Taylor Knibb admits she starts to feel a little bit ‘stressed out’ if she thinks too much about the manic end to her season that will test her all-round abilities to the absolute limit.
The American is rightly one of the favourites to take this weekend’s IRONMAN 70.3 crown, a win which, should it materialise, could yet end up being the opening leg of a truly remarkable hat-trick of victories.
Known for her desire to challenge in as many formats – and indeed sports – as possible, Knibb has already competed in T100, 70.3, full-distance IRONMAN and WTCS races this season, and now she is also throwing in a return to her other great passion, time trial road cycling.
Three world championships in a month
Her call-up by USA Cycling for the UCI Road World Championships means she will be competing in Montréal, Canada, just eight days after challenging in Nice and will then have just 20 days to recover and prepare for Kona – three major world-class events in the space of just four weeks.
Even for a three-time 70.3 world champion and two-time Olympic silver medallist, it seems like a lot to take on. But Knibb is convinced she can cope with the pressures – just so long as she doesn’t stop to think about it all for too long.
Speaking to ROKA, the US-based sports brand specialising in triathlon wetsuits, swimwear and eyewear, ahead of this weekend’s 70.3, she said: “When I think about all of them, I get stressed out, so it’s just one thing at a time. The big one’s Kona – that’s the focus. The others I’m excited about for other reasons. I get to do them all!
“For Nice, I’m really excited to do a 70.3, honestly. I’m excited about the course. I’m a little nervous about the bike course and the descent. But I’m actually really excited for the run.
‘Excited to see where I stack up’
“The time trial – I’m excited to see where I stack up against the best women in the world. It’s a little longer than most time trials, so I’m hoping that helps me a little bit. And then Kona’s Kona. I hope I get to the finish line this year.”
Her quip about Kona refers, of course, to the fact that last year she was leading on the Big Island before suffering a blow-up on the run and was forced to DNF just when it seemed the title was within her grasp.
One thing is for sure: Knibb is not the kind of athlete who leaves anything to chance. Indeed, she is so particular about her preparations that she has been given a new nickname by the bike mechanics who look after her and help to set up her equipment.
Having already competed in the individual time trial for Team USA at the Paris Olympics in 2024, she is clearly highly regarded by the USA Cycling selection panel and will once again get the opportunity to showcase her incredible pedal power.
‘The biggest stressor is the bikes’
She finished 19th at the Games after enduring several crashes in what were treacherous conditions, but she will have gained confidence after claiming her second US national time-trial title in June, beating Emily Ehrlich by 45 seconds over the 33.4km course in Charleston, West Virginia.
“The biggest stressor is the bikes – managing them and getting them all set up and ready,” she says. “I’m getting a new bike for Kona. I got a new bike for the time-trial worlds. For the time trial, you have to have two bikes set up, and it’s a different bike from what I’m using in Nice and Kona.
“So I’ll race a different bike each time, which is a little odd. It makes it a little bit more high-maintenance. But that’s who I am. I’m pretty high maintenance.
“I have a bodyworker. His nickname for me is the Ferrari Chainsaw. Because, like a Ferrari chainsaw, if you get it working perfectly, it’s amazing – it’s incredible! But to get a Ferrari chainsaw in perfect condition takes a fair amount of work, so… It’s not just like an axe where you just sharpen and go. It’s a little bit more dialled.”
Dialled in is just what we expect from Knibb as she embarks on what promises to be a thrilling trilogy.
