Talking Triathlon

#136 - More Norwegian Domination! 12.06.2026 1h 1min

We open with an update on Jelle Geens, who has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his femur that has put his season on hold, including his pursuit of an Ironman World Championship qualification slot. Then we get into Lionel Sanders, who has confirmed he is working again with Mikal Iden after a difficult stretch dealing with RED-S and injury. Sanders is leaning into the Norwegian method as he targets Kona 2026. The big story of the week is Ironman Hamburg, where metal shards were deliberately spread across the bike course in the Kirchwerder area, causing an estimated 400 punctures and forcing more than 100 age groupers to DNF. Police have launched a formal investigation. Despite all of that, the pro race went ahead and Solveig Løvseth took her fourth consecutive full-distance Ironman win, holding off Laura Philipp by just over a minute to claim the European Championship title. We then recap T100 San Francisco, where Rico Bogen backed up his 2025 win with another dominant performance, going early on the bike and never looking back. Hayden Wilde, dealing with illness, had no answer for him. We close out looking ahead to Ironman Frankfurt on June 28, where Gustav Iden and Casper Stornes lead the field, and Magnus Ditlev finally makes his long-awaited 2026 season debut, plus a look at other upcoming start lists. SAVE 35% OFF EVERYTHING AT WWW.HUUBDESIGN.COM USING THE CODE 'Secret-35' To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14

#135 - Is World Triathlon The Best Triathlon to Watch? 05.06.2026 1h

Alistair Brownlee is taking on Norseman, adding one of triathlon's most iconic races to his calendar and giving fans another reason to follow his post-professional career. WTCS Alghero delivered exactly what we've come to expect from the series. Vasco Vilaça and Cassandre Beaugrand took the wins, the men's race featured crashes and drama throughout, and the women's race was simply outstanding. We also discuss why WTCS continues to produce some of the best racing in the sport and how much the broadcast product has improved in recent years. Supertri Blenheim also features, with a surprisingly strong field assembled despite the ongoing challenges around actually watching the racing. Attention then turns to T100 San Francisco. The venue is iconic, but with Hayden Wilde on the start line the question becomes whether anyone can stop him. We finish with Ironman Hamburg, where Laura Philipp and Solveig Løvseth headline the women's race, and whether the long-discussed eight-hour barrier could finally fall. SAVE 35% OFF EVERYTHING AT WWW.HUUBDESIGN.COM USING THE CODE 'Secret-35' To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14

#134 - Tim's Back to Talk Triathlon! (T100 Spain and WTCS Alghero) 29.05.2026 1h

Tim is finally back. We start with the Giro d'Italia and Maya Kingma's move into professional cycling, as she continues to show that triathletes can successfully make the transition to the pro peloton. Cassandre Beaugrand then adds another achievement to an already remarkable year by breaking the French 5km record. Supertri Austin follows, where the conversation turns to what has happened to the series. Once one of the most exciting products in the sport, Austin felt like a shadow of what Supertri used to be. T100 Spain delivered plenty of talking points, including Georgia Taylor-Brown securing the first T100 win of her career. Ironman Lanzarote saw Sam Laidlow get the better of Patrick Lange, while Lucy Charles-Barclay returned to long-distance racing with a dominant victory. We finish with WTCS Alghero. Olympic qualification is now underway, both fields are loaded with talent, and we discuss why WTCS continues to deliver some of the best racing in the sport, along with the improvements that have been made to the broadcast. BUILD YOUR TRIATHLON BUNDLE WITH HUUB AND SAVE! https://huubdesign.com/products/complete-race-day-bundle To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14

#133 - Alex Yee Returns to Triathlon 22.05.2026 1h 5min

James is joined by Andy Horsfall-Turner again this week. WTCS Yokohama kicks things off with the return of Alex Yee to triathlon and plenty of attention on how he looked back in the sport. From there the focus shifts to Ironman 70.3 Aix-en-Provence and Ironman Chattanooga, before the conversation turns to the latest around Supertri. Ironman Hamburg also features as the build towards the race continues, before finishing with T100 Spain. Grab yourself a deal with our sponsor, HUUB with a huge sale at https://huubdesign.com/products/complete-race-day-bundle?srsltid=AfmBOooPufFuutf4XGXsXyjDXBKHa3V4Rq3PaX3ThmFWfglc8XrEV0rp To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can follow Andy at https://www.instagram.com/andrew_h_t

#132 - The Pro Series is Still Stacked with Henry Räppo 15.05.2026 58min

This week Henry Räppo joins James. They start with 70.3 Gulf Coast before the conversation turns to Lionel Sanders and then Jelle Geens, whose form continues to be one of the biggest talking points in the sport right now. The discussion then moves to the T100 Series and the direction it's heading before previewing Ironman 70.3 Aix-en-Provence and looking at the latest Ironman Pro Series standings. T100 Spain and WTCS Yokohama also feature, before finishing with a look at Henry Räppo's season so far and what's ahead. GET 25% OFF HUUB USING THE CODE "getwelltim" AT www.huubdesign.com To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can follow Henry at https://www.instagram.com/henryrappo

#131 - Is T100 Taking Over Middle Distance with Emil Holm 08.05.2026 1h 6min

This week Emil Holm joins James. They start with Ironman 70.3 Western Sydney before getting into Jelle Geens and the form he's carrying at the moment. The conversation then shifts to short course athletes stepping up in distance and whether we're going to keep seeing more of it across the sport. Challenge Wanaka being rebranded as T100 Wanaka and Ironman Aix-en-Provence both feature, before finishing with T100 Spain. GET 25% OFF THE FASTEST TRIATHLON GEAR WITH HUUB! USE THE CODE "getwelltim" AT www.huubdesign.com To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can follow Emil at https://www.instagram.com/emil.holm3

#130 - Marathon World Record & T100 Singapore 01.05.2026 1h 3min

James is joined by Andy Horsfall-Turner this week. They start with Ironman South Africa, focusing on Andy's race and how it played out across the day. London Marathon is next, where the two-hour barrier goes and James reflects on the experience and the build up. T100 Singapore follows with the focus on Hayden Wilde and how the race unfolded. WTCS is back with results to run through, before finishing with Lucy Charles-Barclay's winning return. BUY ONE GET ONE FREE WITH HUUB: https://huubdesign.com/collections/easter-sale To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can follow Andy at https://www.instagram.com/andrew_h_t

#129 - Ironman Texas Review with Tim Hemming 24.04.2026 1h 13min

James is joined by Tim Hemming this week. Ironman Texas takes centre stage, with Kristian Blummenfelt putting down a ridiculously fast time to take the win ahead of Marten Van Riel and Casper Stornes. In the women's race, Solveig Løvseth takes the win over Taylor Knibb and Marta Sánchez. That leads into the Ironman Pro Series standings and how Texas has already started to shape things. There's also some inhaler chat, before moving on to T100 Singapore, where Hayden Wilde lines up against Matt Hauser in the men's race. WTCS returns in Samarkand with Olympic qualification now underway. James finishes with a thank you ahead of the London Marathon this weekend after a huge amount of support and donations from listeners. BUY ONE GET ONE FREE WITH HUUB: https://huubdesign.com/collections/easter-sale To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can follow Tim Hemming at https://x.com/Timheming

#128 - Ironman Texas Preview with Lizzie Rayner and Mark Threlfall 17.04.2026 56min

James is joined this week by Mark Threlfall and Lizzie Rayner. They start with Lizzie's season, how it's played out so far and what's coming next. The conversation then turns to the T100 gender split races and the reaction to how those events are being structured. From there it's into Ironman Texas, which delivers one of the biggest races of the season so far, before finishing with Ironman South Africa. BUY ONE GET ONE FREE WITH HUUB: https://huubdesign.com/collections/easter-sale ENTER THE ULTIMATE TRIATHLON RAFFLE: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/james-bale To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 Follow Lizzie - https://www.instagram.com/lizzierayner97 Follow Mark - https://www.instagram.com/markthrelfallgtn

#127 - Oceanside 70.3 Catch Up and Crazy Ironman Texas Start List 10.04.2026 1h 1min

We finally get to Oceanside 70.3 after Tim was away last week, breaking down the men's race with Kristian Blummenfelt, Casper Stornes, Sam Long and Jonas Schomburg all in the mix. On the women's side, the focus turns to Taylor Knibb and what her performance means heading towards Kona. We then move to the T100 Singapore start list, which is loaded with short course names. The question is whether it's a straightforward win for Hayden Wilde or if athletes like Matt Hauser and Leo Bergere can challenge him. A one-off running segment this week. Cassandre Beaugrand sets a French 10k record, Leonie Periault runs 1:09 for the half marathon, Alex Yee is pacing the London Marathon, and Jelle Geens is planning a sub 2:25 marathon in Texas. We finish with Ironman Texas, where the start list is stacked. BUY ONE GET ONE FREE WITH HUUB: https://huubdesign.com/collections/easter-sale ENTER THE ULTIMATE TRIATHLON RAFFLE: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/james-bale To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can donate to Tim's Marathon here: https://melbmara2026.grassrootz.com/beyondblue/tim-ford

#126 - Kristian Blummenfelt 04.04.2026 1h 3min

This week James sits down with Kristian Blummenfelt. They start with how he's approaching 2025, including Nice and 70.3 Worlds, before looking ahead to Ironman New Zealand in 2026 and the early season races in Geelong and Oceanside. They get into 20m drafting and the current Ironman Pro Series standings, before talking through T100 vs the Pro Series and how he's trying to balance both. Ironman Texas is a big focus, what he expects there and what comes after, including how 70.3 Worlds 2026 and Kona fit into his plans. They finish with bucket list races and whether winning the Tour de France is something he genuinely thinks about. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can follow Kristian at https://www.instagram.com/kristianblu

#125 - TUEs in Triathlon 27.03.2026 1h 3min

Sam Laidlow has kicked off a proper debate around TUEs, pushing for transparency and launching a petition to make the information public. We weigh in with our thoughts on TUEs in pro triathlon. At T100 Gold Coast, Taylor Knibb is back doing what she does, taking the win ahead of Jess Fullagar and Imogen Simmonds, even with the field already starting to thin out. Geelong 70.3 was ridiculous. Kristian Blummenfelt ran 1:06 to beat Jelle Geens and Hayden Wilde in a crazy, genuinely entertaining race. Kat Matthews was just as solid on the women's side and never really looked under pressure. Oceanside 70.3 is next and the start list is stacked. Blummenfelt lines up again alongside Gustav Iden, Casper Stornes and Jonas Schomburg, while Solveig Løvseth, Paula Findlay and Taylor Knibb headline the women's race. For 50% OFF the entire Huub range of goggles use the code "goggle-50" at https://huubdesign.com ENTER THE ULTIMATE TRIATHLON RAFFLE: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/james-bale To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can donate to Tim's Marathon here: https://melbmara2026.grassrootz.com/beyondblue/tim-ford

#124 - Geelong 70.3 is STACKED (T100 Gold Coast Isn't) 20.03.2026 1h 2min

We kick things off with The Ultimate Triathlon Raffle, where James is closing in but still needs another £500, so the prize list has stepped up again. Lucy Charles-Barclay potentially racing the Commonwealth Games leads into a wider conversation, before we touch on Sam Laidlow's marathon. At 70.3 Dallas, Lionel Sanders is back to winning, which is impressive in itself, but even more so given he managed to lose 40 seconds in a 350m swim and still take the race. In Lanzarote, Georgia Taylor-Brown, Laura Lindemann and Sophie Evans were all back racing, which is a good sign as the short course season builds. T100 Gold Coast continues to take hits, with Julie Derron now out, and we run through what's left of the women's field with Taylor Knibb, Jess Fullagar, Natalie Van Coevorden and Ellie Salthouse. Geelong 70.3 has quickly become one of the races of the weekend, with Kristian Blummenfelt lining up against Hayden Wilde and Jelle Geens. And then there's Oceanside 70.3, where the start list is stacked across the board. For 50% OFF the entire Huub range of goggles use the code "goggle-50" at https://huubdesign.com ENTER THE ULTIMATE TRIATHLON RAFFLE: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/james-bale To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can donate to Tim's Marathon here: https://melbmara2026.grassrootz.com/beyondblue/tim-ford

#123 - Ironman New Zealand Wrap Up 13.03.2026 1h 1min

We start with an unusual story involving Brayden Currie after he had an incident with a cow. From there we review Ironman New Zealand, starting with the broadcast before getting into the racing itself. In the men's race Trevor Foley took the win ahead of Pierre Le Corre, while Kristian Blummenfelt had a tough day that could now put his Ironman Pro Series campaign in a difficult position. We then move to the women's race where Kat Matthews delivered a dominant performance to take the win ahead of Hannah Berry. Attention then turns to the T100 Gold Coast where injuries are already starting to affect the field, with Ashleigh Gentle, Kate Waugh and Lucy Byram all withdrawing from the season opener. We finish with the announcement of the Geelong 70.3 start list which has quickly become one of the most interesting races of the weekend. Kat Matthews is back on the start line again, while in the men's race Kristian Blummenfelt will line up against Jelle Geens and Hayden Wilde. For 50% OFF the entire Huub range of goggles use the code "goggle-50" at https://huubdesign.com To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can donate to Tim's Marathon here: https://melbmara2026.grassrootz.com/beyondblue/tim-ford

#122 - Ironman New Zealand Preview 06.03.2026 1h 3min

We start with the full Challenge Roth start list which just keeps getting stronger. Laura Philipp has now been added to the women's field, setting up a potential showdown with Kat Matthews in what could quickly become a race against the Ironman world best time. The men's field has also been bolstered with the additions of Sam Laidlow, Rico Bogen, Jonas Schomburg and Patrick Lange, creating a lineup where the pace could be pushed from the start. Lionel Sanders is back doing Lionel Sanders things, saying he is once again all in on Kona and describing the race as his Olympics as he builds his season around October. From there we run through the full T100 Gold Coast start list which now includes short course athletes Jess Fullagar and Nicole van der Kaay stepping into the series. We finish with Ironman New Zealand in Taupo. Kristian Blummenfelt leads the men's race but the field also includes Mike Phillips, Kyle Smith and Pierre Le Corre. On the women's side Kat Matthews headlines the race. For 10% OFF the entire Huub range use the code "Talkingtriathlon10" at https://huubdesign.com To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can donate to Tim's Marathon here: https://melbmara2026.grassrootz.com/beyondblue/tim-ford

#121 - Will Kristian Blummenfelt Break The World Record In Roth? 27.02.2026 1h 1min

This week we start with Kristian Blummenfelt confirming he'll race Challenge Roth. The discussion quickly turns to whether Roth could be the place he finally breaks the Ironman world record in a way that truly stands, given the ongoing debate around his tide-assisted swim in Cozumel. We then move to Kat Matthews, also lining up for Roth, and the growing question of whether Laura Philipp will join her on the start line. With the women's field already looking strong, the potential matchup adds another layer of intrigue to the race. From there, we zoom out and talk more broadly about Challenge Roth itself, the event, the brand, and why it continues to attract the biggest names in long-distance racing outside the Ironman system. We then recap Challenge Wanaka, where Jack Moody and Tamara Jewett took convincing wins. The conversation shifts to Lionel Sanders and his 2026 season, including the notable decision not to race Oceanside, a race he has historically performed very well at. We finish the episode discussing a recent LinkedIn post about the PTO actively sourcing celebrities and influencers for races, and whether that focus makes sense when many believe the priority should remain on professional athletes. For 10% OFF the entire Huub range use the code "Talkingtriathlon10" at https://huubdesign.com To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can donate to Tim's Marathon here: https://melbmara2026.grassrootz.com/beyondblue/tim-ford

#120 - Is Lionel Sanders Retiring? 20.02.2026 1h 1min

This week we start with a big result for Maya Kingma, who has won her first professional cycling race. After previously talking about triathletes trying to make the jump into cycling, it's a result that feels genuinely significant. We then move to Lucy Charles-Barclay, who has undergone surgery, and where that leaves her as she looks ahead to the rest of the season. From there, the conversation turns to Lionel Sanders. Lionel has suggested this might be his final Kona, which has led many to wonder whether retirement could be closer than expected. As always, even a small comment from Lionel quickly becomes a talking point. We then shift focus to racing in the southern hemisphere, starting with Challenge Wanaka. With both the pro series and T100 kicking off in the south this year, Wanaka is well placed to benefit from that early-season momentum. Next up is the Ironman New Zealand start list, where names like Kristian Blummenfelt, Kat Matthews, and Kyle Smith give the race real weight. We finish the episode by looking ahead to the T100 Gold Coast, and what this season could have in store as the series continues to take shape. For 10% OFF the entire Huub range use the code "Talkingtriathlon10" at https://huubdesign.com To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can donate to Tim's Marathon here: https://melbmara2026.grassrootz.com/beyondblue/tim-ford

#119 - PTO Acquire Challenge Family 13.02.2026 1h

We start this week with Maya Kingma. On a previous episode we were talking about triathletes trying to become cyclists, and Maya is proof that it can actually be done. We dig into her move, why it matters, and what it says about crossover potential at the very top end of endurance sport. From there we go deep on the Professional Triathletes Organisation acquisition of Challenge Family. We break down the pros and cons, not just for professional racing but for amateur athletes as well, and try to separate hype from reality. The biggest question hanging over the deal is what it means for Challenge Roth, and whether a T200 distance could realistically emerge. That opens up a wider discussion around market power, monopolies, and how much consolidation is too much for the sport. We also look at what this means for Ironman. Will they react, or will they sit back and use the situation to their advantage? We finish by stepping back and asking a bigger question. If you could design the ideal professional triathlon race setup from scratch, what would it actually look like? For 10% OFF the entire Huub range use the code "Talkingtriathlon10" at https://huubdesign.com To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can donate to Tim's Marathon here: https://melbmara2026.grassrootz.com/beyondblue/tim-ford

#118 - Is Triathlon Unbroadcastable? 06.02.2026 1h

This week on Talking Triathlon we start with a recap of Challenge Sir Bani Yas, where Jonas Schomburg took the win in the men's race and Katrine Græsbøll Christensen claimed victory in the women's. We break down how the race played out and what it told us about early season form. We then turn to Hayden Wilde after he said he had multiple professional cycling contracts on the table, and discuss how realistic that claim is and whether elite triathletes could genuinely step into the professional peloton. Jelle Geens has also said he wants to win Kona, and we dig into why he might be exactly the type of athlete who could make that leap successfully, along with what would need to go right for it to happen. The episode finishes with a deep dive into Supertri's newly announced 2026 format. With sprint races folded into mass participation events and a single standalone Grand Final, we talk through our disappointment with the direction of the series. That leads into a broader discussion about the uncomfortable reality facing the sport, that triathlon has struggled to monetise broadcast, costs continue to rise, and amateur athletes are increasingly frustrated with how expensive the sport has become. For 10% OFF the entire Huub range use the code "Talkingtriathlon10" at https://huubdesign.com To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can donate to Tim's Marathon here: https://melbmara2026.grassrootz.com/beyondblue/tim-ford

#117 - Can Kristian Blummenfelt Win Kona? 30.01.2026 1h 1min

This week on Talking Triathlon we ask the big question behind the episode title: can Kristian Blummenfelt win Kona? We dive into Kristian's extraordinary VO2 numbers and discuss what they actually tell us, whether they translate to Ironman world championship success? We also cover the rebrand of the Bianchi Pro Triathlon Team, with Bianchi stepping in as title sponsor after replacing BMC, and what that means for podcast hosts who have already ordered a Bianch TT bike. From there we discuss Ironman's new 20 metre draft zone rule and while we think it is good for fair racing, it will be bad for broadcast and fans of the sport. Looking ahead to the weekend, we preview Challenge Sir Bani Yas with a strong field including Pierre Le Corre, Emil Holm, Henri Schoeman, Fenella Langridge, Natalie Van Coevorden and Ellie Salthouse. We also recap racing from Qatar, where Brad Weiss took the men's win and Rachel Klamer claimed victory in the women's race. To support the podcast please head to: patreon.com/talkingtriathlon To watch this podcast as a video visit: https://bit.ly/3vzSss2 Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingtriathlon You can follow James at https://www.instagram.com/bale.james85 You can follow Tim at https://www.instagram.com/tford14 You can donate to Tim's Marathon Charity