Lionel Sanders and Jackie Hering win the 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 Dallas–Little Elm
El HOMBRE DE HIERRO 70.3 Dallas–Little Elm 2026 crowned Lionel Sanders y Jackie Hering after a day marked by bad weather and a shortened swimming segment.
The IRONMAN 70.3 Dallas–Little Elm began its journey in 2026 with a script altered from the very beginning.
Strong winds and water conditions forced the professional swimming event to be shortened, while the age group competition was left without an aquatic segment.
In that context, Lionel Sanders He secured a very solid victory in the men's race and Jackie Hering The women's race was won with an overtake almost on the finish line itself.
The weather changed the race from the start
The day in Texas began with challenging conditions. For safety reasons, the organizers had to modify the competition format, and the professional swimming portion was reduced to a very short distance, around 300-350 meters. This significantly compressed the field and eliminated many of the usual gaps in this segment.
In the case of Lionel SandersThe change was key. The Canadian usually loses time in the swim, but this time he managed to stay within striking distance of the leader and emerge well-positioned for what was to come. With the race still wide open, the bike leg began to dictate the true order of events.
Lionel Sanders broke away from the race on the bike
Once the group stabilized, Sanders He began to impose his pace. Only a few riders could keep up with him in the early stages, but it soon became clear that the Canadian was a cut above. His cycling was once again the key difference-maker of the morning.
Upon reaching the second transition, Sanders He had already built up a significant advantage over his pursuers.
From then on, the focus shifted from the fight for victory to the final margin and the battle for the other podium places.
In the running portion, he left no room for surprise. He accelerated early, maintained his pace, and crossed the finish line in 3:17:12, a very serious brand to start the course.
Behind them, the fight for the podium was much tighter. Ben Kanute He finished the day in second position, 2:27 behind, while Andrea Salvisberg He was third at 2:33. Jannik Schaufler He stayed very close to the drawer, just a few seconds away.
The victory reinforces a very striking trend in the trajectory of SandersHe usually starts the year competing well and, when he has room to exploit his cycling and running, he becomes one of the most difficult rivals to control.
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Jackie Hering won the women's race in the final meters
The women's race had a different development, although it was also greatly affected by the shortening of the swimming portion.
With the shortened water segment, the group emerged more compact than usual, and the bike course left many contenders still in the race.
When the half marathon began, Annamarie Strehlow She appeared well positioned, with several rivals nearby.
Among them were Emma Skaug, minttu hukka, Vittoria Lopes, Samantha Skold y Adele LikenBut the real head-to-head battle for the victory ended up being between Anna Buettner y Jackie Hering.
The German runner took the lead for much of the run and built up a gap of around 20 or 30 seconds. With only a few kilometers to go, she seemed to have the situation under control. However, Hering It gradually reduced the number of steps, without sudden changes, until the final resolution was left for the last stretch.
And she didn't miss. In the final meters, the American caught up to buttner and snatched the victory away from him just before the finish.
Professional Results in Dallas–Little Elm
Men
| Job title | Triathlete | Time |
| 1 | Lionel Sanders | 3:17:12 |
| 2 | Ben Kanute | + 2: 27 |
| 3 | Andrea Salvisberg | + 2: 33 |
| 4 | Jannik Schaufler | + 2: 41 |
Women
| Job title | Triathlete | Time |
| 1 | Jackie Hering | 3:49:57 |
| 2 | Anna Buettner | 3:50:15 |
| 3 | Annamarie Strehlow | 3:53:00 |
What does this result mean?
Beyond the race's debut, Dallas–Little Elm offered two clear takeaways. The first is that Lionel Sanders He has started 2026 in very high form and with that well-known ability to turn a shortened career into an ideal terrain for his strengths.
The second is that Jackie Hering She knew how to read a very open women's race better than anyone, resisting first and attacking when it mattered most.
On a day marked by wind and last-minute changes, both athletes knew how to compete intelligently. And in triathlon, that's often just as valuable as leg strength.
