Search
shop

IRONMAN World Champ Patrick Lange’s Texas title defence in the balance

"I’m doing everything I can to get on top of this but time isn’t exactly on my side," says German superstar
News Director
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Patrick Lange faces a race against time if he is to defend his IRONMAN Texas title on April 26.

The 38-year-old German, who won a third IRONMAN World Championship crown in brilliant style in Kona last year, opened up his season with a never-nearer 17th at 70.3 Oceanside, a race won by Lionel Sanders.

But now part of the reason for that low-key performance has come to light – and it also throws into doubt whether Lange will be able to line up in Texas.

Advertisement

‘Compromised run form’

Writing on Instagram, Lange explained: “Just after arriving in Oceanside for the 70.3, I felt a slight pull in my adductor during one of the final hard run sessions.

“By the next day, it had turned into a sharp pain that I could even feel while walking. Thanks to daily treatment on-site, I was able to toe the start line, though with a bad gut feeling and compromised run form.

“Cold conditions and just a generally rough day didn’t help, and the discomfort worsened the day after the race.”

Patrick Lange IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Kona run photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
Patrick Lange on the run at the IRONMAN World Championships 2024 [Photo credit: Getty Images for IRONMAN]

‘Time isn’t exactly on my side’

He added: “Since arriving in Texas, the pain has intensified. I got an MRI to be safe and thankfully, it showed no structural damage. The diagnosis: adductor longus tendonitis.

“Right now, swimming is the only type of training I can do, and I’m doing everything I can to get on top of this. Time isn’t exactly on my side, and it’ll be tight to get back to full strength in two weeks. But hope dies last.

“This kind of rollercoaster comes with pro sports and I’m grateful I haven’t had to deal with too many injuries throughout my career. I’ll keep you posted.”

Lange is one of a number of star names on the Texas start list, though Sanders isn’t among them anymore as he went down with a cough after that Oceanside victory and decided the timings were too tight.

Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
Ruth Astle finishing IRONMAN Vitoria 2024
PremiumHow to cope with a DNF: Elite athletes share their stories
PremiumIs your evening workout routine wrecking your recovery? Expert physiologist on how to improve recovery and what NOT to do
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
03/07/2025 - Tour de France 2025 - Grand départ Jour 2 - Lille - Présentation des équipes -Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike)
PremiumWhat triathletes can learn from the Tour de France pro peloton
latest News
Jan Frodeno Cheesehead PTO Tour US Open 2023 Milwaukee
Triathlon legend Jan Frodeno goes outside his comfort zone to take on epic UTMB challenge
Matthew Marquardt wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
Matthew Marquardt reveals why he would do IRONMAN Lake Placid again “in a heartbeat”
Premium‘The difference from triathlon is so big – there’s no comparison’: Maya Kingma on life in the Women’s WorldTour peloton
Sam Laidlow wins IRONMAN Leeds 2025
Sam Laidlow hails ‘special’ IRONMAN Leeds crowd after one fan sign turned chiller into thriller
Alex Yee wins Super tri Toronto 2025
Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee says “I’ve still got it” after roaring back to action with terrific Toronto win
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.

£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

£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...