What did we learn from the two Ironman 70.3 races in Boulder and Switzerland this weekend?

Last weekend Ironman hosted a couple of races that turned out to offer some interesting insights on the pro scene as we gear up for some of the sport’s biggest races. The pro-women’s only race at Ironman 70.3 Switzerland, along with the competitive fields on hand at Ironman 70.3 Boulder offered both some exciting racing and bold statements from the champions. (Pictured above is Boulder champ Taylor Knibb on her way to the world title in St. George last year.)

Daniela Ryf remains a powerhouse

Last year’s winner of the Ironman World Championship St. George hasn’t shown the consistency that made her the most feared woman in long-distance racing since her fifth 70.3 world title in Nice in 2019. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t had some great races – her dominant performance in St. George and at the Collins Cup last year certainly showed she still could win big. But the days when the rest of the women’s field were ready to concede a long-distance race to the Swiss star are over.

Daniela Ryf makes a bold statement with her eighth win at Ironman 70.3 Switzerland

Her big win on the weekend over PTO #1 Ashleigh Gentle thanks to one of her signature dominating bike rides showed that Ryf appears to be rounding into form ahead of Challenge Roth, where she’ll take on Anne Haug and Laura Philipp, arguably the strongest long-distance racers of 2023. She’ll need to be every bit as strong on the bike, and ready to move things up a notch on the run to take the win in Bavaria.

Earlier this year Ryf returned to her old coach, Brett Sutton, who is a master at getting athletes ready for big events. The race in Rapperswil-Jona on the weekend certainly bodes well for Ryf as she prepares for that big day.

Sam Long has figured things out … his own way

The American moved on from his long-time coach Ryan Bolton after the 2022 season, then fired Dan Plews (who coaches, among others, Kona champ Chelsea Sodaro) after a “flop” at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside. He’s reported that he’s now coaching himself, and it sure seems to be working – Long took his third straight 70.3 win in Boulder on the weekend. After taking the 70.3 North American title in St. George, Long handily beat many of the same contenders a week later in Florida. In Boulder he was never threatened by runner-up Lionel Sanders, who managed yet another big sprint (see below).

Sam Long dominates Ironman 70.3 Boulder as Lionel Sanders takes another sprint for second

Exciting finishes only help Lionel Sanders’ popularity

One of the golf’s most popular stars of all time, Jack Nicklaus, certainly was famous for his big wins, including 18 major titles. But many consider his 19 runner-up finishes at the majors every bit as impressive a record. (He would rack up 56 top-five finishes at majors during his career, too.)

Why Lionel Sanders is the most popular triathlete on YouTube

Sanders’ popular YouTube channel works, in many ways, because his fans just love his openness and his impressive ability to push himself to his limits. Sprint finishes like the one he managed to take over Chris Leiferman on the weekend just add to that aura. So, even if he doesn’t win, the fact that he’s typically in the mix, and willing to push himself so hard endears him to his fans.

Taylor Knibb is simply frightening over the 70.3 distance

When she’s healthy, the youngest member of the US team at the Tokyo Olympics can dominate the best in the sport over any distance from a sprint to a half. While her focus remains very much on the Paris Games next year, Knibb kept her hand in the long-distance race scene with a dominating win in Boulder, showing remarkably similar form to that which earned her the 70.3 world title last October. That comes despite missing much of the first half of the season recovering from foot surgery.

Taylor Knibb returns to dominant form with big win at Ironman 70.3 Boulder

Knibb’s performance was even more impressive considering she had to miss the last WTCS race in Cagliari because she’d come down with COVID after her third-place finish in Yokohama.

Considering the insanely competitive US women’s field for Paris next year, one would imagine that Knibb won’t be in Lahti, Finland to defend her title in August, but who knows. She’s balanced the two different distances in years past.

Heads up for Ashleigh Gentle in August

The Aussie appears to be on a great build in 2023 so far. After some well-deserved time off to get married and recover from a long 2022 season, Gentle seems to be gradually building towards the form she’ll need to take her first 70.3 world title in August. Her last two races have seen her take solid runner-up finishes to an insanely fit Anne Haug and a resurgent Daniela Ryf.

It’s early days, though, and August will include two of the three PTO Series races (US Open and Asian Open in Singapore – one would guess Gentle skips the latter to focus on Lahti) along with the 70.3 worlds. If the plan is to build to top form in a couple of months, it sure looks like Gentle has things dialled in right now.