Taylor Knibb and Marten Van Riel delivered a standout weekend for Bahrain Victorious, claiming commanding victories in Canada and the United States. Knibb secured her first World Triathlon Cup gold medal in two years in Edmonton, while Van Riel produced a record-breaking performance to win Ironman Lake Placid in a new course best.
Racing first at the World Triathlon Cup Edmonton in Canada, Knibb exited the 750-metre swim in third before launching a decisive move on the bike. She and one other athlete broke clear of the field over the 20-kilometre ride, opening a two-minute advantage heading into T2. She then put the race beyond doubt on the run, pulling away over the 5 kilometres to cross the line more than a minute ahead of her nearest competitor.
The win marked Knibb’s first World Triathlon Cup gold medal in two years and continued her impressive return to short-course racing after two seasons focused primarily on long-course competition. Following 11th place at WTCS Alghero and silver at the World Triathlon Cup in Tiszaújváros, the Edmonton victory signalled a return to winning ways as she continues her build towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle.
The course also holds fond memories for Knibb, who last raced in Edmonton in 2021 when she rode away from the field to win the World Triathlon Championship Series Grand Final.
Marten Van Riel was equally dominant at Ironman Lake Placid in the United States, claiming his breakthrough full-distance victory in emphatic fashion. After exiting the 3.8-kilometre swim in second, the Belgian never relinquished the lead, producing a commanding bike leg before running the fastest marathon ever recorded on the course to secure victory in a new course record of 7:41:57.
Bahrain Victorious now shifts its focus to the World Triathlon Championship Series London this weekend, where reigning Olympic champion Cassandre Beaugrand joins Knibb, Georgia Taylor-Brown and Vasco Vilaça on the start line. Vilaça returns to defend his World Triathlon Championship Series lead, while Beaugrand, Knibb and Taylor-Brown continue their preparations for the closing stages of the 2026 season. Elsewhere, Vincent Luis lines up at Ironman 70.3 Idaho as he continues his build towards his Ironman World Championship debut in Kona.
