Show notes
Send us Fan MailThis week on Another Triathlon Podcast, Jenna-Caer (@jennacaer) and Josh (@joshmvernon) are back in Nice to break down an incredible weekend at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships.After a full week on the ground covering the race, interviewing pros, attending press events and soaking up the championship atmosphere, they dive into the women’s and men’s races, the biggest stories from the course, the Ironman Pro Series shakeup, and Josh’s own age group race experience.The women’s race belonged to Taylor Knibb, who delivered one of the best performances of her career. After a strong non-wetsuit swim, she took control on the bike, crushed the main climb, set a new Nice bike course record, and ran home for another 70.3 World Championship title.Behind her, Julie Derron produced a record-breaking run to finish second, while Alana Siffert confirmed her breakthrough season with a huge podium performance.On the men’s side, Hayden Wilde held off a flying Kristian Blummenfelt in one of the wildest 70.3 races we’ve seen. Gustav Iden lit up the descent, Jelle Geens fought through bike issues, and the field showed just how fast this distance has become.Highlights• Jenna-Caer and Josh recap the race from Nice• Taylor Knibb’s dominant women’s win• Taylor’s massive climb and bike course record• Julie Derron’s 1:13 run and World Championship run record• Alana Siffert’s breakthrough podium• Solveig Løvseth racing to fourth after a difficult lead-in• Laura Philipp, Kat Matthews and Paula Findlay looking ahead to Kona• Ironman Pro Series movement after 70.3 Worlds• Hayden Wilde’s men’s win• Kristian Blummenfelt’s record-breaking 1:05 run• Jelle Geens chasing history and finishing third• Gustav Iden’s incredible bike descent• Jamie Riddle’s sticky gel and aero pad issue• Jelle’s bike handling issues on the descent• Casper Stornes getting jabbed by Rico Bogen’s aero bars in transition• The speed of the modern men’s 70.3 field• Ironman’s improved race coverage and broadcast setup• Josh’s age group race experience• Team Mauna’s huge presence in Nice• Kona storylines starting to buildRace BreakdownWomen’s RaceThe women’s race started with a non-wetsuit ocean swim, where Sophie Evans led the field out of the water and Taylor Knibb stayed close to the front. A chase group with Julie Derron, Marjolaine Pierré, Paula Findlay and Kat Matthews stayed within striking distance, while Laura Philipp came out almost three minutes back before riding herself into the race.Once on the bike, Taylor Knibb did exactly what Taylor Knibb does. She moved through the field, dropped Alana Siffert, and opened the race up on the main climb. Her climb was one of the biggest statements of the day, and she later shared that she averaged 303 watts for just over 30 minutes.Taylor set a new Nice bike course record and came into T2 with enough of a gap to control the run. She later called it one of her best races, which says a lot from an athlete who does not hand out praise to herself easily.Behind her, Julie Derron was flying. She ran a 1:13 half marathon, set a new women’s 70.3 World Championship run record, and moved through the field to finish second.Alana Siffert rounded out the podium after another huge performance in what has become a true breakout year. She swam well, rode aggressively, and held strong on the run against world-class athletes chasing from behind.Men’s RaceThe men’s race was chaos from the beginning.Seth Rider led out the swim, but 27 men came out of the water together, which made the early kilometres of the bike crowded, aggressive and full of red lights.The climb and descent shaped the race. Hayden Wilde kept moving forward, Gustav Iden absolutely flew down the mountain, and Kristian Blummenfelt started to lose time before clawing it all back on the run.Gustav set a new bike course record, but Hayden reached the front at the right time and came into T2 ready to fight. Lasse Nygaard-Priester ran with him early, but Hayden eventually broke away.Then Kristian Blummenfelt started charging.He ran a 1:05:12, closing the gap to around 30 seconds late in the race, but Hayden had just enough left to respond. Wilde took the win in 3:50:51, with Blummenfelt second and Jelle Geens third.The race also had plenty of behind-the-scenes drama. Jamie Riddle dealt with gels spilling onto his aero pads, making the pads stick to his arms. Jelle Geens had bike issues on the descent that forced him to slow down and reportedly stop. Casper Stornes was jabbed hard in the ribs by Rico Bogen’s aero bars in transition.It was fast, messy, aggressive, and exactly the kind of race that makes championship weekends so good.Josh’s RaceJosh also shares his own race-day experience after starting in the final wave of the entire weekend.He talks about handling a long wait after transition closed, watching the pro men start before his own race, staying calm before the swim, and having what felt like the best swim and bike of his life on a course that demanded patience, skill and smart pacing.The Nice bike course was every bit as hard as expected, with steep early climbs, a long main climb, technical descending, heat, traffic considerations and plenty of carnage around him. Josh rode steady, kept the bigger picture in mind, and made it to the run ready to get the job done.He finished in 5:57, calling it the best 5:57 he will ever have in a 70.3.Team Mauna in NiceTeam Mauna had a massive presence at 70.3 Worlds, with athletes all over the course, team events during race week, and a strong result in the tri-club rankings.The men’s team finished second and the women’s team finished third in the tri-club standings, showing how much the team has grown over the last few years.Applications for Team Mauna are open until September 18, and everyone who applies is also entered into the $5,000 ultimate triathlon giveaway.Quickfire Q&ABiggest women’s performance?Taylor Knibb putting together one of the best races of her career.Best women’s run?Julie Derron’s 1:13 and new 70.3 World Championship run record.Biggest women’s breakthrough?Alana Siffert proving she belongs on the world championship podium.Biggest men’s storyline?Hayden Wilde holding off Kristian Blummenfelt after a record-breaking run.Wildest men’s race moment?Jamie Riddle’s aero pads sticking to his arms because of spilled gels.Biggest Kona teaser?Kristian Blummenfelt’s run speed, Gustav Iden’s energy, Taylor Knibb’s dominance, and the Pro Series battles still to come.Follow the show📸 @anothertriathlonpodcastHost, Jenna-Caer Seefried, @jennacaerJosh, @joshmvernonFede, @fedemultisportPresented by @maunaapparelSupport the showStay connected with us! 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