Search
shop

2022 all about Ironman for Kristian Blummenfelt

Kristian Blummenfelt tells TRI247 that 2022 is all about Ironman for him as he prepares for his full-distance debut in Cozumel on Sunday.
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -

Kristian Blummenfelt scaled every possible height in short-course triathlon in 2021, but 2022 is all about Ironman for the Olympic and World Champion.

‘Big Blu’ makes his full-distance debut at IRONMAN Cozumel on Sunday, with much expected after the recent brilliant performance from team-mate Gustav Iden in Florida.

Advertisement

Blummenfelt Ironman plan

Blummenfelt will take the learnings from Mexico this weekend into a year where he will have three major targets – all in long distance racing.

  • The 2021 IRONMAN World Championship, now set to take place in St George, Utah on May 2, 2022.
  • The Sub7 project, which will see Blummenfelt and Alistair Brownlee try to go under the seven-hour mark, with a final date expected to be summer 2022.
  • The 2022 IRONMAN World Championship, which is set to return to its spiritual home of Kona on October 8, 2022.

The Norwegian superstar spoke to TRI247 recently, explaining: “2022 is all about learning how to race ironman and ironman distance and going Sub7.

Preparing for Cozumel

“From now on it’s basically just time trial training, I have my TT bike here up in the (Sierra Nevada) mountains. It’s adjusted, riding down to the bottom and finishing off with a 90-minute climb on the TT bike which is not as easy at is it is on the road bike so hopefully it makes me a lot stronger when I get to the flat courses like in Cozumel.”

Kristian Blummenfelt / Tokyo 2020
Blummenfelt has been preparing for Cozumel in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

As ever with this Norwegian generation, testing and science plays a huge part in understanding what they are capable of going into races. The preparation for Cozumel has been no different.

“Here when we are in Sierra Nevada for five weeks, we are doing testing to the next level. I can’t really say everything we do here, but I’ve never been doing so much testing.

“Every day we measure the response of the altitude, and we will have some bigger projects coming on as well. Also, to be a part of that, and all the experience and knowledge we’ll have on the back end of being involved in a project like this, is something that will help me for the future as well.”

Title defence at Paris 2024

While 2022 will very much a full-distance endeavour for Blummenfelt, he will be returning to short-course racing after that. Primarily with the goal of retaining his Olympic title in Paris in 2024.

Kristian Blummenfelt Olympic Triathlon Tokyo 2021
Blummenfelt will look to defend his Olympic title in Paris in 2024.

“So it’s all about ironman now, and then I want to use 2023 and 2024 to take advantage of Super League and World Series to get some speed again and then be able to defend my title in Paris because that’s something I also want to be able to do.”

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
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
Sam Perkins Chrissie Wellington Leeds Marathon 2023 photo credit Tim Heming
Tributes pour in as MND hero Sam Perkins passes away
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...