Search
shop

Lionel Sanders teases potential U-TURN over IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in New Zealand

It can sometimes be hard to keep up with 'No Limits' but it now looks like the last big race of the 2024 season could be back on his radar.
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Coming out of the IRONMAN World Championship last month, Lionel Sanders had appeared to rule out the 70.3 World Champs in Taupo on 15 December.

He’d said: “I’m going to do another 70.3, very likely Indian Wells [on December 8] because I’ve spent all my money on the Kona trip and can’t afford to go to New Zealand any more because I didn’t make any return on this trip.”

It can be hard to know when to take the popular Canadian at face value as he can tend to change his mind – but what’s not in doubt is that Indian Wells is an event that’s been close to his heart and is obviously far closer to home.

He won it in 2018 and 2019 – and then again in 2021 after it returned following a blank in 2020 due to the global COVID pandemic.

Is it ‘game on’ for Taupo?

But writing on his Instagram page – to his near 280K followers and also to @ironmantri and its 1.1million audience – a simple post may suggest a shift in thinking for Sanders:

“Back grinding and hungrier than ever! Do you think I should do @ironmantri 70.3 Worlds? 👀”

After his 32nd place in Kona, ‘No Limits’ had admitted he still has a long way to go if he’s to be competitive again at the full distance World Championships.

But at 70.3 it’s a different story – he won Oceanside at the start of the season and followed that up at Mont Tremblant for two wins out of two in his half IRONMAN races in 2024.

Speaking after Kona he said: “In the 70.3, it’s game on. I know how to prepare for a 70.3. Two months from now we’ll do a 70.3, I’ll be in phenomenal shape. There’ll be not a single doubt in my mind and I’ll be able to do the swim, the bike and the run really well.”

Chance for ‘redemption’

Remember that he would have been in contention for a top-five spot at the 70.3 Worlds in Finland last year but for a hugely controversial disqualification for crossing an “imaginary” centre line on the bike. So it would be quite the story if he can make his mark a year later in Taupo.

Furthermore, plenty of his biggest rivals will be missing the race including – as we revealed on Friday – brilliant Norwegian duo Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden, winners of three of the last four 70.3 Worlds.

lionel sanders wins oceanside 2024 [Photo credit: Donald Miralle / IRONMAN]
Lionel Sanders takes the victory at Iceanwide [Photo credit: Donald Miralle / IRONMAN]

The maths of a trip to NZ

One thing that Sanders is highly unlikely to be able to impact is the new IRONMAN Pro Series, with its $1.7million end-of-season bonuses up for grabs.

He is still missing a 70.3 race having only taken in four of the potential five scoring events – but with a maximum 3,000 points up for grabs the highest possible place he can move up to from his current 15th is 10th spot.

The athlete finishing in 10th nets $10,000 while those in 11th to 50th all get $5,000 – unlike 2025 when it’s going to be tiered from 11th downwards.

And to take 10th Sanders would not only need to win – or come very close to the winning time – but he’d also require an unlikely set of circumstances regarding the other athletes in contention for a top 10 spot.

However a strong performance does have the realistic potential of moving him up significantly from his current 21st on the PTO world rankings so there are plenty of added incentives, but equally potential costs to weigh up too.

And what’s not in doubt is that his presence would add many welcome eyeballs to what is the last big race of an unprecedentedly busy season for top-tier middle and long distance racing.

So, as ever with Lionel, watch this space for his next move!

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
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
Paris 2024 Women's Triathlon podium - Cassandre Beaugrand, Julie Derron, Beth Potter
GOLDEN opportunity for the sport as first medals of LA2028 will be women’s triathlon
Gordon Ramsay 703 Luxembourg 2025
‘I’M BACK and Cooking!’ – Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay celebrates triathlon return
Danielle Lewis (USA) takes the win in Lake Placid.
Start list for IRONMAN Lake Placid REVEALED – and it’s stacked with world class names
Julie Derron wins T100 San Francisco 2025
IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz 2025: Olympic star wins by MORE than half an hour for first full-distance win
Matt Hauser Linn Jeffcoat Willian Australia win Mixed Relay WTCS Hamburg 2025
WTCS Hamburg 2025 Mixed Relay World Championship: Hauser anchors Australia to glory
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

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...