Very little went right for Olympic Champion Kristian Blummenfelt at IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai – it was as he admitted “a crappy day from start to finish”.

The 28-year-old Norwegian superstar carried all before him in the second half of 2021 – an incredible run of performances highlighted by gold in Tokyo, a WTCS title and then the fastest time ever in an Ironman race.

No wonder then that ‘Big Blu’ started favourite for his seasonal debut in the Middle East on Saturday. Saying things did not go to plan though would be an understatement.

Blummenfelt on Dubai

He eventually finished 10th, some 23 minutes behind race winner – Belgium’s Marten Van Riel. Just the stats don’t tell the whole story though as things started badly and then got worse. A poor start in the swim then and a mechanical on the bike spelled disaster.

Kristian told us: “Just a crappy day from start to finish. I stumbled over in the swim start and came out last. Wasn’t able to get onto the feet of those five in the breakaway in the water.”

If Blummenfelt was now up against it in his battle to bet back into the race, further misfortune on the bike would finish his hopes of getting near to the podium battle.

Mechanical misery

“I rode quite hard and good power first 45k, but still lost another 2+min to the front. Then I had a puncture after 60k, but was too far away from the front to fight for the win at this point.”

The big early-season target for Blummenfelt of course is that eagerly-awaited and delayed 2021 IRONMAN World Championship in St George on May 7.

Then the Norwegian will attempt to go Sub7 along with Britain’s Alistair Brownlee in early June, before again targeting IRONMAN World Championship glory at Kona in October.