Despite a disappointing season opener at the Miami T100, reigning IRONMAN World Champion Sam Laidlow remains confident of better days ahead.
Predicting that the rest of the season will see him defend his IRONMAN World title and podium on the T100 Tour, the Frenchman found a silver lining following his ninth place finish in Florida.
Admitting that he struggles to remain in peak shape year round, the PTO World #10 shared on YouTube that he is trusting the process and always has one eye on October and the Big Island.
“I have mixed feelings”
After a great swim in Miami, Laidlow lost time coming out of transition, but eventually made his way back up to the front of the race by the time the lead group had made their way back into T2.
Setting a quick early pace out on to the run, he then began to fade in the heat, eventually finishing way down after running the third slowest split over the 18km course out of the entire men’s field.
“I have mixed feelings about the race, as overall, it was a pretty bad day. I don’t feel too bad about it, as I know I had a bad day, but equally I am still disappointed.
“On the mental side, it was good, as I really thought I would DNF about a million times, and as soon as I got on the bike I just felt bad. I haven’t got any excuses as I just wasn’t good enough.”
“I knew I wasn’t in peak shape”
Looking at the bigger picture, the 25-year-old reflected on the impact of his brilliant performance in Nice last year, which has in some ways halted his progress so far in 2024.
“I knew I wasn’t in peak shape but equally my numbers have been pretty good considering the small amount of training I had behind me.
“It’s very early in the season and after Nice, it obviously cost me a lot of time and energy just to get over that mentally and emotionally, so I definitely feel I will build into the season.”
Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Laidlow predicts he will be much closer to the front of the race in the coming months, as he builds up to the IRONMAN World Championship in six months time.
“Hopefully now we can go to Singapore, finish Top 5 in Singapore, then go to IRONMAN Vitoria, win in Vitoria and then I go to London, podium in London, go to Ibiza, Top 5 in Ibiza and then I go to Kona and win.
“I’m not one of those guys who can be at my best all year long and I admire the guys that can do that, but for me it’s all about that slow build towards October.”
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