Fresh off a resounding win at Challenge Roth earlier this month, Sam Laidlow has once again reminded the triathlon world of his return to peak form – this time with a commanding wire-to-wire victory at Ironman Leeds. With today’s performance, the Frenchman not only secured the top step of the podium but also officially validated his spot for the IM World Championship in Nice this September.
Laidlow’s resurgence is nothing short of remarkable. Just weeks ago, the 2023 IM World Champion was struggling to train for more than a few minutes at a time due to lingering health issues. Now, after two career-defining performances in one month, it’s fair to say that Laidlow is not just back – he may be stronger than ever.
From the moment the gun went off in Leeds, Laidlow took control. He exited the swim in 45:50, leading a front pack that included Kieran Lindars, Josh Lewis, and Cenzino Lebot. But that alliance was short-lived. Within the opening kilometers of the bike, Laidlow broke away, never to be seen by his competitors again.
On a brutally challenging bike course featuring nearly 2,600 meters of elevation over 180 kilometers, Laidlow thrived. By the halfway point, he had already carved out a five-minute lead over fellow Frenchman Nathan Guerbeur. A chase group featuring Lindars, Lewis, and Harry Palmer trailed by over eight minutes.
In the second half of the ride, Laidlow maintained his gap on Guerbeur while further extending his lead over the rest of the field. Once on the marathon, it became clear this was Laidlow’s race to lose – but the Frenchman was in no mood for letting up.
What followed was a 42.2-kilometer victory parade. From the opening strides of the run, Laidlow continued to build on his advantage, eventually crossing the line in a commanding 8:10:08. Guerbeur held on for second in 8:24:43, with Palmer rounding out the podium in 8:28:42.
