Talking Triathlon
A weekly round up of everything happening in the world of triathlon! This podcast is designed to make it as easy as possible for you to know what is happening in the greatest sport on the planet. Each week we will discuss the latest news, go through race results and give our analysis and preview upcoming events so you know who to watch and what to expect. We also chat to the biggest names in the sport about the sport. We aim to provide you with an insight into the workings of the sports biggest stars that goes beyond their training but focuses on their thoughts of the sport and what makes them tick.
info_outline
#143 - Hayden Wilde Needs to Win the 70.3 World Championships
08/07/2026
#143 - Hayden Wilde Needs to Win the 70.3 World Championships
Harry Palmer has ended his season early with a stress reaction, unfortunate news after a brilliant run of form through the summer. World Triathlon has submitted a formal bid for triathlon to return to the Commonwealth Games at Amdavad 2030. Alanis Siffert wins the Alpe d'Huez Triathlon for the third consecutive year, an extraordinary hat trick on one of the hardest courses in the sport. She had a notable issue in T2 that could have cost her, but pulled away to win regardless. Alistair Brownlee finished second at Norseman, making defending champion Kristian Grue work hard for his title. He's no longer competing as a professional but it's great to see one of the all-time greats taking on a race like this. Looking ahead to the 70.3 World Championships in Nice, the women's field is stacked, with Lucy Charles-Barclay, Taylor Knibb, Solveig Løvseth, Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews all lining up. On the men's side, the spotlight is on Hayden Wilde as world number one and the pressure is on him to deliver, alongside Geens, Van Riel, Stornes, Blummenfelt and Iden. Ironman Kalmar is also on the radar, offering the final women's Kona qualification slots ahead of October's World Championship. SAVE 40% OFF EVERYTHING AT USING THE CODE 'Deano2026-40' To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at Tilly article:
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/42352965
info_outline
#142 - WTCS London Recap
07/31/2026
#142 - WTCS London Recap
Tyler Mislawchuk makes amends for his near miss in Edmonton by winning Supertri Toronto in front of a home crowd, with Zuzana Michaličková taking the women's race. The big news of the week is the announcement of the Triathlon World Tour, which rebrands the WTCS as the T50 World Championship Tour and expands the overall structure to around 100 events per year from 2027. At WTCS London, Beaugrand ran away from a stacked women's field to continue her dominant season, and Matt Hauser made it yet another win over Vasco Vilaca, with Csongor Lehmann completing the podium. Sam Long dominated the bike at Ironman 70.3 Boise to win comfortably, while Kirsten Kasper stormed back on the run to take the women's title. Sam Laidlow has confirmed he will skip the 70.3 World Championships in Nice, choosing Challenge Samarkand as his final hit-out before Kona. And Alistair Brownlee heads to Norway to tick Norseman off his bucket list. SAVE 35% OFF EVERYTHING AT USING THE CODE 'Secret-35' To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/42273110
info_outline
#141 - 2026's Best Start List?
07/24/2026
#141 - 2026's Best Start List?
WTCS Abu Dhabi, originally postponed from March due to unrest in the Middle East, has a new date of November 13-14 and will now also offer Olympic qualification points. And Ironman 70.3 Versailles, cancelled due to the heatwave back in July, has been rescheduled for October 11 at the Château de Versailles. After the break we recap Ironman Lake Placid, where Marten Van Riel converted his 70.3 form into a dominant full-distance win, setting a new course record on debut at the distance. Paula Findlay made an equally impressive full Ironman debut, winning the women's race on her first attempt. We then preview WTCS London, where Alex Yee races in front of a home crowd and we ask whether the women's start list, featuring Beaugrand, Beth Potter, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Lisa Tertsch, is the best we've seen all year. We close with a look at the Canadian racing weekend, where Tyler Mislawchuk came within 0.01 seconds of winning the Edmonton World Cup, losing in a sprint to GB's Solomon Okrafo-Smart, and a quick mention of Taylor Knibb maybe being the most versatile athlete in the sport. SAVE 35% OFF EVERYTHING AT USING THE CODE 'Secret-35' To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/42201415
info_outline
#140 - Everyone is Retiring!
07/17/2026
#140 - Everyone is Retiring!
It's a big one this week. Three major retirement announcements drop almost simultaneously. Joe Skipper calls it a day after a career that included ten full-distance wins, finishing his final race on home roads in Norfolk at Outlaw Holkham. Patrick Lange announces his farewell tour, targeting one more Kona this October and a final race at Challenge Roth in 2027. Dame Flora Duffy, four-time world champion and Bermuda's Olympic gold medallist, confirms she is stepping away after injuries made it impossible to train at the level she demanded of herself. We also cover the late postponement of Ironman 70.3 Versailles, pulled just days out due to a heatwave and concerns over a cyanobacteria bloom in the swim venue. After the break we recap WTCS Hamburg, where Matt Hauser made it three straight wins on that course by outsprinting Vasco Vilaca, and Leonie Périault took the women's race. France then completed the weekend with a thrilling Mixed Relay World Championship win, booking their automatic LA2028 Olympic qualification spot. Then we look back at Alex Yee and Cassandre Beaugrand stepping onto the Diamond League track in Monaco, where Beaugrand smashed the French 3000m record by 30 seconds in a stunning run. We recap Ironman 70.3 Swansea, where Harry Palmer made it three wins in a row in a race full of drama, and Lizzie Rayner took her first Pro Series win after race leader Mika Noodt crashed out. We close on Challenge Roth, where Sam Laidlow set the fastest ever full-distance triathlon time to defend his title, and 24-year-old Swiss athlete Alanis Siffert produced one of the upsets of the year to beat Lucy Charles-Barclay and Kat Matthews. SAVE 35% OFF EVERYTHING AT USING THE CODE 'Secret-35' To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/42124985
info_outline
#139 - Challenge Roth Preview with Belinda Granger
07/03/2026
#139 - Challenge Roth Preview with Belinda Granger
This week Belinda Granger joins as guest co-host, bringing her perspective from inside the commentary box and from her role as pro liaison at Challenge Roth. We spend a big chunk of the episode talking through the 2026 WTCS season with Belinda, covering Beaugrand's continued dominance, Vasco Vilaca leading the men's standings, what Alex Yee's DNF in Quiberon means for the rest of the season, and what it's actually like to call these races up close. Then we get into Ironman Frankfurt, where Casper Stornes backed up his Kona title with a win over Gustav Iden in a race shortened to a 125km bike and a half marathon due to extreme heat, with Antonio Benito Lopez rounding out the podium. The back half of the episode is all Challenge Roth, and with Belinda involved in the race it's about as good an insider preview as you'll get. On the women's side, Lucy Charles-Barclay and Kat Matthews headline as the two to beat. On the men's side, we dig into whether Kristian Blummenfelt can deliver, and where Sam Laidlow and Patrick Lange fit into the picture on one of the fastest courses in the world. SAVE 35% OFF EVERYTHING AT USING THE CODE 'Secret-35' To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can follow Belinda at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/41952420
info_outline
#138 - Marten Van Riel Back Dominating
06/26/2026
#138 - Marten Van Riel Back Dominating
We open with a full recap of WTCS Quiberon, where Cassandre Beaugrand was in superb form, putting the race to bed as soon as she kicked to beat Tilda Mansson. In the men's race, Dorian Coninx outsprinted Vasco Vilaca in a thriller reminiscent of his 2023 title run, while Alex Yee was forced to DNF. We also break down the Mixed Team Relay, where France completed a clean sweep of the weekend, winning comfortably even without Beaugrand in the lineup. After the break, we cover Ironman 70.3 Elsinore, where Marten Van Riel made it six wins from six in 70.3 racing this year, setting a new course record alongside Kat Matthews, who ran away from the women's field for victory. Both results lock in important qualification slots heading toward the 70.3 World Championships. We close with previews of two of the biggest races coming up: Ironman 70.3 Nice, where the final women's slot for the 70.3 World Championships will be decided, and Ironman Frankfurt, where Casper Stornes, Gustav Iden, and a long-awaited season debut from Magnus Ditlev headline the men's European Championship field. SAVE 35% OFF EVERYTHING AT USING THE CODE 'Secret-35' To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/41812925
info_outline
#137 - Beaugrand Unbeatable?
06/19/2026
#137 - Beaugrand Unbeatable?
We open with news that Olympic champions Alex Yee and Cassandre Beaugrand are heading to the Diamond League, with Yee racing the 5,000m and Beaugrand the 3,000m at Monaco on July 10, marking Yee's first Diamond League appearance since 2019 and a first-ever start for Beaugrand. Then we cover Taylor Knibb, who claimed her second US Pro Road Nationals time trial title in Charleston, continuing her run as one of the most dangerous dual-sport athletes in the world. We also break down the announcement that Chattanooga will host the Ironman 70.3 World Championship again in 2027, locking in a new five year agreement with the qualifying cycle kicking off on July 5. After the break, we recap Ironman Cairns, where Nick Thompson and Penny Slater both picked up maiden Ironman wins, with Slater inheriting the lead after Regan Hollioake was forced to retire with a torn hamstring while well clear on the bike. We then run through Happy Valley 70.3, where Trevor Foley finally got the better of Sam Long in their fourteenth head to head meeting, and Paula Findlay ran away with a dominant women's win. We close with a preview of WTCS Quiberon, breaking down the start lists and storylines heading into the men's and women's races this weekend. SAVE 35% OFF EVERYTHING AT USING THE CODE 'Secret-35' To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/41699440
info_outline
#136 - More Norwegian Domination!
06/12/2026
#136 - More Norwegian Domination!
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 USING THE CODE 'Secret-35' To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/41619975
info_outline
#135 - Is World Triathlon The Best Triathlon to Watch?
06/05/2026
#135 - Is World Triathlon The Best Triathlon to Watch?
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 USING THE CODE 'Secret-35' To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/41545250
info_outline
#134 - Tim's Back to Talk Triathlon! (T100 Spain and WTCS Alghero)
05/29/2026
#134 - Tim's Back to Talk Triathlon! (T100 Spain and WTCS Alghero)
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! To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/41462590
info_outline
#133 - Alex Yee Returns to Triathlon
05/22/2026
#133 - Alex Yee Returns to Triathlon
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 To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can follow Andy at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/41390350
info_outline
#132 - The Pro Series is Still Stacked with Henry Räppo
05/15/2026
#132 - The Pro Series is Still Stacked with Henry Räppo
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 To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can follow Henry at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/41304630
info_outline
#131 - Is T100 Taking Over Middle Distance with Emil Holm
05/08/2026
#131 - Is T100 Taking Over Middle Distance with Emil Holm
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 To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can follow Emil at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/41212980
info_outline
#130 - Marathon World Record & T100 Singapore
05/01/2026
#130 - Marathon World Record & T100 Singapore
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: To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can follow Andy at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/41107810
info_outline
#129 - Ironman Texas Review with Tim Hemming
04/24/2026
#129 - Ironman Texas Review with Tim Hemming
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: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can follow Tim Hemming at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40999940
info_outline
#128 - Ironman Texas Preview with Lizzie Rayner and Mark Threlfall
04/17/2026
#128 - Ironman Texas Preview with Lizzie Rayner and Mark Threlfall
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: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at Follow Lizzie - Follow Mark -
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40906140
info_outline
#127 - Oceanside 70.3 Catch Up and Crazy Ironman Texas Start List
04/10/2026
#127 - Oceanside 70.3 Catch Up and Crazy Ironman Texas Start List
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: ENTER THE ULTIMATE TRIATHLON RAFFLE: To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can donate to Tim's Marathon here:
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40797025
info_outline
#126 - Kristian Blummenfelt
04/04/2026
#126 - Kristian Blummenfelt
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: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can follow Kristian at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40730245
info_outline
#125 - TUEs in Triathlon
03/27/2026
#125 - TUEs in Triathlon
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 ENTER THE ULTIMATE TRIATHLON RAFFLE: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/james-bale To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can donate to Tim's Marathon here:
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40627040
info_outline
#124 - Geelong 70.3 is STACKED (T100 Gold Coast Isn't)
03/20/2026
#124 - Geelong 70.3 is STACKED (T100 Gold Coast Isn't)
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 ENTER THE ULTIMATE TRIATHLON RAFFLE: To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can donate to Tim's Marathon here:
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40551065
info_outline
#123 - Ironman New Zealand Wrap Up
03/13/2026
#123 - Ironman New Zealand Wrap Up
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 To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can donate to Tim's Marathon here:
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40421160
info_outline
#122 - Ironman New Zealand Preview
03/06/2026
#122 - Ironman New Zealand Preview
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 To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can donate to Tim's Marathon here:
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40337760
info_outline
#121 - Will Kristian Blummenfelt Break The World Record In Roth?
02/27/2026
#121 - Will Kristian Blummenfelt Break The World Record In Roth?
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 To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can donate to Tim's Marathon here:
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40250270
info_outline
#120 - Is Lionel Sanders Retiring?
02/20/2026
#120 - Is Lionel Sanders Retiring?
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 To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can donate to Tim's Marathon here:
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40172115
info_outline
#119 - PTO Acquire Challenge Family
02/13/2026
#119 - PTO Acquire Challenge Family
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 To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can donate to Tim's Marathon here:
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40095665
info_outline
#118 - Is Triathlon Unbroadcastable?
02/06/2026
#118 - Is Triathlon Unbroadcastable?
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 To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can donate to Tim's Marathon here:
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/40016160
info_outline
#117 - Can Kristian Blummenfelt Win Kona?
01/30/2026
#117 - Can Kristian Blummenfelt Win Kona?
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: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at You can donate to
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/39931200
info_outline
#116 - What To Expect From Triathlon in 2026
01/23/2026
#116 - What To Expect From Triathlon in 2026
This week on Talking Triathlon we are back and take stock of where the sport sits heading into 2026. We start with what we noticed over the break, running through the triathlon headlines that shaped the off season and set the tone for the year ahead. We then look at the updated PTO World Rankings and the impact of changes to how they are now measured. With the rankings now closely tied to the T100 series, it is no surprise that the athletes who raced and won the series are sitting at the top, with Kate Waugh and Hayden Wilde both ranked world number one. We also question how legitimate the rankings are now and what they are really designed to represent. From there we look ahead to 2026 as a whole, talking through the major race series, what we are most excited to see unfold and what we hope the sport delivers over the next twelve months. We break that down across Ironman, WTCS, T100, Supertri and Challenge, discussing how each series is shaping up and where the big storylines could emerge as the season gets underway. To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/39846975
info_outline
#115 - 2025 Talking Triathlon Podcast Awards
12/18/2025
#115 - 2025 Talking Triathlon Podcast Awards
This week on Talking Triathlon we close out 2025 with our final episode of the year. We start by breaking down the T100 Grand Final in Qatar before diving into one of the biggest stories in the sport, the proposed merger between the PTO and World Triathlon and what it could mean for the future of professional racing. From there we unpack the massive changes announced for Supertri in 2026 and share our thoughts on where the series is heading. We then turn our attention to the 2025 Podcast Awards, handing out our end of year honours including Female Triathlete of the Year, Male Triathlete of the Year, Racing Moment of the Year, Non Racing Moment of the Year, Race of the Year, the Lionel Award, WTF Moment of the Year and the Most Exciting Moment of the Year. As we head into a four week break, we are not disappearing completely. We will be releasing bonus episodes every week on Patreon during the off season, so there will still be plenty of Talking Triathlon content to keep you going until we return in 2026. Thanks for listening throughout the year and we will see you on the other side. To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/39462520
info_outline
#114 - Marathon Madness by Alex Yee!
12/12/2025
#114 - Marathon Madness by Alex Yee!
This week on Talking Triathlon we start with Alex Yee’s unbelievable 2:06 marathon and what it means for the sport. We talk about how performances like this show that triathletes are not just competent across three disciplines but genuinely world-class athletes. We also ask the big question: should Alex consider focusing on the marathon for LA 2028? From there we head to La Quinta 70.3 where Lionel Sanders made his long-awaited return, Sam Long took the win and Kirsten Kasper impressed in one of her first real attempts at the 70.3 distance. In Bahrain, Vincent Luis delivered another outrageous run that made us question why he thinks he should retire next year, and Georgia Taylor-Brown continued to look better every time she steps up to middle distance. Ironman Western Australia gets some brief but deserved attention, including a strong showing from Lotte Wilms. Then we dig into the T100 Grand Final picture. The men’s title looks almost locked up with Hayden Wilde, while the women’s race remains wide open with Lucy Charles-Barclay, Kate Waugh and Julie Derron all still in realistic contention heading into Qatar. We also look at the newly announced T100 2026 season schedule and discuss whether we think the series will genuinely follow through on the plan next year. To close out the episode, we give our nominations for the 2025 Podcast Awards. TT PODCAST To support the podcast please head to: To watch this podcast as a video visit: Or check us out on Social Media: Instagram: You can follow James at You can follow Tim at
/episode/index/show/maccax/id/39377190