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.

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