Lionel Sanders has called an early end to his 2024 triathlon season following a bike crash last week.
The Canadian had been debating whether to round off a successful 2024 campaign with either the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in New Zealand on 15 December or 70.3 Indian Wells a week earlier and closer to home.
The vote had seemingly gone to the former – but now both are off the agenda.
Time to rest up
Posting on his Instagram account, ‘No Limits’ revealed: “I was really excited to do 70.3 Worlds but unfortunately last week I crashed pretty hard on my bike.
“Nothing is broken but I’m still quite banged up so I’ve decided to call it a season and rest up for a successful 2025!”
That means Sanders, who is currently ranked number 22 in the world, ends the year with three victories to his name – at 70.3 Oceanside, 70.3 Mont Tremblant and IRONMAN Canada. His last race was the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, where he finished outside the top 30.
Another big name ruled out
His crash means he doesn’t have the chance of redemption after he was controversially disqualified from the 2023 70.3 Worlds for crossing an “imaginary’ centre line in the road in Finland.
And his absence robs the Taupo race of another big draw on the men’s side.
Norwegian duo Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden, the winners of three of the last four editions, both announced recently they wouldn’t be racing again this season.
Sam Long is another three-time 2024 winner who has also called time on a seriously busy season which has seen him race no fewer than 11 times.
And Patrick Lange, the reigning IRONMAN World Champion, hadn’t qualified for the 70.3 version.
It all means that arguably the big favourite is short-course star Hayden Wilde who will be stepping up in distance as he looks to add a world title to his Olympic silver medal in front of his home fans.
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