Kristian Blummenfelt's comeback at IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong
Kat Matthews won again and withstood Grace Thek's final attack
El HOMBRE DE HIERRO 70.3 Geelong 2026 crowned Kristian Blummenfelt and Kat Matthews, two victories that reinforce their lead in the IRONMAN Pro Series after a very fast day in Australia.
What was seen in Geelong was exactly what was expected of such an event: a fast pace, big names, and a men's race that completely changed in the half marathon.
Kristian Blummenfelt He took the victory in 3:30:24 after making up the time lost on the bike and posting a running split of 1:06:38.
In women, Kat matthews She won in 4:06:14 after withstanding the final push from the Australian. Grace thek, whom she beat by just 36 seconds. The two leave Australia leading the 2026 IRONMAN Pro Series standings.
Blummenfelt did it again by running
The men's race started with Trent thorpe y Pierre Le Corre marking time in the water, while Jelle Geens, Hayden Wilde y Kristian Blummenfelt They left together in the pursuing group.
Things really started to move in the cycling segment. Savage y Geens, last year's winner in this race, They upped the pace, took control, and left the Norwegian in an uncomfortable position heading into T2. It seemed that the victory would be decided between the Belgian and the New Zealander.
But with Blummenfelt It's a well-known fact that a race isn't over until the running is finished. The Norwegian started on foot with purpose, chipping away at the lead second by second and changing the course of the race.
First it reached GeensThen he focused on SavageAnd by the halfway point of the half marathon, he was already in the lead. His 1:06:38 was the best split of the day and was enough to break away from the pack and cross the finish line with authority. Geens He finished second in 3:31:23 and Savage third in 3:31:51.
This fact is not insignificant. After Geelong, Blummenfelt He appears as the male leader of the Pro Series with 6.642 points, ahead of Trevor foley y Pierre Le CorreTheir next stop will be Oceansidewhere he will compete again just six days later.
| Job title | Athlete | Time |
| 1 | Kristian Blummenfelt | 3:30:24 |
| 2 | Jelle Geens | 3:31:23 |
| 3 | Hayden Wilde | 3:31:51 |
Consult full classifications
Matthews withstood Grace Thek's final attack
In the women's race, the script was different, although it also had tension until the end. Sophia green She was the fastest in the water, but as soon as the race settled down on the bike, she appeared Kat matthews.
The British rider calmly took control, without an exaggerated attack, but with that constant rhythm that ends up opening up a gap almost without making a sound.
When he got off to run, Matthews She had some leeway, though not a definitive one. The one who best interpreted that stretch was Grace thek, who went further and got fully involved in the fight for victory with a half marathon of 1:19:00.
For several kilometers the feeling was clear: the Australian was coming in strong and the Briton had to manage the accumulated fatigue after having won the IRONMAN New Zealand just two weeks earlier. There, moreover, Matthews He had set a course record of 8:28:55 and an advantage of around twelve minutes over the previous best mark.
Still, Matthews He knew how to control the situation. He crossed the finish line in 4:06:14, with La K second in 4:06:50 and Tamara jewett Third place in 4:15:26. The margin was minimal, but enough to secure her second consecutive victory in this early stage of the Pro Series. The British athlete now has 7.500 points and leads the women's overall standings after two races.
| Job title | Athlete | Time |
| 1 | Kat matthews | 4:06:14 |
| 2 | Grace thek | 4:06:50 |
| 3 | Tamara jewett | 4:15:26 |
A serious warning for what's coming in 2026
Geelong leaves several interpretations. The first is that Kristian Blummenfelt He remains one of the most decisive runners in middle and long distance triathlon when he makes it to T2 alive.
The second, that Kat matthews He's started 2026 incredibly strong, stringing together victories in New Zealand and Geelong. And the third, perhaps most interesting, point is that the IRONMAN Pro Series is once again bringing together big names very early in the season, something that's already being reflected in the level of competition and the impact on the rankings.
There was also a lot of morbid curiosity surrounding the duel between Blummenfelt, Geens y SavageAnd with good reason. Geens it arrived as valid world champion of IRONMAN 70.3 after retaining the title in Marbella 2025, where he beat precisely Blummenfelt by three seconds in one of the closest finishes in recent memory.
That's why the Norwegian's victory in Geelong carries extra weight: he not only wins, but also sends a very clear message for the upcoming events on the calendar.
