WIN
A 3-NIGHT STAY AT
CLUB LA SANTA
ENTER NOW
Club La Santa

IRONMAN California: Make that Frodeno vs Iden vs Lionel Sanders!

Editor-In-Chief

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.

Graham Shaw
Written by
Graham Shaw
Graham has been involved with TRI247 & RUN247 since the summer of 2021. Since then he has provided strategic direction for all news and is passionate about the growth of triathlon as a fan sport.
Latest News
Hugo Milner World Triathlon Cup Miyazaki 2023
Hugo Milner so close to a medal at European Cross Country Championships
Javier Gomez IRONMAN 70.3 Mossel Bay 2023 bike
Javier Gomez ends season with penalty and puncture at turbulent IRONMAN 70.3 Taupō
Hannah Berry of New Zealand wins IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo 2023
“Nothing beats racing at home” – Kiwis Kyle Smith and Hannah Berry overjoyed with Taupō triumph
Beth Potter WTCS Grand Finals Pontevedra 2023
Beth Potter Pontevedra win earns Sporting Moment of the Year at Scottish Sports Awards
Kyle Smith won his hometown race at the 2023 IRONMAN Taupo Photo Graeme Murray
IRONMAN 70.3 Taupo Results: Kyle Smith and Hannah Berry win on home turf