The 2026 season for the Norwegians: Blummenfelt and Iden set their sights on IRONMAN once again
Kristian Blummenfelt Gustav Iden and Gustav Iden have already defined the start of their 2026 season, with HOMBRE DE HIERRO New Zealand and IRONMAN Texas as the first major events of the year within the calendar professional life.
The 2026 season is already underway for the Norwegian team, and, as is typical when Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden speak, they do so quietly. No grand announcements or epic speeches, but with a very clear objective: to refocus on what they do best, the circuit. HOMBRE DE HIERRO and the fight for Pro-Series.
After a 2025 that wasn't perfect in terms of feelings for Blummenfelt, but which ended with the title of the IRONMAN Pro Series and several podium finishes in world championships, the Norwegian faces the new season with a more measured approach.
Less noise, a well-thought-out schedule, and intentionally placed peaks in form. Alongside him, Iden is nearing his best form again after a rebuilding season that saw him finish second in the Nice IRONMAN World Championship, just behind Casper Stornes in a historic Norwegian treble.
Early start and high-altitude base
The first work block of the season will take place in Sierra NevadaFour weeks of altitude training before traveling to Oceania will mark the start of the course, a formula the group already knows well.
The goal is to arrive with a solid base at IRONMAN New Zealand, scheduled for March 7, a race that is increasingly important within the professional calendar and that usually sets the tone for the start of the season.
The idea, they explain, is to land in New Zealand about a week before the race. Adjust to jet lag, familiarize themselves with the circuit, and compete without any gimmicks. A classic approach, but fine-tuned down to the last detail.
Data, feelings and a return to science
One of the most interesting aspects regarding 2026 lies in his training methods. Gustav Iden admits that for much of 2025 he abandoned the heart rate monitor, relying more on power and feel.
For the new year, the course changes. The Norwegian team wants to rely heavily on data again, with regular testing of VO2 max y lactate in the laboratory. Not out of obsession, but for contrast.
They explain that this control helps them know exactly where they are at any given moment and better adjust the loading blocks, something they consider key when the season lasts for many months.
IRONMAN Texas and the Pro Series on the horizon
After New Zealand, the next major confirmed goal is IRONMAN Texas on April 18th. Two Ironman-distance races in just over a month that, if managed well, could put both of them in a very good position in the overall Pro Series standings.
In between, a IRONMAN 70.3Although the venue hasn't been finalized yet, the priority is clear: to score important points from the start and avoid reaching the halfway point of the season with the obligation to race too hard.
The World Cup as the focus of the season
Both Blummenfelt and Iden again highlight two dates in red: the IRONMAN 70.3 World Cup and the IRONMAN World ChampionshipIn 2026, the fact that the 70.3 will be held first in Nice and then, weeks later, in Kona, clearly works in its favor.
The four-week gap between the two events opens the door to smart planning, with the final high-altitude block in Europe and a subsequent move to a warmer climate to fine-tune ahead of the Long Distance World Championships.
It's not easy, but both agree that it can work if good decisions are made and the machine isn't pushed too hard.
The mental factor behind Nice
Beyond the calendar, Iden was also clear about the mental aspect. After finishing second in Nice, he admits he felt drained.
“Everything revolved around that race,” she admits. After that, maintaining daily discipline, going to bed on time, or watching her diet became more complicated.
Therefore, one of his big goals for 2026 is not just to win races, but to sustain that last one percent of dedication throughout the twelve months of the year.
Technical details that make the difference
From a purely technical standpoint, they continue to focus on very specific aspects. Iden emphasizes on on-track work with slippers of nails, a tool he considers key to maintaining running economy and leg speed, something that is sometimes lost when focusing so much on long distance.
For his part, Blummenfelt is already thinking about Kona and how to adjust your bikeOn a less technical circuit, with long straights, your priority will be a more comfortable position that allows you to sustain the power for hours, even if that means sacrificing some handling.
Open plans and team dynamics
One of the ideas they repeat most often is that nothing is set in stone. Far from rigid planning, the Norwegian team continues to prioritize flexibility. After the first competitive block, a training camp in a warm climate, possibly in [location missing], is not out of the question. Thailand, during the months of May or June.
Casper Stornes will also remain part of the working group, reinforcing a team that already demonstrated in Nice that it can dominate the world stage when everything falls into place.
Although they share training and sponsors, internal competition remains alive, even with jokes about who starts preseason first or who has some technical detail up their sleeve.
A 2026 without fireworks, but with ambition
The Norwegians' plan isn't to attract attention, but rather to return them to where they've always been: fighting for the win. A carefully planned schedule, fewer races, more focus, and the IRONMAN team as the cornerstone of the season.
If their bodies respond, 2026 could be another big year for Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden. No grandiose promises, but plenty of substance to work with.
