Lionel Sanders has shared a fascinating take on his ‘rivalry’ with triathlon royalty Jan Frodeno, by explaining that the rivalry was/is very much one-way traffic.

The 35-year-old Canadian says Frodeno has no rivals in the sport, such has been his domination, which is why his return for one final season of racing this year is so exciting. Cue ‘The Last Dance’.

Lionel Sanders on Jan Frodeno

Recounting the times that Frodeno has suffered some rare losses over the middle and long-distance events, Sanders points out just how uncommon these races have been.

“Jan doesn’t have any rivals really, Gomez beat him at IRONMAN 70.3 Mont Tremblant in 2014, but I don’t think anyone has beat him in a 70.3 since that time,” he told Super League Triathlon in a wide-ranging interview (watch below).

“In the Ironman, I don’t think anyone has ever legitimately beat him. I think Jesse Thomas got him once, but he spent 15 minutes trying to get his helmet strap on, but otherwise I don’t think the guy has been beaten since 2014 really.

“He doesn’t really have any rivals, which sucks for him I think, because some of my greatest memories have been toe-to-toe battles with guys who are on the same physiological level as you.” 

When Lionel met Jan (just the once)

Explaining a little why he holds the multiple world champion in such high esteem, Sanders explains that no other rival has motivated him more to be better.

“From my standpoint, nobody has motivated me more than Jan. At Oceanside in 2015, I got off the bike with Jan and I ran 5k with him and tasted it, and then I’ve never seen him in a race again.

“Every race I would get to the start line and think this is it, we are going to be toe to toe, then he beats me by five minutes and I never see him.” 

“Nobody has motivated me more than Jan and I am excited to race him. People are excited because this year he is not injured, there are the Norwegians who are in great form and it’s going to be a really exciting season.”