Canadian cult hero Lionel Sanders issued a stark warning to his competitors following his second place finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder, as the two-time IRONMAN World Championship runner-up looks to have his fire back.
The PTO World #14, back to being self-coached after splitting with Mikal Iden following the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona last October, has undergone a transformation over the past few months, much to the delight of his legion of fans.
With the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships and a number of other big events fast approaching, Sanders statement in his most recent YouTube video emits a sense of ambition and hunger that hadn’t surfaced in a long time.
“I’m coming for you”
Looking back on his performance in Boulder, Sanders shared the belief that many of his competitors were unfazed by his recent revelations about recovery, as he offered a warning to those who continue to overlook him.
“I would say most of my competitors eye roll and think guy, you’re washed up and should stop making YouTube videos, that’s what most of my competitors think.
“But I’m coming for you. You mark my words, I’m coming for every f****** one of you, every one of you.”
Moving on to explain his decision to race in Boulder, Sanders shared that the data collected from the race offered a useful reference point going forward and is part of a wider plan for the season.
“I wouldn’t say Boulder was a mistake, my goal going in was to gather a data point because I’d never raced at altitude.
“I had only been to altitude last year in Flagstaff and it was most definitely hard, especially in the water. I would roll over on to my back and have to do backstroke in the middle of intervals because I would go hypoxic.
“Boulder was purely out of just interest and growth and I gathered that data point. I would say my numbers are in line exactly with what you would expect, not having any altitude adaptation.”
“I immediately knew it was going to be an individual day”
Going into more details about the specifics of the race, Sanders said that early on in the swim he knew the race would very much be an individual effort, with the altitude in particular presenting a major obstacle to tackle and manage.
![Sam Long Lionel Sanders IRONMAN 703 Gulf Coast 2023 finish line [Photo credit: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images for IRONMAN]](https://www.tri247.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sam-Long-Lionel-Sanders-IRONMAN-703-Gulf-Coast-2023-finish-line.jpg)
“Right when the gun went, I immediately knew it was going to be an individual and a difficult day. I was immediately dropped from the group, the big main group, and I just rode the hypoxia line the whole time.
“I then got dropped in transition and that was the end of the race. At least the end of the race for the win and from then onwards it was an individual day.”
Despite conceding the win to rival Sam Long, who is in an incredible vein of form as of late, Sanders took a number of positives from his performance in Colorado.
“I couldn’t have achieved any more than that, on that day, in that place, with that competition, so I’m happy with my improvements and my mental focus on the day.”
“I know I can be the best in the world”
As a beacon of hard work and determination to the wider triathlon population for close to a decade, it has been hard for many in the long course community to witness the trials and tribulations of Sanders over recent seasons, especially with the Canadian seemingly drifting from his roots.
However, the return to his tried and tested training methods, along with monologues that show his deep and profound understanding of the sport, suggest the fire and desire of “No Limits” is back for good.
“I would say I am the most encouraged and most confident I have ever been in my entire career in my self and in my knowledge base.
“I know I can be the best in the world, I know I can, I’m going to be and I believe that deep in my being. “I got beat by five minutes and I still believe that. I will make it happen, I will manifest it and I’m burning with confidence in fact.”
