Guess Lionel Sanders just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to gatecrash that much-hyped Jan Frodeno vs Gustav Iden showdown at IRONMAN California.

The Canadian will apparently add to a star-studded cast for October 24 in Sacramento after releasing a truly epic hype video on Wednesday afternoon UK time.

Sanders: ‘The show must go on’

The video, released on YouTube and lasting 4:43 in length, does not feature a single spoken word from ‘No Limits’, just a review of his 2021 so far and then footage of himself, Frodeno and Iden.

The video then ends with a composite image of Frodeno and Iden with Lionel standing between them, overlaid with the IM California logo. The still for the video reads “encore” while the caption adds quite simply “the show goes on”.

Sanders has had a gruelling 2021 schedule – including full-distance races at IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene, Tri Battle Royale against Frodeno, IRONMAN Copenhagen and IRONMAN Chattanooga.

Just days ago he described 2021 as “the ironman year” and said that California was off the agenda after his distant second behind Joe Skipper in Chattanooga. He reasoned: “I feel like there is no need for me to go to IRONMAN California because I am not competitive right now.”

Fast forward a few days though, and clearly Sanders is not willing just yet to call time on his 2021 adventure, and the lure of a massive challenge against the likes of Frodeno and Iden was too good to turn down.

Mouthwatering showdown

For Iden of course, Sacramento will be his debut at the ironman distance – he heads for California on the back of another dominant World Championship victory at the 70.3 distance.

Frodeno meanwhile will have taken motivation from the fact he is no longer for now the #1 on the PTO World Rankings – Iden relegated him to #2 after that romp in St George last month.

The storylines for what might be the best full-distance line-up in 2021 just grow day by day, and the countdown is now well and truly on to what should be a terrific clash.