Search
shop

‘Intimidating’ to go into Worlds after four months off – but Lionel Sanders up for the challenge

It's been an up and down year so far for 'No Limits' but he's looking for the positives after his latest injury setback
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Beefed up IRONMAN star Lionel Sanders has confirmed he will compete at this year’s World Championships in Nice, even though his current injury issues are likely to prevent him from taking part in any kind of warm-up event.

Such is his desire to take part in the showcase race of the men’s season, the 37-year-old Canadian is willing to jump straight back into a full-distance IRONMAN, knowing that his preparations will have been far from ideal.

He’s recently finally got clarity on his injury, which is a sacral stress fracture – a hairline crack in the sacrum, a bone at the base of the spine, that is usually caused by repetitive stress rather than a single injury.

Advertisement

100% record this year

He had been severely hampered by a gluteal issue, which he believed was caused by the diet-related condition known as Relative Energy Deficiency, or RED-S.

Sanders has only competed twice this year – winning on both of his starts at the IRONMAN 70.3 races in Oceanside and St George.

Aware that he needed to increase his food intake to combat the potentially debilitating impact of RED-S, Sanders has since doubled his intake of carbs and now weighs over 169lbs, compared to the 158lbs when he won at St George.

But, having only just returned to the running track, he has ruled out the possibility of joining the field at the Louisville 70.3 on August 17, meaning that by the time he lines up in the south of France on September 14, it will have been four long months on the sidelines recovering.

‘Still excited’

Speaking on his latest YouTube VLOG (embedded below), he accepts that jumping straight into the World Championships will be a daunting experience.

“Nice, is an extremely difficult race, an extremely difficult bike, which then effectively makes it an extremely difficult race,” he said. “So, my next race being an IRONMAN on one of the hardest courses on the circuit, against the top guys in the world? I mean, that’s a little bit intimidating.

“But I think I need to go to the World Championships, even if I’m only running for six weeks or so leading into it, because I only have a few years left. Of course, it’s intimidating to go to the worlds after approximately four months off. But that’s the right decision.

“I can at least go see where my swim and my bike stacks up. I don’t really want to just drop out, so I’m going to give it my very best and get a great data point and be looking forward to the rest of the season, as well as looking forward to the 2026 Ironman World Champs, where I intend to not miss the mark. So is it ideal, no? Am I still excited about the rest of the season? Absolutely.”

Advertisement

Learning all the time

Focusing his training on building a strong base of cardio, he plans to be ‘aerobically fit’ by the time he gets to Nice, building up the fitness through regular bike and swim work, before stepping up his running in the weeks prior to the event.

It is all a far cry from his original plan to move the family out to Europe so that he could acclimatise in good time to the change in weather and conditions from his home in Arizona.

A recent stay back in his home country of Canada saw them miss the sunshine too much, and the Sanders family are now back in Tucson, enjoying the 13 hours of sunshine a day and dealing with the 102-degree heat.

And in typical Sanders style, the likeable athlete remains positive and confident that he will come out of this latest setback having learned more about himself and his body.

“I think after you get injured, every injury should be an opportunity to become better, to learn something that is meaningful and lasting,” he said. “It is important for me that, from being injured, I can come back stronger. Because then it wasn’t a bad experience. If you come back stronger, then it wasn’t in vain.

“I would almost argue my stress fracture from 2019 was in vain, as I didn’t really take anything out of it. What did I get from it? Aside from three months off? Not much. This time? This injury is going to go down as one of the most valuable things that have happened in my career, with certainty.

“I’m literally at almost double the carb intake than where I was four years ago. On a ride, I would have normally consumed 400 calories and burned over 2,000 calories. Massive deficit. Contrast that with now, where I’m taking in 1,200 calories over two hours, with 2,000 burned, and that is only an 800 deficit. Big difference.”

Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
[Photo credit: Getty Images for IRONMAN]
Matthew Reeder
Written by
Matthew Reeder
Matt Reeder is a seasoned journalist and editor with more than 30 years’ experience working for regional newspapers and websites, including a 12-year stint as Group Sports Editor of The Yorkshire Post
Discover more
tri-fit vortex tri suit review
TRI-FIT VORTEX tri suit review – race day approved performance
Maja Stage Nielsen Kat Matthews Jocelyn McCauley IRONMAN Texas 2023 podium photo credit IRONMAN
PremiumRacing to keep up: Is social media making us train harder?
Cadomotus chronos aero triathlon cycling shoes
The triathlon cycling shoe that promises a 10-watt saving: Cadomotus Chronos Aero triathlon cycling shoes review
Wahoo ELEMNT RIVAL
PremiumTraining to heart rate vs power on the bike
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumHow to pace a triathlon to leave it all out there WITHOUT blowing up
latest News
Tim Don Alex Yee joy Supertri Toronto 2025
‘Almost untouchable’ – Tim Don on ‘generational talent’ Alex Yee’s WTCS return
Sam Laidlow IRONMAN World Championship 2023 Nice finish line celebration
Title favourite Sam Laidlow focusing on the mind as well as the body ahead of Nice showdown
Kat Matthews wins IRONMAN 703 Swansea 2025 finish line
IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun 2025: Date, start times and how to watch live
Chrissie Wellington 2023 photo credit: Challenge Roth
IRONMAN legend Chrissie Wellington shortlisted in BBC vote for ‘UK Sportswoman of the 21st Century’
Alex Yee Cassandre Beaugrand gold medals supertri Boston photo credit supertri
WTCS French Riviera 2025: Date, start times and how to watch Yee and Beaugrand in races of the season so far
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.

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£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

All plans include a 7-day free trial

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/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.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...