He’s already dubbed it “Kona 2.0” and no one else in the men’s field comes close to matching Patrick Lange‘s record at both IRONMAN Texas and the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii.

The 39-year-old German won Texas on his very first visit in 2016 and repeated the feat eight years later. In Kona he’s gone one better, with victories in long distance triathlon’s holy grail in 2017, 2018 and 2024.

And yet most of the talk in terms of the male winner this week has surrounded the Norwegian trio who swept the podium at last year’s IMWC in Nice – Casper Stornes, Gustav Iden and Kristian Blummenfelt – or the likes of Marten Van Riel and even debutant Jelle Geens.

‘Prove me wrong’

Part of the reason for that is the fact Lange had to endure an injury-hit season in 2025 and hasn’t raced since Nice back in September whereas the majority of his rivals have already been in action this year.

But no one has a better perspective on Saturday’s race than Lange and he’s in no doubt that we’re in for something special. Speaking at the pre-race press conference and dressed in a crowd-pleasing custom Texas Tech shirt, he said: “I think it’s the strongest field ever – prove me wrong – outside of Kona.

“It will be the best test there is for Kona this season because we can learn from racing the other guys.

He added, presumably referencing Sam Laidlow and Magnus Ditlev (who would have raced here but for a bout of shingles): “We only have two really strong guys missing – maybe it’s a bit different for the women.”

‘Happy to go full circle’

And as well as that strength in depth and the dynamic it brings, Lange also believes it’s an ideal location to prep for Kona and it’s similarly humid conditions.

He explained: “It’s an amazing place – I raced here in 2016 for the first time in what was my first IRONMAN and I was lucky enough to take away the win.

“So I’ve come back for every Kona preparation. Conditions are close – and I think the wins in Kona speak for themselves.”