Search
shop

Lionel Sanders DISQUALIFIED from IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Finland

Lionel Sanders was disqualified from the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships.
Staff Reporter
Last updated -

Canadian fan favourite Lionel Sanders was disqualified from the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Lahti, Finland for what is reported to have been a centre-line violation out on the bike course.

The PTO World #27, who has twice finished as a runner-up at the IRONMAN World Championship, was competing in his first IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship since 2016, where he finished in ninth.

Having finished on the podium at three middle-distance events so far in 2023, which included a win at IRONMAN 70.3 Oregon last month, the Ontario native was tipped to compete for one of the top spots this weekend in Finland.

Advertisement

What went wrong?

Whilst the initial reports on the incident from the live coverage and social media could only confirm that Sanders had been given a penalty and then disqualified for crossing the centre line on to the left hand side of the road out on the bike course, it remains unclear as to why Sanders crossed over and also how the race referee interpreted the severity of the violation.

Lionel Sanders at the press conference ahead of 70.3 World Championship 2023
Lionel Sanders at the press conference ahead of 70.3 World Championship 2023 [Photo credit: Ville Kashkivirta / IRONMAN]

After exiting the water alongside fellow North American Sam Long, with a deficit of just over two minutes to the front of the race, Sanders was responsible for pushing the pace at the front of the chase pack, with the Canadian looking likely to have a great result until his penalty at around the 70km mark.

Talbot Cox, Lionel’s videographer, confirmed the disqualification on Instagram. With a statement from IRONMAN due to explain the nature of the penalty, and a response from Sanders likely after one of his major objectives for the year was impeded, stay tuned as this story is likely to continue to unfold.

Tomos Land
Written by
Tomos Land
Tomos Land is a triathlon & running journalist whose expertise lies in the professional world of short course & long distance triathlon, though he also boasts an extensive knowledge of ultra-running.
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
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
sumarpo triathlon swimming wetsuit
Wetsuit buying guide – How to choose the best wetsuit for triathlon, open water swimming, SwimRun and cold water
Challenge Almere-Amsterdam long distance triathlon bike course
How to cycle in a head wind – tips for riding your bike in windy conditions
latest News
Lakesman Triathlon swim Derwentwater
British race is voted the Best Triathlon in the World
VinFast IRONMAN World Championship 2023 - Lucy Charles-Barclay bike aero
IRONMAN world champions to ride with cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy
Jonny and Alistair Brownlee Ask AL AI
Triathlon’s Brownlee brothers made each other great with love and war philosophy which drove them to Olympic glory
Lucy Gossage finish line wall Montane Winter Spine Race 2025 [Photo credit: Wild Aperture Photography / The Spine Race]
How one key piece of triathlon advice helped Lucy Gossage win Britain’s most BRUTAL ultrarunning race
Paris 2024 Olympics - Cassandre Beaugrand wins
Olympic champion targets 5k test and says triathlon in February ‘makes no sense to me’
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...