Matt Hanson, one of the best runners in long-distance triathlon, struggled through to a 21st-place finish at last weekend’s IRONMAN World Championship as the American continues to search for the winning formula at major races.
Having finished 29th at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Lahti last month, the Boulder-based pro has had a hard time finding his feet in Europe this season, with a DNF at IRONMAN Hamburg and 19th at “The Championships” his other two results on the continent.
Reflecting on his result in Nice, the 38-year-old acknowledged this result wasn’t what he came for, but was the one he deserved on the day against a world-class field.
Impressive racing up front
Giving credit to the guys at the front of the race who make the biggest events so competitive, Hanson thanked his team for their support and gave a quick recap of the race.
“Finished 21st in the world today. Not the result I wanted, but the one I earned on the day. Will give a full debrief soon, but short and sweet for now. Thanks to all my family, friends, and team of coaches/sponsors who support me every step of the way. Congrats to all the boys up front on some impressive racing.”
Running the second fastest marathon time with an incredible 2:36:29 clocking, Hanson just didn’t have the bike power required to stay in contention, riding more than half an hour slower than race winner Sam Laidlow and was one of only a handful of athletes to ride over five hours.
Moving forward, the American knows where his weaknesses lie and will have to address them if he hopes to replicate his success on the domestic scene at the biggest races.
Are we in a triathlon boom, or hurtling towards burnout? Laura Siddall on the growth of the sport
