IRONMAN Canada, held in Penticton, saw a dramatic shift in its format as the swim segment was cancelled for the final edition of the historic race.
Originally scheduled to include a 3.8km swim in Lake Okanagan, the event was altered to a bike/run format due to challenging weather conditions.
Lionel Sanders, a local favourite and a prominent figure in the triathlon world, found his chances of clinching victory significantly improved by the cancellation of the swim. Sanders, who is often less competitive in the swimming portion but excels in the bike and run segments, was poised to take advantage of the altered race format. Ranked 13th overall in the PTO standings and 196th in the swim, his strength lies in his superior bike and run performances where he is consistently in the top 20.
The swim cancellation was a result of deteriorating weather conditions. Air and water temperatures had plummeted, with the water cooling to just 13 degrees Celsius. Initially, the swim was shortened to 750 meters, but as conditions did not improve, the decision was made to remove the swim entirely. This left athletes to face a time trial start for the bike segment, with riders starting at 30-second intervals determined by a blind draw.
In the men’s race, American Simon Shi was the first to set off, with Sanders starting 14th. For the women’s race, Sarah True, the only athlete in the top 100 of the rankings, was the first to go. Sanders, having had a stellar season with wins at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside and IRONMAN 70.3 Mont Tremblant, along with a third-place finish at IRONMAN Lake Placid, made a strong impression as the bike portion began. At the first checkpoint after 24km, Sanders had already built a lead of 43 seconds over his competitors.
The cancellation of the swim segment was a significant shift for the final IRONMAN Canada race in Penticton, a venue historically significant as the site of the first North American IRONMAN triathlon. Sanders’ performance and the modified format could make for a memorable conclusion to an event that will move to Ottawa in 2025.
