A decisive bike split set up the win as Sam Laidlow kicked off his season in style at IRONMAN 70.3 Valencia.
The swim was a closely packed affair, with less than 20 seconds covering the first 14 athletes, as Laidlow exited the water in 13th place.
It didn’t take long for the Frenchman 2023 Ironman World Champion to make his move on the bike. By halfway, his advantage had stretched to three minutes.
That gap extended to just over four minutes by T2 and Laidlow had enough in hand, holding on to take the win in 3:33:56, just over a minute clear.
It marked Laidlow’s first full race of the season and first ever Ironman 70.3 attendance.
“I had a really great day overall and everything went smoothly. I felt more confident in my run beforehand, but I actually felt stronger on the bike. I came off with a bigger lead than expected, so I focused on keeping a steady pace. I had some cramping around kilometre 15, but managed it and was able to secure the win.”
Race recap – team performances
The rest of the team also delivered strong performances across the globe this weekend
Marta Sánchez – 3rd at Ironman Texas
A composed and controlled race from start to finish. Marta secured a valuable podium in a stacked field and punched her ticket to Kona.
Rudy von Berg – 5th at Ironman Texas
A hard-fought race with an impressive comeback after the swim. Rudy delivered one of his most complete performances, setting a new American best over the distance.
Alanis Siffert – 2nd in China (Olympic distance)
A strong and promising race. Alanis stayed in contention throughout and finished with a powerful run to secure second place.
Marjolaine Pierré – 4th at Ironman 70.3 Valencia
First into T2 after one of the fastest bike splits of the day, she held her position to finish just outside the podium.
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