A Top 5 Finish After an Incredible Battle

Just one week after winning IRONMAN 70.3 Shanghai Chongming, I was already back on the start line—this time in Spain for the T100 Pamplona.

I knew it would be a real challenge. Racing two events of this level within just a few days requires a lot of recovery, but I was excited to see where I stood against the best triathletes in the world.

A Comeback I’ll Never Forget

The day began with the 2 km swim in Lake Alloz. I exited the water in 15th place, just over two minutes behind the race leaders.

I stayed calm because I knew the bike course suited my strengths perfectly. It was technical, hilly and demanding—exactly the kind of course I enjoy.

From the very first kilometres, I started making my way through the field. One by one, I caught the athletes ahead of me before taking the lead halfway through the bike leg.

I had so much fun out there. The sensations were fantastic, and I was able to post the fastest bike split of the day in 1:56:40, which was a real highlight for me.

Pushing Myself to the Limit

There were still 18 kilometres of running to go, under scorching temperatures of more than 30°C on a demanding, hilly course.

After pushing so hard on the bike, my legs quickly became heavy and the first cramps appeared.

From that moment on, it turned into a true physical and mental battle.

I held third place for a long time before being passed in the final kilometres. Despite the pain, I kept fighting all the way to the finish line and never gave up.

In the end, I crossed the line in 5th place, just a few minutes behind the world’s best athletes.

A Performance That Builds Confidence

I’m incredibly happy with this result.

After my victory in China just one week earlier, I wanted to prove to myself that I could perform at a high level in two major races within a very short period of time. This fifth-place finish confirms that all the work I’ve put in over the past months is paying off.

There are so many positives to take away from this race. I loved every minute of the bike leg, pushed myself beyond my limits on the run, and showed that I can fight all the way to the finish against the best athletes in the world.

This performance also secures my place at the next stop of the T100 World Tour in Vancouver, Canada.

The season is only just beginning, and I’m more motivated than ever to keep improving.