Rico Bogen, Fred Funk and Jan Stratmann. Even the most ardent German triathlon fan was unlikely to have predicted the first sweep of an Ironman World Championship podium since the German trio of Jan Frodeno, Sebastian Kienle and Patrick Lange achieved it over the full distance in 2016.
But was the unexpected men’s rostrum in the 70.3 worlds in Finland the rightful coronation of the next generation of talent from a traditional triathlon powerhouse? Or the result of a relentless racing calendar grinding the best into submission?
To be dismissive of the qualities of the leading three is unfair. Bogen, the first Ironman world champion born in the 21st century, looks a rare talent. In May, he posted the fastest bike leg in the World Triathlon Long Distance Championships and won a 70.3 a fortnight later.
Funk has had 18 pro podium finishes in middle-distance racing. Stratmann had also tasted Ironman 70.3 success in 2021. The performances weren’t a shock.
The toll is starting to show
But seeing defending champion Kristian Blummenfelt in 35th place and last year’s runner-up Ben Kanute in 31st does hint at the toll the quantity of racing is taking.
It was Kanute’s sixth and Blummenfelt’s 10th high-level race of the year and while viruses, long-haul travel and suspect water quality may have a role to play, the upshot is tired athletes unable to give their best at world championships.
Sam Long, who attempted the PTO Asian Open/Ironman 70.3 double on consecutive weekends, admitted he left his best form on US soil back in May.
This comes as the Professional Triathletes Organisation prepares to roll out its 2024 PTO Tour dates and venues. Aiming to create the ‘Grand Slams’ of triathlon, the PTO’s mission has crept up to 10 events, and we’re likely to see at least six Tour events next year, double 2023’s tally.
PTO to follow F1
The change is prompted by chairman Chris Kermode, a former tennis executive, insisting the PTO follows a model similar to Formula 1, where the best race regularly and global broadcast deals make them household names.
The fields will be restricted to just 20 for the PTO races, meaning in the case of our trio of medallists from Finland, only Funk (with a PTO ranking of 19) would have been likely to start.
But while the marketing logic might be sound, triathletes are not robots. Max Verstappen driving his Red Bull for two hours bears no comparison for triathletes going full tilt over 100km for more than three hours.
The PTO will contract athletes for its series but, in the unusual position of being an ‘athlete body’, will not mandate them to do every event at the exclusion of other brands. This risks diluting the familiarity it is keen to promote with viewers, but with Ironman and Challenge still remaining, triathletes will be under pressure to race more than ever.
If lessons are learnt from 2023, it’s that wealth and health do not go hand-in-hand over a season. Long term, however, health and ability to generate wealth are inseparable.
Top illustration credit: Daniel Seex
