Search
shop

IRONMAN 70.3 Los Cabos 2023 – Jason West and Paula Findlay taste Mexican success

While they had to work for it, pre-race favourites West and Findlay ultimately took clear victories on Sunday at IRONMAN 70.3 Los Cabos
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -

Heading into Sunday’s IRONMAN 70.3 Los Cabos in Mexico, Jason West (USA) and Paula Findlay (CAN) were the top-ranked athletes and pre-race favourites, and they duly delivered on that status.

Both had comfortable winning margins as they grabbed the finish tape, but had to work hard to add additional wins to their 2023 C.V.

Here’s how the races played out.

Advertisement

Pro Men – West is best, but Laundry makes him chase

The opening 1.9km sea swim in Playa Palmilla saw the USA’s Marc Dubrick break clear, and he would return to shore solo, with a 48 second advantage over a chasing quartet.

That group comprised Fabian Moehl (MEX), Brennen Smith (CAN), Eric Lagerstrom (USA) and the pre-race favourite, Jason West (USA), currently residing in third place in the PTO World Rankings. Dubrick is one of the top-ranked swimmers in the sport, and so no surprise to see him looking to capitalise on that strength early.

There was a further minute until the next athletes headed towards T1, and that included Jackson Laundry (CAN), who would start the bike leg 2:18 down on Dubrick. Would he be able to challenge for what would be a sixth IRONMAN 70.3 podium of the 2023 season?

While Laundry can run with the best in the sport on his day – Oceanside 2022, just one example – with time to make up and the foot speed of Jason West ahead, he was going to need to make a move on the bike. And he did. Powering through the first 20km, the Canadian had caught all but leader Dubrick, and by the midpoint of the ride he was almost a minute clear and leading the field.

Once the 90km was done – in a by far best of the day 2:02:07 – Jackson was more than 90 seconds to the good over the chasing quartet of West, Dubrick, Lagerstrom and Smith. He’d given himself a shot; the questions now were would it be enough, and what did he have left for the run?

No surprise of course to see that it was West that was the quickest of the chasers in the early stages, and he was clearly on form and had wiped out all but 27 seconds of the Laundry lead inside 3km. The writing was on the wall, and by 5km the West charge to the front was complete – and via a 1:09:31 split – he would take the win with a victory margin on almost five minutes. No wonder he’s the PTO’s top ranked runner.

Early swim leader Dubrick held strong (1:14:20 run) to take second, while the two-wheeled efforts of Laundry did appear to bite a little, but he still ground out another top three finish to complete the podium.

Pro Women – Classy Findlay rides and runs to title

As with the Pro Men, there was a clear swim favourite for the women too. Spain’s Sara Perez Sala is pretty much an ever-present at of near the front of the swim in every race she starts, and her advantage today would be a minute and a half over Grace Alexander (USA) and Lisa Perterer (AUT). In the process she was more than two and half minutes quicker than Paula Findlay (CAN), and 3:18 up on Jackie Hering (USA).

Inside the first 20km, it was Peterer and Findlay making moves on the bike, and while Perez Sala was still leading the way, her advantage was less than 20 seconds and surely set to be extinguished. A multi-time Canadian Time Trial champion, Paula Findlay had moved to the front by the halfway mark, but with Perterer and Perez Sala still within 30 seconds, the race was still very much on.

The second half of the ride was where Findlay made her move however, and as the T2 dismount arrived, Paula had built herself of just over three and half minutes on her two chasers. It looked like that would be the podium at least, with Jackie Hering more than 13 minutes down on the Findlay as she started the run.

There was no threat to the leader on the run, which saw Findlay and Perterer run very similar times over the 21km to fill the top two steps on the podium. Jackie Hering ran a touch quicker than both, but it was still not enough to take the final spot on the podium from Sara Perez Sala.

IROMAN 70.3 Los Cabos 2023 results

Pro Men

  • 1. Jason West (USA) – 3:43:04
  • 2. Marc Dubrick (USA) – 3:47:51
  • 3. Jackson Laundry (CAN) – 3:51:06
  • 4. Eric Lagerstrom (USA) – 3:52:22
  • 5. Fernando Toldi (BRA) – 3:52:39

Pro Women

  • 1. Paula Findlay (CAN) – 4:09:50
  • 2. Lisa Perterer (AUT) – 4:13:46
  • 3. Sara Perez Sala (ESP) – 4:20:55
  • 4. Jackie Hering (USA) – 4:23:11
  • 5. Amy Cymerman (USA) – 4:29:08
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Challenge Family Kaiserwinkle-Walchsee triathlon bike
The ultimate triathlon bike courses to ride before you die
TRI247 Wahoo KICKR RUN treadmill review
Wahoo KICKR RUN treadmill review – can Wahoo do for treadmill running what they did for indoor cycling?
Challenge Cesenatico 2024 debut - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
5 ways to improve your FTP – Expert tips to level up your cycling
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
sumarpo triathlon swimming wetsuit
Wetsuit buying guide – How to choose the best wetsuit for triathlon, open water swimming, SwimRun and cold water
latest News
Paris 2024 Olympic mens triathlon Hayden Wilde run
HOW TO WATCH LIVE: WTCS Abu Dhabi 2025 – start times, previews and streaming details
Manoel Messias World Triathlon Cup Vina del Mar 2023 win photo credit: World Triathlon
World Triathlon confirm postponements of two World Cup events
Tom Bishop finishing Challenge Roth 2024
Record-breaking Brit who eclipsed Alistair Brownlee is back for more at Challenge Roth
Kristian Blummenfelt aero position
Triathlon superstar Kristian Blummenfelt is “taking control” of his DIY IRONMAN training regime for the first time
Gwen Jorgensen World Triathlon Cup Miyazaki 2024 Results
US Olympic triathlon champ Gwen Jorgensen reveals how she deals with nerves as 2025 opener looms large
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...