Lionel Sanders returns with a clear objective: to regain his 400-watt power and fight for Kona
Lionel Sanders He has reappeared after a two-month absence and has set his goal for 2026: to once again sustain 400 real watts outdoors and prepare for one last assault on the world title HOMBRE DE HIERRO in Kona.
The 38-year-old Canadian triathlete has posted a video in which he combines family life —with a newborn at home and a three-year-old child— with a deep reflection on his performance and his future in long-distance triathlon.
The season will begin in IRONMAN 70.3 Dallas (March 15), will continue in IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside (March 28) and will continue with IRONMAN Texas (April 18)The underlying objective, to put it simply, is Kona, a career that already marked her trajectory in 2017 and that, as she recently told TN, “He has won her over again”.
The fact that sums it all up: 405W on a trainer is not 405W on the road
Sanders has been transparent about a key point: the difference between indoor training and outdoor reality.
You can move the roller 405 wattsbut outside it stays in 375 watts after recovering from an illness. That gap is now her main concern.
“My personal goal is 400 watts"And that feels quite far away right now."
This is no small detail. In today's long-distance cycling, where the average level of riders has clearly risen, sustaining real power under race conditions is crucial. The simulator's numbers are not enough.
An unusual self-criticism: “I am psychologically lazy”
Beyond physical appearance, Sanders has once again looked to 2017 and 2018.
In 2017 he finished second in Kona. In 2018 he didn't return to the podium. That drop in performance still doesn't fully explain it to him.
The Canadian speaks of a mix of talent and what he defines as “psychological laziness”He acknowledges that, for years, he may not have been able to put all the pieces together at the same time.
His relationship with Hawaii has changed over the years. In 2024, he even stated that he was competing without clear objectives and just for enjoymenta very different approach from the one he is proposing now.
Even so, he insists that “I still think I can be the best in the world”A phrase that sums up his current mindset: unwavering confidence, but with more self-criticism than ever.
Now he presents it as a “final call to arms”It's not about being the best swimmer, cyclist, or runner individually, but about mastering all three disciplines together, something he has already tried to structure with his training philosophy. “Train Insane but Undertrain” before Kona 2024.
The real context: the level in Kona waits for no one.
The current IRONMAN is faster than ever. In Kona 2024, Patrick Lange clocked 7h35:53, the best historical record of the Hawaiian circuit.
That sets the bar very high compared to 2017. To aspire to the title, a great final marathon is no longer enough: the performance must be solid from the swim to the last kilometer.
Sanders knows this. That's why he insists that 2026 doesn't begin with the obligation to be at peak levels in February, but with the need to build a more stable foundation.
Dallas and Oceanside, first real tests
The American triptych will serve as a barometer.
Dallas and Oceanside will be the initial test of form. Texas will be the first major full-distance exam and the point where it will become clear whether the Kona project has a real foundation or is just wishful thinking.
At 38 years old, the question is obvious: Can the body withstand one last assault at the highest level?
Sanders doesn't have the answer. But he is certain that if he doesn't try now, He will never do it..
