India Lee scored a wire-to-wire win at IRONMAN Les Sables D’Olonne on Sunday, stopping the clock in 8:24:37.

Not only did the Bahrain Victorious 13 Team athlete break her personal best, but she also set the bar high in the first-ever full IRONMAN edition of the race on the Côte de Lumière. The victory also secures her qualification for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii set for October 11 later this year.

After choosing not to start last week at T100 Vancouver to prioritise recovery from a minor illness, Lee bounced back to outclass the field in France in what was only her third-ever finish over the IRONMAN distance.

First out of the 3.9-kilometre swim into the Vendée Globe Channel with a 54:08 split just two seconds ahead of the next swimmer, she then began establishing the dominance she would hold for the rest of the race.

She hopped off her bike in a race-best 4:23:23, having ridden the 178-kilometre rolling course at an average speed of 40.59 kilometres per hour to build a buffer of over 17 minutes to her chasers.

While remaining unchallenged out front Lee still continued to turn the screws to clinch the title, running the day’s fastest marathon in 3:00:35 and finishing with daylight behind her – 19 minutes, to be precise.

Bahrain Victorious 13 will once again see action next week in as Marten Van Riel toes the start line for IRONMAN 70.3 Nice, and in Germany with Kacper Stepniak racing IRONMAN Frankfurt.

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Lauren Parker Leads Bahrain Victorious 13’s Medal Haul at World Championships

Lauren Parker Leads Bahrain Victorious 13’s Medal Haul at World Championships

The Bahrain Victorious 13 captured an impressive medal haul at the World Triathlon Championships in Wollongong, Australia this weekend.

Lauren Parker led the campaign, winning two medals including her fifth paratriathlon world title.

The paratriathlon races opened the elite competition on Saturday, where Parker once again proved untouchable. She led from the front, exiting the 750-metre swim first, hammering the 20-kilometre handbike leg with the day’s fastest split, and then powering through the 5-kilometre wheelchair run to cross the line 70 seconds clear of her nearest rival.

Unbeaten all year, Parker’s home victory carried extra meaning as she reclaimed the crown she relinquished last season.

“Everyone was so supportive out there and it definitely made me push a little bit harder,” Parker said post-race. “I wanted to get back on top again and I really worked hard for this one and I’m just happy to get it done.”

She also revealed her next sporting ambition: to qualify for the Winter Paralympic Games, with ongoing training in cross-country skiing and biathlon.

On Sunday, Parker added to her tally with a silver medal in the Para Mixed Relay World Championships, helping the Australian team to a podium finish.

In the men’s elite race, Vasco Vilaça placed fifth to secure the overall World Triathlon Championship Series bronze medal, returning to the world podium for the first time since earning silver at the one-day championship in Hamburg in 2020.

Emma Lombardi also delivered a standout performance, claiming bronze in the women’s race – her best finish of the season – and vaulting seven places to 11th overall in the Series standings. She swam into the pointy end on the 1.5-kilometre swim alongside compatriot Cassandre Beaugrand, then attacked on the 40-kilometre bike to lead onto the 10-kilometre run where she battled against the eventual winner and series champion Lisa Tertsch and a hard-charging Bianca Seregni to hold onto the final spot on the podium.

Beaugrand, who had stayed in the lead pack throughout the swim and bike, was forced to withdraw on the run to conclude her season ranked seventh overall.

The results in Wollongong wrap up the Bahrain Victorious 13’s short course season. The team now turns its attention to middle distance racing with the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Spain and Ironman 70.3 Bahrain on the horizon, as well as the T100 Tour’s final two stops in Dubai and Qatar.

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Kat Matthews Runs to Silver and a Record Finish in Kona

Kat Matthews Runs to Silver and a Record Finish in Kona

Kat Matthews led the charge for the Bahrain Victorious 13 on Saturday, taking her third IRONMAN World Championship silver medal at the historic final all-women’s race in Kona, Hawaii. The British star also set a new run course record on the way to her first-ever...

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