Search
shop

There are THREE (!) Pro IRONMAN 70.3 events this weekend…

McNamee, Langridge, Sanjana, and Morrison are just some of the Brits back to racing action this weekend, i Estonia, France and Poland.
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Signs of recovery?!

British Pro athletes among those racing in France, Poland and Estonia

It’s been a while… a weekend when there are several races of note to actually preview. As well at the World Triathlon Hamburg (MEN | WOMEN) and the Helvellyn Triathlon (PREVIEW), the European M-Dot season sparks to life with three professional IRONMAN 70.3 events. Here’s a quick look at what’s on and who’s racing.

70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne, France (Start List) – Sunday
$30,000 Prize Purse

The debut of this event in 2019 was a huge hit with athletes, so much so that it ranked top 70.3 event in the world in the IRONMAN Athlete Choice Awards.

It was also a memorable day for Great Britain’s Francesca ‘Frankie’ Sanjana, who earned her first professional IRONMAN 70.3 title. I spoke to her about that day shortly afterwards, which you can revisit HERE.

IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne / Frankie Sanjana

After the (mid-race) cancellation of Challenge Davos last Saturday, she will have British company in the shape of Fenella Langridge, who will likely face strong home competition from Manon Genêt and Jeanne Collonge.

Fenella Langridge / HUUB

Genêt finished eighth at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice, and then heading over to Tenby where she was second to Simone Mitchell at IRONMAN Wales.

British interest in the men’s race too with twice Kona third-place finisher, David McNamee, along with Colin Norris who was collected several podiums in 70.3 over recent seasons.

IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai 2020 / David McNamee
Photo Credit: Ryan Bowd

There are men’s field is strong, including 2019 champion, Frederik Van Lierde. With no form guide to go on, picking out favourites is something of a lottery, but I would predict that Rodolphe Von Berg (USA), Pieter Heemeryck (BEL) and Bart Aernouts (BEL) won’t be too far from the podium slots when the swm / bike / run is done.

Rodolphe Von Berg / IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship 2019
Photo by Joern Pollex/Getty Images for IRONMAN

70.3 Tallinn, Estonia (Start List) – Saturday
$25,000 Prize Purse

One new, and one very new pro will provide the British interest in Estonia. Katrina Matthews had a remarkable Age-Group to Elite European Champion season in 2019, and while triathlon racing has been absent this year to date, that didn’t stop her becoming National 100-mile Time Trial champion.

Katrina Matthews / BMC-Vifit Pro Triathlon Team
Photo Credit: James Mitchell

After some top amateur performances (and smashing up lots of virtual racing on Zwift), Elizabeth Duncombe will make her debut in the Elite ranks this weekend.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEWbMxhBoBP/

There are plenty of strong athletes in the women’s field, which looks a tough one to predict, including Maja Stage-Nielsen (DEN), Mareen Hufe (GER) and home athlete Kaidi Kivioja, who we more typically see racing on the ITU World Triathlon Series.

If she has continued her rapid progression shown in 2019 during lockdown, Matthews however is going to be tough to beat.

The men are headlined by Sebastian Kienle (GER), the twice IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion. Another athlete who was impacted by the Challenge Davos downpours, hopefully any dramas will be limited to racing action this weekend. Fellow German (and fellow uber-biker), Andreas Dreitz, is just one contender in another solid looking start list.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEq92ACBenz/

70.3 Gdynia, Poland – Sunday
$15,000 Prize Purse

There’s British Pro presence in Poland too, male and female, for Sunday’s IRONMAN 70.3 Gdynia.

With three IRONMAN 70.3 titles on her C.V. already, can Kimberley Morrison add a fourth on Sunday? Renowned for her cycling prowess (third last week at the National ’10’), she’s likely to need those legs on good form, as the multiple Swedish TT Champion (and Olympic Silver medallist), Lisa Nordern, is also racing. That should be a good battle.

Kimberley Morrison / Time Trial / Drag2Zero

Chantal Cummings will also be back to racing action, the winner of last year’s Spirit Triathlon Series has been making strong progress under the guidance of coach Perry Agass.

Challenge Forte Village Sardinia - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Chantal Cummings (GBR)

No Jan Frodeno in Gdynia this year, but the pairing of Patrick Lange (2x IRONMAN World Champion), and Florian Angert have solid chances of keeping the title in German hands.

Patrick Lange Canyon Speedmax CF SLX

One Brit who is ALWAYS willing to race, Thomas Davis, is also out in Poland and will no doubt want to use his strong swim / aggressive riding style to be at or near the front of the race for as long as possible. Now part of the ERDINGER Alkoholfrei Pro Team, he will want to make sure those colours are seen.

Tom Davis / Thomas Davis / ERDINGER Alkoholfrei

Good luck to all of the athletes racing – and to the organisers, who are increasingly having to do more and more work to make the restrictions of coronavirus and the requirement of triathlon racing compatible.

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
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
Vincent Luis San Francisco 49ers tri suit 2025
Short-course triathlon great Vincent Luis is OUT of T100 London
Marquardt Hogenhaug Foley IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
‘World Championship level’ – Marquardt says bike bar was raised at Lake Placid
Solveig Lovseth wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025 women’s results: Løvseth shows she’s the real deal and next Norwegian superstar
Matthew Marquardt wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025 men’s results: Marquardt wins as defending champ EXPLODES on the run
Matthew Marquardt IRONMAN Cairns 2025 Finish Line
WATCH AGAIN: IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025 as Løvseth and Marquardt bag brilliant wins
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

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...