Ironman 70.3 Alghero
2026

The story

Just one week after finishing second at 70.3 Kraichgau, I was back on the start line in Alghero. A strong swim put me in a good position, and I joined the leaders in the opening kilometres of the bike leg.

The demanding bike course, with plenty of climbing, soon split the field. Simon, Pierre and I — who would later share the podium — broke away from the chasing pack and steadily extended our lead. Despite several attacks, none of us could pull clear. It would all come down to the run.

Pierre dropped off the pace early on, leaving Simon and me in a head-to-head battle. An Olympian with an eighth-place finish at the 2025 World Championships, Simon was the favourite — and he made me work for every step. With fifteen kilometres still to go, I could no longer hold his pace, and a gap began to open. It looked like he was out of reach.

But I refused to give up. Through sheer determination, I kept the gap manageable. Then, on the final climb of the day, I seized my chance: I caught him and went straight past. My first win as a pro was in the bag!