In the second episode from race week in Nice, host Matt Lieto connects with another trio of top contenders for the IRONMAN World Championship title: Sam Laidlow, Marten van Riel, and Matthew Matthew MarquardtFirst, defending Nice champion Sam Laidlow reflects on a challenging year that started with a reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus. He explains how the forced rest shifted his perspective from chasing numbers to focusing on quality, health, and a more holistic preparation. This new approach led to breakthrough performances on surprisingly low training volume, giving him a newfound "inner peace and confidence" as he looks to defend his title on French soil.Next, Marten van Riel opens up about his turbulent and "panicky" build-up to his first full-distance World Championship, which included a significant ankle injury that limited him to a four-week run block and a minor crash on the course just days before the race. Despite the setbacks, the Belgian Olympian discusses the freedom that comes from lowered expectations and his excitement to race on a course he feels is perfectly suited to his strengths.Finally, American Matthew Marquardt details his season of two halves, from frustrating early-season results to dominant victories at IRONMAN Cairns and Lake Placid. The medical student gives a fascinating deep-dive into the physiological cause of the quad spasms that have affected him in T1 and explains the strategic evolution in his racing—learning to conserve energy on the bike to unleash his now formidable run, which he believes is the key to competing with the best in the world.

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