Lionel Sanders says goodbye to the 70.3 IRONMAN 2024 World Championship after a fall
Lionel Sanders, one of the most media-friendly names in world triathlon, has announced that he will not compete in the World championship HOMBRE DE HIERRO 70.3 in Taupo, New Zealand, due to a fall in bike recently suffered during training.
The Canadian athlete, known for his competitive spirit and constant comebacks after difficult times, made the difficult decision to end his 2024 season and focus on recovery for next year.
The announcement came via an Instagram post in which Sanders shared with his followers the details of the accident and its aftermath.
"I was really excited to compete in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, but unfortunately, last week I had a pretty bad crash on the bike.”, wrote the triathlete.
Although he clarified that he did not suffer any fractures, he indicated that the injuries had left him quite battered, leading him to conclude that it was best to end the season early to properly prepare for 2025.
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A season of ups and downs for Sanders
The year 2024 had started in an unbeatable way for Lionel Sanders, who achieved a resounding victory in the IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside, in California, defeating big rivals like Sam long y Jackson Laundry.
Shortly after, another victory was scored in the IRONMAN 70.3 Mont-Tremblant in June, thus consolidating his dominance in middle-distance events.
In July, Sanders finished third in the IRONMAN Lake Placid, which secured him his ticket to the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona.
Just a month later, he won the IRONMAN Canada in Penticton, earning him a spot at the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France
Sanders' Hawaiian dream did not go as planned, however. He finished 32nd, crossing the finish line in 8:22:06.
It was after this race that he announced that, due to the expense of the trip to Kona, could not afford to travel to New Zealand to compete in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
In a video posted on YouTube, Sanders explained: “I spent all my money on the trip to Kona and I can no longer afford to go to New Zealand because I have no return on this investment.".
An unexpected change of plans
Despite his words after Kona, the Canadian hinted on his social networks that the competitive flame had not completely died out and that he was considering the possibility of travelling to Taupo.
Unfortunately, all that enthusiasm was dashed on Monday, when Sanders confirmed that he would not be running in Taupo or any other race for the remainder of 2024. On an optimistic note, he announced: “I have decided to finish the season and rest to ensure I have a successful 2025".
