WIN
A 3-NIGHT STAY AT
CLUB LA SANTA
ENTER NOW
Club La Santa

Collins Cup 2022: Laidlow – ‘I got what I asked for’

Sam Laidlow was unable to back up his ‘smack talk’ ahead of the Collins Cup in Šamorín.

And he admitted afterwards that he ‘got what he asked for’ when Lionel Sanders and Sam Long blitzed past him towards the end of the 80km bike leg after his fiery pre race comments.

Match #8 was the most exciting of them all, but the Frenchman crossed the line nearly half an hour later than his rivals.

Advertisement

No excuses

Laidlow, the youngest competitor in the field and a Captains’ Pick for Team Europe, was reduced to walking, holding his stomach with cramp before recovering to cross the line as Long and Sanders looked on during their post-race interview.

“I was well and truly beaten. I got what I asked for, I guess. 

“I don’t want to make any excuses. They beat me fair and square, it’s just fuel to the fire, I guess.”

Collins Cup 2022 Sam Laidlow photo credit Darren Wheeler and PTO
[Photo credit: Darren Wheeler / PTO]

Happy to put the spat behind them, Long was gracious at the finish, although very pointed in his post-race comments.

“They were great”, said Laidlow about Long and Sanders. “I think Sam said, ‘remember you’re still one of the best guys in the world.’ I’ll be back.

“You learn from every race, even more so from the lows. I’ve had a really good season so far, up until now so all eyes on Dallas [for the PTO US Open], and then Kona for me.

“It’s one-all now between Sam and me. I’ll be back and I’ll just go back to the drawing board and work even harder.”

Collins Cup Match 8 Results: 

  1. Lionel Sanders (Team International) – 3:12:25
  2. Sam Long (Team USA) – 3:12:27
  3. Sam Laidlow (Team Europe) – 3:41:36
Helen Gorman
Written by
Helen Gorman
Helen is part of the editorial team at TRI247 after spending ten years as a Press Officer with British Triathlon. She's mostly found at a pool, sometimes breaking world masters records.
Latest News
Hannah Berry of New Zealand wins IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo 2023
“Nothing beats racing at home” – Kiwis Kyle Smith and Hannah Berry overjoyed with Taupō triumph
Beth Potter WTCS Grand Finals Pontevedra 2023
Beth Potter Pontevedra win earns Sporting Moment of the Year at Scottish Sports Awards
Kyle Smith won his hometown race at the 2023 IRONMAN Taupo Photo Graeme Murray
IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo Results: Kyle Smith and Hannah Berry win on home turf
Joel Filliol with athletes Katie Zaferes and Belle Geens.
Joel Filliol on high-performance triathlon, coach-athlete relationships and dealing with change
Kat Matthews Bahrain 703 2023 win photo credit IRONMAN
IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain Results: Marten Van Riel and Kat Matthews triumph in the Middle East