Sam Long and Grace Alexander Break the Tape at Ironman 70.3 Gulf Coast

I woke up, opened the Ironman Tracker app, walked to the brew station for a cup of coffee, and before the milk frother finished, Sam Long had already completed the 90km bike at Ironman 70.3 Gulf Coast.

A world record 70.3 bike split of 1:49:32.

In a post-race social media tease, Long added: “500 comments and I show power.” What we do know is that the ride required an average speed of 49.4km/hr.

Men’s Race Recap

Before the start, Ironman announced a shortened swim due to overnight swells impacting water conditions. The professional swim was reduced to approximately 1,000m.

Out of the water, Greg Harper led the men into T1 with Long trailing by 1:22. Marc Dubrick, known as “the Shark,” exited transition first alongside Seth Rider. Joined by Benjamin Zorgnotti, the trio quickly established separation on the bike, opening a 38 second advantage by 17km.

Long bridged the gap near the midway point and by 50km had taken control of the race. Only Zorgnotti and Rider managed to stay close. Arriving into T2, Long held a 20 second lead over the pair.

Onto the run, Rider kept Long within reach through the opening 15km, with the gap hovering between 10 and 30 seconds. In the final kilometres, however, Long began to stretch things out.

He crossed the line in 3:11:41 to defend his Gulf Coast title, with Rider second and Dubrick completing an all-American podium.

In a post-race recap, Marc Dubrick admitted frustration with yet another shortened swim, noting this was the second time this season professionals raced a modified format. Still, Dubrick quickly pivoted, sharing that he produced the best bike power numbers of his career at 326 watts average, before backing it up with a 3:16-3:18/km run. Rather than dwell on the shortened swim debate, Dubrick summed up his day simply: “the Shark can run.”

Women’s Race Recap

In the women’s race, Gabriela Lopes once again led the swim, exiting the water seven seconds ahead of Grace Alexander. Clare Dasso followed 38 seconds back in third.

Danielle Lewis exited the water in 12th, trailing by 1:35, but steadily moved forward on the bike. Early in the ride, Lewis joined Alexander at the front while Lopes remained in contention.

Lewis pushed ahead late on the bike, reaching T2 with a 34 second advantage over Alexander. Lopes arrived nearly four minutes down in third.

Early on the run, Lewis extended her lead to more than a minute. But near the end of the first of three 7km loops, the race shifted. Alexander moved to the front and gradually took control.

Grace Alexander took the win in 3:42:31, with Lopes and Lewis rounding out the podium in second and third respectively.