Uh it’s just whether or not he can get to that final kind of kilometer with yellow or not. And and how about this? Talk to me about Yonas Shamberg. I mean, we keep counting him out. At least I do. Not out of the race, but he keeps getting dropped, beaten up, punched back, and now he’s fighting his way back, not letting go of Casper Stern. Yeah, I mean, it’s a really really strong performance he’s put together. He’s had a great season, as we said before. And uh this time he played it a bit smarter and hid a bit more than than he normally would. Um but equally, who knows? Maybe if he would have pushed the start of the bike, maybe there would have been a more elite pack and then he could have been running for the win, you know? So, it’ll be interesting to see. um his opinion on on his own race after the after the actual race itself, but um yeah, Casper looks cool, calm, and collected. Obviously, he’s he’s suffering, but um yeah, Casper is um he seems very confident in his own abilities. Um and again, may will he regret not following the two leaders? Who knows? Yeah, to me, he’s uh he’s he’s just shy of nose breathing and glancing at his watch while he runs a 305 per kilometer pace. But it it’s cool and you have to have some swagger when you come off of a 229 winning the world championship in Nice. Uh but that being said, completely different race. Really a different season. We’re already kind of, you know, we’re we’re in November, right? There there’s a lot that has happened since that September race. Um either way, I’m impressed. He’s going through cooling off and Daniela, we talked about this earlier. It feels especially sitting here doing nothing. It feels like perfect racing conditions, but share with us what we’re seeing here. Cooling off, a lot of fuel. Yeah, I mean we’re sitting in the shade and having some wind. I think in the sun it’s definitely a bit warmer and definitely perfect conditions. Um still cooling is important and I think um yeah I think the these two here really I mean super impressive what they’re showing. Um they’re going in a fastest pace that we’ve ever seen most likely in the 7.3 um distance. And I think what you mentioned before like I think Yella is trying to he’s trying he’s tried a few times already. So, I’m I’m actually I I think eventually Christian is going to try to do the move as well. So, he’s he’s just yeah, he’s being patient and he’s it’s impressive how he could bridge up and bridge up again and he they both definitely look very smooth. But, um this is this is great to see. You know, I mean, if it quite often in races you there’s a clear winner already at this point, but I really think it’s going to come down to the last few kilometers. Um, I think one man who would definitely be behind the screen, maybe wishing he was in this run battle would be Hayden Wild. I mean, he’s outrun Yella in every every run this year. And here we go. It’s uphill and uh and Yellow’s decided to put in a move again. Um, Yellow actually, I think he figured this out. Um it was a race in in Vegas against Martin Van Real battle there and every uphill Yella uh would be getting like five or 10 meters and Martin would catch back on the descent but eventually it it broke Martin and um yeah again mentioning Martin I think he would have been amazing on this course. So yeah, shout out to uh to Hayden and Martin. I think they would have been a great addition to this race. A agreed and a great shout out as we come back to this downhill, the ensuing downhill. Uh they both just absolutely falling down the hill so fast. Um so we we did put I I already threw myself out there. I called Gans for the win. Uh then Crowley called KB. Are you allowed to come out here and tell us who you think is going to win at this point or is it too early? I think you asked me before and I I said Yella. Yeah, you did. You did early. Yeah. Um but now again, yeah, as I said before, I Yella really doesn’t want to bring Christian them final few kilometers. Um, but yeah, I I really don’t know and that’s what that’s what’s making it exciting right now. That’s why we’re here. And everybody at home as well, thanks for joining us today. The Precision Fuel and Hydration Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. I’m sitting with Sam Lelo and Daniela Reef. I’m Michael Lovado. I’m watching now. Casper Stor has rolled down the hill. Um, he doesn’t look to be charging quite as much, but I think looks can be deceiving. Look at this guy here filming on the side. You can see the pace there. He’s anorobic. the the for sure he’s at 5 mill that guy right now and it’s and again a testament to the to the passion of Andocia and the folks that traveled here to watch this race Christian Blumenfeld now edging in front so coming back to what uh you just said Danny I think that KB is going to make a move he’s gotten in front anyway are they positioning themselves for that move yeah I’m not sure if that’s a move yet um I don’t know uh we haven’t seen him leading u much so far so I don’t know maybe it’s probably downhill and also um a tailwind. Um I don’t think you would go in the front in a in a headwind, but um yeah, we I think Yeah, sorry. Sorry to cut you off. I think this is more maybe Yellow that’s um actually playing it smart now. He’s been Yellow’s been leading for for a while. Um and um and yeah, I mean it’s it’s the smartest move to let now Christian Christian work and uh Christian looking behind and I think that both of them are discussing that if they take turns they will they can win the race you know so it’s whether you want to risk Casper coming back or not um yeah it’ll be really really interesting now it’s becoming Casper is only 50 seconds back so yeah they don’t they can’t really have a coffee Jasper seems to have run the fastest last split um on the tracker there it says 313 against uh 329 322 so yeah interesting it is and and that those t we’ve seen today and Sam maybe you could talk to us you know coming from the perspective of you’ve been on course plenty of times with KB do you ever see him really dialoguing like that or or monologue chatting so much he’s been very vocal all day on the bike here on the run lots of chatting yeah I don’t know maybe it’s Norwegian method I had Casper showing maybe it’s the influence from Taylor nib, you know, maybe she told him just just talk a lot and you’re going to win. To be fair, to be fair, I think Alistister Brownley was probably the pioneer in shouting in people’s ears during during races. Um, but yeah, Casper Casper was quite vocal on the bike over in uh over in Nice. And yeah, now he’s only 39 seconds back. Uh, Casper, so that’s uh he can definitely he can definitely smell them. I mean, that that’s that’s what they were talking about. I mean, I think honestly they look back as well and here’s the story. We talked about this early and who knew if it would come true, but this is the move that he did in Nice. He waited it different obviously distance and story, but we did talk about how he waited. He bited his time. He sat back. He collected and now he has probably a little extra to charge forward. We’ve got the seaw wall coming up this tailwind headwind section. We’ve got some very difficult running segments ahead and we see Casper Storage on the charge. And he’s charging after these two men. Heliggins from Belgium as well as Christristen Christian Blumenfeld from Norway. These two poetry in motion charging down the road uh with Casper Storids coming coming hot. Uh so really it’s fun to predict because you know if you don’t mind being wrong, you just have to try. Uh but this race could actually go any way. Um the the issue they’ve got now is that even if Casper is slowly catching, I feel like these two are just going to drop drop a big big attack at one point. Um and so then it will be it will be tough mentally for Casper and he can see them right now. And although it doesn’t look far, uh Casper is definitely pushing very very hard and sometimes what just like 20 seconds seems like an eternity, you know, when you’re when you’re racing. So um yeah, I think it’ll be difficult for Casper to catch these two. Um, and I think at any moment, and Casper’s looking behind now, so definitely now I think in Casper’s head, it’s more about getting getting that third spot, which is a great performance coming off of IMAN World title. I think I think you’re spot on. And I think that when we see those fireworks really light uh between our our our leading duo there, you’re going to see the pace really just start to drop, drop, and drop. Um it’s this roundabout these these changes in pace changes in direction that the the demands that this course have make it a very challenging flatter course. Uh Daniela, what are you seeing on the splits? Anything that we have to share? Yeah, I mean Casper is now 30 seconds back. He’s running a 303 um compared to Yellow and Christian around I mean it’s not always accurate exactly in all these splits but around 310 315. So he’s definitely moving fast. Um but yeah, I think uh I’m with Sam here. I think these two there’s probably starting to be a little bit tactical and as soon as they know um that you know someone is coming from the behind um they would I’m sure they could probably have another gear up and I think they’re now more getting ready for the attack. I think they both know eventually there’s going to going to be one sprint and uh yeah the question is just is it going to be sooner or later? This is so good to see that. I mean, how often have we had this on the Iron Man World Championship, 70.3 World Championship, where it comes down like this to the final few kilometers. This is a real real run battle and it’s uh yeah, amazing to see. Well, back when you were about 12, we had one in South Africa. No, not really. I know like we like to make a little fun. You’re such a superstar at such a young age, but we we mentioned that and Crow and I did this is what you dream of. This is what you want to see. We felt like South Africa had those three the Clash of the Titans, right, when it was Fredino, Brownley, and Gomez. Now we’re seeing the new wave, our new talent, our new champions really doing that kind of battle. And it’s why we’re all such fans of the sport is is these are the best of the best going deep into the well and not giving an inch here. We still see though Gaines in front when they turn around at the turn at this next point. It’s a straight headwind again. It seems to taper a Nope, it’s not tapering. Look at that flag. Christian’s just running past his own private yacht right now, so he’s probably finding it. Finding it difficult to to push and not to focus. Yeah, exactly. He’s thinking about the after party there in the arena. Casper is now 31 seconds back. I mean, he’s definitely It seems like he’s catching a little bit, although I it’s it’s hard to believe that it’s that fast. Um, but we will see in a second when they do the turn. Um, we will have a good view on where they at. It’s It’s interesting though that Yella decided to go back to the front after Christian had them few words. Um, because for me, I don’t know if he’s almost being too kind, Yella. I think maybe scared of Christian. Maybe scared. Yeah, I mean he is he is a scary guy. I won’t lie. He’s a nice guy. But yeah, definitely a racer. Scary. A bit like you when you on a race course. You’re very nice. That was the first impression I got when I saw Daniel the first time. It was in St. George and I thought, “Oh, she she seems so nice. I thought she was she was so scary.” That’s right. That’s right. We all felt that and now you sit next to her, she’s a little cuddly teddy bear. But here we are. No, it’s it’s and it’s actually you mentioned that Danny yesterday is like the cool thing is that they are absolutely fierce competitors mean killing each other and then of course hey you know what I can have a beer I can enjoy a little time and chat so uh good camaraderie off the course but right now it is pure battle and we are rolling through for those of you that haven’t seen it before Puerto Vanus this is the marina as Sam Lelo just said the private yachts the luxury uh the great contrast of those luxury shops along that and the restaurants with this hardcore endurance battle that is the Iron Man 70.3 World Championship uh brought to us by Precision around and into the headwind. We’re coming back and they’re going to see direct uh directly into the eyes of Casper Storz as he goes outbound. And they must only have one more dead turn now. Yeah, Casper isn’t far. It’s not much. It looks less than 30 seconds to me. It’s not far, but again, I really think that one of these two is about is about to go and um Yeah, but it I I don’t I don’t understand Yella’s position right now. Um if I was if I was Yella, I would just wait behind Christian and let him do the work. Uh because at the speeds they’re running, there definitely is an advantage to kind of just sit and and kind of just focus on holding the feet. Um especially if it’s into a headwind, I don’t it looks like now logically it would be now that they’re going into a to a headwind. I I think the tricky thing is, and this is where you see this with sort of pro tour cycling, if if all of a sudden Yelin decides that he wants to slow to force Christian in front, well, boom, now you’ve brought another man into the race. And so ultimately, Christian Bloomfield knows, hey, we’ve got to run this pace. If he slows, of course, I’ll pull to the side. But really, you you can’t monkey around too much when the Iron Man World Champ is 30 seconds back. So, another that’s my thought. Another aid station as we come across the seaw wall. One more, as you called it, Sam, dead turn 180 before they come back and get to reenter those boisterous crowds uh of this of this Iron Man crazy community. I’m nervous and I’m just sitting here. Yeah, I mean, the longer it goes, I think the more it’s going to be in Christian’s favor. And I think he’s playing it really smart now. He does he knows how fast Casper can sprint because he trains with him um a a lot. And then also he knows he has a super good sprint. So, I’m just waiting on when he’s going to do attack. I think he’s not going to go in against the headwind, but maybe as soon as we’re off that pier, um he might make the move. It’s not long to go. I mean, they’re around 2k. Um so, and if I’m not mistaken, they still have to go over this uh this bridge. Yeah. So, that again could be a good moment for Yella to go over the bridge. Um, but what will be what will be great is that there’s going to be so many fans on them final 1500 m and they’re going to be screaming at them. Um, yeah, and they probably won’t won’t feel the pain the pain quite as much as if they were just attacking themselves alone on this pier here. But also mentally now for Casper is is a good thing like he he saw them. He knows how like that they’re probably going to do some mental games in the front and uh he he seems like very determined now. um definitely showed a lot of courage um to do his own race and even though it seems like a long way. Um the next the last play just showed 20 seconds 26 seconds now. So he’s definitely catching. Wow. Fantastic. And what an effort uh from Casper Storz from Norway. You can see that he’s now got eyes on them. They’re rolling into this turnaround. And having eyes is a very powerful spot to be in. The hunter now has his sights on the prey and they can he can just corner really dial in and try and draw in off their energy. But the battle is on with Christian moving to the front 100% certainty. Exactly. Christian goes to the front and that is at the close of the headwind section. He now wants to be in the driver’s seat as they take that hard right turn. Drop down off of the bridge. Storinage checks over the shoulder to make sure. And he yelled at him. He yelled at him. What did he say? go get it or something like this. I think you’re right. I think he is absolutely rooting his training partner and countryman on. He is screaming what a show of sportsmanship and also just maybe he’s just saying slow down. Slow down wait. Maybe it is. Is that what you would say? Oh, I don’t know. I think right now Casper’s just wishing there was another 21K so they could catch them up. I think you say anything you can say right at this point. But back to Yonas Stroberg. This is Shamberg. This has been such an incredible uh show for the German. I think just a great fall, a great year for him. Uh he’s he’s in fourth place, pretty firmly holding that spot and he’s still just running exceptionally. Zero chinks in the armor. Um he did perhaps ride a little bit more reservedly than we’ve seen, but it’s paying off. He’s running fantastically uh here on the seaw wall. Yeah, hopefully we can get we can get eyes back on back on the front because yeah, that’s the race. They’re throwing the bombs right now. throwing the bombs as we kind of roll off the seaw wall. Again, you’ll notice zero competitors or sorry, uh spectators here allowed in this section. It just gets too crowded. And then I say that there’s three spectators, but very few spectators compared to what we’ll see when we get back into the town. And uh a high overview here of the marina at Puerto Vanus. And a beautiful, beautiful shot as you see in the background. Playa uh de Leante is the finished stretch as well. So everything pretty much takes place in this zone. And here we are back at the front of the race. The Hoka run course almost coming to its conclusion together with the white cap of Christian Blubenfeld from Norway in front. The defending Iron Man 70.3 world champs from Belgium on his shoulder. The race is about as good as it gets here. One more turnaround. the crowd going completely bananas as they watch and hitting those thunder sticks from Hoka making some noise and uh realistically this is what it’s all about. I have to say if yellow defends his title what a way to defend it after all the all the small struggles he’s he’s gone through today. I think that would be uh yeah an amazing reward. epic. And we saw last year where at this point Hayden Wild had gone hard and he had tried to make the break on this man, he could not be broken. And we saw in these closing KS in Topah that had that engine to carry him through the final stretch. But with under two kilometers to go, I feel like we are already in the sprint. They’re running so unbelievably quick. Yeah, they’ve got less than a kilometer now to go. So, thank you. And and as we roll under the precision fuel and hydration banner and we step away to have a good look at La Koncha in the background here of Marba, we have to say for just a second a thanks to everyone who’s joined us here today. Thanks to our incredible commentary crew. Please stay with us because not only is a hot conclusion about to present itself for you, but we’ve got great festivities and we’ll hear from these superstars after the race. Casper Storin still looking at the watch just smooth. So Casper yeah dropped down a little bit like timewise not in position but obviously because the other two attacking each other but what’s going to be really important up front now is whoever hits them last two 90° turns first uh because it’s not a very long finish and shoot after that. So um yeah it will be it will be painful for both of them. Yeah. And there you go the white building of the hotel the pool. So you can visualize folks at home along that long stretch. They’re going to have the right turn that Sam just mentioned and then another right turn a slight bend and it goes right on home. But you do want to be in position before you hit that stretch. 3 hours 42 minutes into this race and you can see closing. Christian Christian Bloomington. Oh my god. They’re fighting for that final corner. That’s insane. Shoulder on shoulder. Yellow’s got it. Yella is pushing. And right when you saw them from afar, you couldn’t tell. Here’s right turn number one. Right turn number two. One more acceleration. Go, go. And as we come into the finish stretch, it could be anyone’s race. Is it the Belgian? Is it the Norwegian? As these two men come through, it appears that Yeligines has a slight advantage over Christian Blumfeld today. The 2025 Iron Man 70.3 world champion is Wow. Wow. By seconds in front of Christian Blumenfeld, the fist pump. What a battle. We couldn’t have scripted it any better. Congratulatory pat on the back. A defense of the title that we’ve only seen once before. What a sprint. What a sprint finish there. The Belgian comes out on top. Kelikans for first place. Christian Blumenfeld taking the silver medal as Casper Storis comes home quickly but with much less drama to take the bronze medal. Third place here today. I can’t even believe what I saw. We thought that Christian had broken him on that angle and the next thing you know they’re shouldering each other and there it is. The Wahoo Element rival shows that Heligans has the Mayo Pro champion status and the 10735 half marathon that goes with it. Storis is elated. Well, happy yellow absolutely over the moon. That was incredible. Yeah, yellow. I mean, we all kind kind of thought that if it came down to the last few meters, Christian would have him. Uh, but yeah. Yeah, that proved us wrong. And, um, what a way to to defend his title. Um, I think that that win for him will be almost bigger than than his first world title simply because of the the caliber and density of field. And, um, yeah, to be able to have a sprint finish like that always kind of stays in your memory as a as a special moment, I would say. I think you’re right. To defend something different, to win it the first time. And I think yeah, he definitely proved us wrong today. Um that sprint was absolutely uh amazing and that last corner they were so close shoulder on shoulder and just that one shows that triathlon you need to have a big good shoulders. Not just I I feel like they touch each other a little bit. Yeah. Yeah, they definitely did. Yeah, that’ll be a fun uh recap to watch and see some slow-mo video of those two uh hitting it out, duking it out. But 107 for the winning run. 10735, 10754, 10828, and then Shoamberg really closing it out well with a 10917 to grab fourth place for Germany. And uh we’re seeing more athletes come in and coming in hot. It’ll be fun to to see those athletes, but they’re a job well done for our Iron Man world champion here this year. And now third place podium to close out the year for Casper Stone. I mean, yes, Sam, you you would know how hard it is um after winning the Iron Man World Championship. um title. So I think the performance here from Casper uh it’s super impressive. Um he managed to get back in the middle game to really train hard and coming here in third is uh yeah what do you think Sam? Yeah 100%. I mean um yeah I struggle to do anything for 3 months after after world championships. Um so yeah big big respect to all these guys uh and especially those that have already raced the IM man world champs. Um, but I know that yeah, Casper made I think last year the 70.3 world champs were a big goal of his and uh I think he had a mechanical or he had to he crashed I think before the race and couldn’t race and so I really feel that’s what fueled the fire for for this year and um what a season. Yeah, here we got Rico coming in top five. Great great performance. What a show for the 2023 uh world champ uh representing Germany. Rico Bogen. Uh he’s he’s going to come across the line in a stellar stellar time and typically known for being one of the power cyclists on the day. He hits the blue carpet well positioned uh to to take out a great great finish. And if I’m kind of looking ahead, I’m seeing uh yeah, I’m seeing that he rolled through 110 for the run split there. 346 uh unofficially. Um, and then if you look behind him, the tall and powerful figure of the Danish athlete Magnus Ditlev. What a show. Uh, because this guy has been just so impressive. Um, I think Craig said it well. A rising career here for a couple years. Rising star rather. And there’s Ditv across the line. Uh, not maybe the course that’s built for a guy that that powers so well on the flats and in Iron Man races. But we’ve seen six guys across the line. Obviously much more action to come, including our podium celebration and of course our interviews. Stay with us. You don’t want to miss this. was in another one of toil and blood. When blackness was a virtue, the road was full of mud. I came in from the wilderness, a creature void of come in, she said, I’ll give you shelter from the stor. You know, and we know the thing about challenging yourself is you’re always looking for what’s next. It’s the beauty of Oman, our tradition, our hospitality, the sounds of limitless opportunities to explore. Listen, it’s Oman. Today’s broadcast has been brought to you by Bulldog, man’s best friend, and by Precision Hydration. Personalize your race hydration with precision fuel and hydration. And as we pan out here and look down at the beautiful Playa de Levante, this is the finish line of the precision Iron Man 70.3 World Championship here in Mara. We had one of the best finishes I have ever seen in decades of watching this great sport we call Iron Man with yellow from Belgium just absolutely putting it down in the final 30 meters really 40 meters to take a very narrow victory over Christian Blumenfeld. I don’t have to recap it. You sat through it with me. What an incredible display. And I know we’re going to have some spicy interviews uh with Craig Alexander and our champions. But today, continuing to watch these athletes zip ac across the line and crown themselves top 10 finishers here at the race of races for this distance. And in case you missed it, 2024 precision fuel and hydration Iron Man 70.3 world champion, yellow gains. Congratulations. It looked hard and harder than it needed to be. Talk us through what happened on the bike. There was a crash and then a mechanical. Yeah. Um, it was my own fault. I just went too fast through that right corner. I I wasn’t there yet, I think. Like I had no idea we had to go right and I just slid out, went under the barrier, got stuck a bit. Um, yeah, it took me a bit. Then my like right TT extension was like all the way this way. So I was biting a bit like this. And then my um rear rear derailer cage was like bent so I couldn’t go in my smallest gearing. So at the top of that like first climb I stopped to like bend it back. Luckily I felt good and from there on like yeah I uh settled in and there were some hard parts for me with like the slide downhill. It’s my weight is an advantage on the uphill but it’s a disadvantage in the downhill. Um and then actually my um hip was hurting quite a bit at the start of the run. It took me really a bit to to get into it. Um but yeah, once into it I felt really strong actually. So bike mechanic and world champion, unique skill set. You you’ve made some history today. You’ve added your name to the list of only three other gentlemen who defended the title. Your first two appearances at the 70.3 World Championships, two victories. Tell us what that means within your career. Well, it’s unbelievable actually, isn’t it? Um, I didn’t know there only two who were able to defend the title. Um, yeah, it was like the main goal of the season. We went with the family to Andor on Altitude Camp. Um, had actually a really good really good block leading into this race and the goal was to to defend the title, but yeah, there was a lot that uh happens during a race. Like, yeah, I had a crash uh on the bike. So, um I I actually thought it it was over there for the win. Um yeah, it’s it’s incredible. I think it still has to sink in a bit. I think yeah, being able to do it while having a family and doing everything with the family, it makes it that much more deserving. I think yeah, my little girl is there like shouting, “Daddy, daddy, she has no idea.” But um I think for her as well looking back maybe in 10 years um knowing that she was there even though she won’t remember it. Like I think it’s a really cool thing. Very very special to share it with the family. M congratulations. You put on a hell of a show and you’re the world champ. Well done. Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Yeah, it’s crazy. Well done, baby. And as we come back and take a look at our beautiful setting from above the the mountain that stands above well above Koncha. Congratulations and commiserations. I know it’s not what you came for. Talk me through the tactics of that run at the end. Yeah. Uh well, I thought that uh I wanted to go for one push either or I guess I was waiting a bit too late like he was quite quick or I didn’t have the legs speed that I was needing needed on in the last final K. So, uh, I felt okay during the run, but like, yeah, he’s a he’s a quick runner and, uh, uh, yeah, decided early that I wanted to go maybe from the tailwind and back again. And, uh, yeah, I just didn’t have what it took to to outr him. He was uh, pretty quick and it was like a fight for that inside line on that final uh, turn. And yeah, he’s quick. He’s uh, yeah, pretty strong. So, some consolation, you’re the 2025 Iron Man Pro Series champion. Um, but you wanted a world title. You finished third in Nice, second here in Mbay. Is that give yourself a a scorecard or a P? Is that a pass for the season or not? Really? You’re aiming much higher? average. I would say like uh it gives me motivation at least for next year like uh looking forward to start off the season early with New Zealand and Australia and then get like the points I need for the Armen Pro series hopefully early in season and then just build up for the two world championships with Niss and Hawaii. So yeah, looking forward to next year. So you already have the schedule set for next year pretty much. Yeah, like uh I guess it will be like a big block of racing in the early in the season and a big block of training like mid year and then uh yeah trying to do better in the world championships next year for because uh that’s what we’re racing for like we want to win the world titles and uh podium is the podium but uh yeah I I would I want to c take that tape and uh fail twice this year and uh two more chances next year. Well, thank you and congratulations for giving us one of the greatest races we’ve seen. So, enjoy your off season. Join me. Third place finish here, Casper. Congratulations. Third place at the precision fuel and hydration I man 70.3 World Championships. Talk me through the run there. You came in with the with the leaders into T2. slightly slower transition similar to Nice and you just sat 25 to 30 seconds back the whole run. Yeah, I didn’t feel good on the basically the whole day today where like I felt like bit tired the whole day even on the swim and bike just felt it was full gas all the way and on the run I felt so bad for the first lap. So when I managed to get up to Yunas I just stayed there for some time and then went for it and I think I gained a bit in the end on Christian and Yella, but it wasn’t enough. And uh yeah, when I saw I weren’t going to bridge up, I cheered on Christian on the turnarounds to really let him get that extra motivation for taking the win. So yeah, but Yali were stronger today and uh he really deserves it. So uh he were the strongest man on the whole day. So uh yeah, well well done for him. So yeah, it was one of the highlights of the coverage actually seeing you cheer on Christian KB out on the seaw wall and just the camaraderie you boys have. I mean sharing the podium in Nice and and to you mate, congratulations. I mean you’ve Iron Man world champion and now a podium finish at the 70.3 Worlds and also a second place finish in the Iron Man Pro Series. So overall a great season. Yeah, it’s been a great season and uh yeah, it was good that yeah, both me and Christia managed to get on a podium today. So, uh, when I were running out there, I really thinking about I’m not going to be out of the podium here when Christian is going to be on the podium also. I really want to share it with him. So, we’re hoping that he was going to take the win since I were a bit behind. But, yeah, it’s good for the whole season and all for all of us. So, yeah, I think we’re all happy and I am very happy. So, yeah. Well, congrats. Thanks for putting on a show. Enjoy the offseason and we’ll see you next season. All right. Yeah, it’s been a great season and yeah, it was good. Thank you so much to Craig Alexander there with our podium then the Hyper Ice Recovery Zone, the top three finishers. Wow, what a day. And now you can look back and say Craig Alexander has won two. And then we look at Michael Rayard, two in a row. And of course, Sebastian Kelay, two in a row. And now we have another defensive title for Heligans. Two in a row. And with that, we’re going to send you away, but please stay with us for the podium celebration in a few moments. Meet Kicker Run from Wahoo. A revolutionary indoor running experience where you just run and your feet set the pace. We call it run free mode, a game-changing technology that allows you to change speeds naturally, just like you do outdoors. You can even let popular training apps control the speed and grade for you. Kicker Run by Wahoo. It’s time to run free. Beyond the finish lines, our commitment goes the extra mile. We are the Iron Man Foundation. We’ve given back more than $55 million to support our mission of leaving a positive impact throughout race communities. Without our amazing athletes, volunteers, and givers, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Together, let’s continue this journey of impact. Join the Iron Man Foundation, and be a part of something extraordinary. Heat. Heat. You are And here we are at the Precision Fuel and Hydration Iron Man 17.3 World Championship getting ready for Athletic Brewing Podium Celebration. All three of these men going to climb up there and celebrate their successes today. Notably disappointed uh was the feel that I got from Christian Blumenfeld. Obviously came here for the win and I think tactically he just got a tiny bit behind um on that finish. Not straight. He got behind on that U-turn, the horseshoe if you will coming in on to Playa de Leante. But I guess second place will get him more motivated for next year. And pretty cool that he’s already got the schedule set. New Zealand, Australia, and then chill and cool the jets until an attack is mounted for Nice and Kona. Sounds like a pretty great 2026 to me. And uh we’ll obviously have to sit back and see what the plans are for as we prepare ourselves for this celebration of jobs well done today. and looking at I think some of just the best shots from above here of a wonderful part of Andalosia in southern Spain. We really do love being here and I think in addition to being a great venue. It’s going to be a fantastic afterparty for these athletes capping off their season. Most of the triathletes here done I would say as we conclude not only our race today but our 2025 Iron Man Pro Series. So, uh, there’s the shot I love to look at with the Pueblo Blanco there in the foreground and the beach in the background. Representing Norway, Casper. And then representing Norway, Casper Storz is who we will see on top. The first, the third step of the podium, a valiant uh bronze medal today. As this man said, he just didn’t feel that great, but he sure delivered a great great performance. Closing out the day in 343 for third. Norway well represented with our Iron Man world champion here today, third. your second place. And in second place today, coming dangerously close to the win, Norway’s very own Christian Blumenfeld in a smoking time today of 343. Sorry, 34255. Just a tick under. I’m going to have to get better glasses. Scott Daroo handing out that medal and congratulating our second place finisher. And then of course what we witnessed was an incredible race. One of the best we’ve seen, crowning our winner who swam 2319, bike 20938, and then a crushing 21.1 km run, 10735 for a grand total and a world beating time of 34252 3 seconds ahead. This from Belgium is Yellines, your Iron Man 70.3 world champion. I’m always happy to see a little struggle for these men getting up on that step. Shows they really put it all out there. As if we didn’t know, but what a podium here. Belgium, Norway, Norway. One more time with the flowers. Ladies and gentlemen, your top three world champion. And these men fought valiantly. There it is. Hands up. Got to be proud. Our athletic brewing podium here. 342, 342, and 343. The celebration is a foot. Cheers. Thank you very much. Salude. They would say cheers in Norena. Congratulations to that incredible podium. What a day. If I’m looking back and seeing these, I’m going to have to say one of the best races that I have seen in a long time. the beautiful Mediterranean Sea behind those men. This a fantastic precision Iron Man 70.3 World Championship. And here you have it, today’s results. First place, as we said, bringing home 3,000 points in the Pro Series, Yellines from Belgium. Second place, Christian Blumenfeld. Third, Casper Stors. And then Germany’s Jonas Shoberg and Rico Bowden for fourth and fifth. Magnus Ditlev sixth. Jamie Riddle a valiant effort for South Africa in seventh. Simon Westerman took that eighth place spot. And Bisant Louie the Frenchman got ninth with Miguel Lidalgo in his debut world championship performance. He took the 10th spot. What a day here in Marba. Closing out our Iron Man Pro Series standings. The great Norwegian Christian Blumenfeld in first place. Casper Sorn is for second. Christian Hogenhog launching himself into third with Nick Thompson valiantly moving up a spot to fourth today. The Aussie performed well. Gustaf Eden lost a spot. The American von Berg didn’t see him much today, but he did manage to collect sixth place. Shonberg in seventh. And then of course eighth, ninth, and 10th. Some players that remain consistent in our series. Get Chevalier and Hoffman. What a day for the 2025 Iron Man Pro Series to culminate. I’d like to thank everyone for watching the 2025 Precision Fuel and Hydration Iron Man 70.3 World Championship Men’s Race. We’d love you to watch on demand replays of all Iron Man Pro Series broadcasts exclusive in the US and Canada. Just sign up for Outside Plus today. Globally, you can watch at proseries.ironirman.com ironman.com or on the Ironman Try YouTube channel or any of our global distributors. Stay tuned, please, for Iron Man social media channels and YouTube to catch all the exciting race. Today was a day to remember, one of the best we’ve ever seen, the Clash of the Titans part two. Watching that sprint finish will be something that’s etched in my memory for a long, long time. And I hope the same is true for you. As we watch these gorgeous images of Andalucia, the Costa del Soul, and beautiful Mara, I’m here to say thank you again for joining us. Until our next broadcast on behalf of Sam Lelo, Danielle O’Ref, Craig Alexander, and Minda Carfrey. I’m Michael Avado, and we love that you joined us today. Until the next time, This copyrighted broadcast of World Triathon Corporation may not be re-ransmitted, reproduced, rebroadcast, or otherwise distributed or used in any form without express written consent of World Triathon. I’m corporation.
14 Comments
The ending where they cut to the scene at the hotel is so good. The producer and team should get a raise. Job well done,
What a race!! Shame the directing in the final kms was so all over the place though, you literally have gold in your hands and you focus on other competitors and a random hotel 🥲
You need another female commentator, I’m nearly deaf after listening to these highlights
Just stuck all those useless ads upon…
I am certain that the stretch toward end was too narrow to film. And this is toooooo bad. So sad not to see Jelle and Kristian start their sprint. As IM racing is more and more decided via sprint, the courses should be set up to allow filming it
For God’s sake, SHOW US THE SPRINT! Nobody wants to see the hotel nor the city when there is a sprint for the 1st place. What a shame
Imagine watching 3.5 hours of racing and then they make you watch a stupid hotel in the single decisive moment of the race.
Can we get rid of these monotone dinosaur commentators. What a race and finish and sounded no different to commentating mid swim. Then waiting to see what pros finishing positions and you go to another ad break. So so poor.
The coverage is atrocious. How do you cut away in the final kilometer to the guy in third place who is completely uncontested and to a helicopter shot of a hotel?? These are not hard choices!
How frustrating! In the final stretch of the race, Ironman showcased a hotel instead of focusing on the event. Ironman, it's time to step up your game!
The moto lost connection, that’s why the had to use the helicopter view..
Again, worst broadcast in the hystory of Ironman. How to ruin a fantastic race. What a shame.
The last bidirectional stretch is no good.
Once again, Ironman ruining an espectacular race with ads, nonsense coments and filming an hotel instead of the final sprint. You never learn.