Flash News: Kona Rehearsal in Texas, Lanzarote Era Ends

April is building to a crescendo. Three major races this weekend, Texas, Valencia and South Africa, are shaping up as a showdown for the ages. IRONMAN parts ways with Club La Santa on Lanzarote after 34 years. Sam Laidlow returns to racing after a brutal DNF at the Barcelona Marathon. Add a course record in Alsdorf, a French sweep in Monte Gordo and a German offensive in South Africa.

1. IRONMAN Texas: 100 Pro Men, Norwegians vs Lange and Geens, a Field Like Kona

On 18 April, The Woodlands hosts the most stacked IRONMAN Texas field in history. More than 100 pro athletes are entered, the prize purse is $175,000, and there are 6 Kona slots per gender. On the men’s side, a Norwegian trio: Kristian Blummenfelt (Pro Series leader after wins in Geelong and Oceanside), Gustav Iden and Casper Stornes. Against them: Patrick Lange (three time world champion) and a full distance debutant, Jelle Geens (BEL, two time 70.3 world champion). On the women’s side, Kat Matthews leads the field, a three time Texas winner and the current Pro Series leader. Right behind her: world champion Solveig Løvseth and Taylor Knibb, fresh off a strong Oceanside. It is the fourth Pro Series stop, with major ranking points at stake and the first full distance showdown in North America this season. Kona in April? Exactly that.

2. The End of an Era: IRONMAN Lanzarote and Club La Santa Part Ways After 34 Years

The island that for three decades was synonymous with the toughest IRONMAN in the world is losing its host. Club La Santa, organiser and title sponsor of IRONMAN Lanzarote since 1992, is ending its partnership with the M-Dot brand after this year’s edition. The reason: contract terms for the licence renewal that could not be reconciled. It is the same scenario as 70.3 Lanzarote, which disappeared from the calendar in 2023 after a similar dispute. Over 34 years on Lanzarote, the winners have included Paula Newby-Fraser, Luc Van Lierde, Peter Reid, Thomas Hellriegel, Jan Frodeno and Lucy Charles-Barclay. IRONMAN says it is in “constructive talks” with local authorities about the race’s future from 2027, but a new host has not yet been named. If you had Lanzarote on your entry list, 2026 could be the last chance to race the original version of this iconic course.

3. Sam Laidlow Returns for Valencia: A 70.3 Debut After the Barcelona Disaster

Sam Laidlow, the 2023 IRONMAN world champion from Nice, returns to racing on 19 April at IRONMAN 70.3 Valencia. It is the first 70.3 of his career (the Frenchman specialises in the full distance) and his first start of 2026 after a painful DNF at the Barcelona Marathon a few weeks earlier. Laidlow is the clear favourite for this edition, despite question marks over his form after Barcelona. Defending champion Johannes Vogel (GER) races with bib number 1, Laidlow with number 2. The field: nearly 70 pro men, more than 30 women, and one of the deepest start lists of the season. On the women’s side the favourite is Marjolaine Pierre (FRA), against Lena Meissner (GER, 2025 70.3 European champion) and Imogen Simmonds (SUI). This is a genuine test of format: whether Laidlow can handle the shorter, faster distance while keeping his eyes on Kona 2026.

4. IRONMAN South Africa: Davies and Marquardt Battle for 8 Kona Slots

The weekend’s other major race is in Nelson Mandela Bay on 19 April. The IRONMAN African Championship offers 8 Kona slots (4 per gender) and a $150,000 prize purse. On the women’s side the outright favourite is Daisy Davies (GBR), fresh off winning the long distance European title at Challenge Almere-Amsterdam. Against her, a German contingent: Merle Brunnée (fresh off a win in Alsdorf), Laura Jansen, Julia Skala and Henrike Güber. On the men’s side, Jamie Riddle (an Olympian) returns, facing international opposition in Matthew Marquardt (USA) and Rasmus Svenningsson (SWE, the 2024 winner). The bike course returns to its three lap, 180 km format along Marine Drive, one of the fastest on the calendar.

5. Merle Brunnée and Thibaut de Smet Dominate Powerman Alsdorf

The Powerman Middle Distance Duathlon European Championships (12 April, Alsdorf, 10 km run / 60 km bike / 10 km run) had one name on everyone’s lips: Merle Brunnée. The defending Powerman world champion won with clockwork precision, crossing the line in 2:41:48, 1:44 ahead of Britain’s Rachel Brown (2:43:32). Dieske Kruisselbrink (NED) finished third. On the men’s side, Thibaut de Smet (BEL) put on a solo show, finishing in 2:23:48, 1:15 ahead of Andrea Alagona (SUI, 2:25:03). Dominant form heading into the long distance season, and Brunnée now heads to South Africa to race for Germany at IRONMAN South Africa. More than 800 competitors from 25 countries shows that middle distance duathlon is growing fast.

6. A French Show of Strength in Monte Gordo: A Blue White Red Podium

The Europe Triathlon Cup in Monte Gordo, Portugal (11 April, sprint distance: 750 m / 20 km / 5 km) was a stage for French dominance. On the men’s side Louis Vitiello won in 51:36, and the entire podium carried the same passport, with Milan Lariviere (+0:09) and Yanis Seguin (+0:14) completing the French sweep. On the women’s side there was a surprise: Fanni Szalai (HUN, two time junior world silver medallist) won in 58:10, 22 seconds ahead of Italy’s Carlotta Missaglia and 28 seconds ahead of Britain’s Eve Whitaker. The Portugal sprint is traditionally a litmus test for young athletes fighting for spots on national WTCS squads, and the French arrived with a clear message: they have depth.

7. Alex Yee Confirmed as a Pacer at the London Marathon

It is now confirmed. Alex Yee, the Paris Olympic champion, lines up at the London Marathon on 26 April, not to win it. He will pace Emile Cairess (the fourth place finisher in the Paris Olympic marathon), who is chasing the British record of 2:05:11, held by Sir Mo Farah since Chicago 2018. It is a favour returned: Cairess paced Yee through 21 miles at the Valencia Marathon in December, where the triathlete finished in 2:06:38, the second fastest time in British athletics history. Yee said: “I can’t wait to soak up that atmosphere again.” An Olympic champion pacing a marathon he specialises in over the short course is an unusual role for a reigning Olympic champion, but it shows that Yee treats the marathon as a tool for building form, not as an Olympic priority for LA28.

8. IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Varas: A European Takes the Inaugural Race

The first ever IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Varas (12 April, Chile) drew more than 1,400 athletes and delivered an estimated $5 million economic impact for the region. The winner: Marcel Bolbat (GER), crossing the line in 3:25:31, nearly 10 minutes ahead of Argentina’s Luciano Taccone (3:35:29) and local athlete Martín Baeza (3:35:53). On the women’s side, Chile’s Macarena Salazar (4:07:10) beat Romina Biagioli (4:13:05) and Laura Mathews (4:14:21). The swim was shortened to 750 m because of strong winds on the lake. A new addition to the IRONMAN map in South America, aiming to rival Pucón for the title of regional capital.

Texas turns into a genuine Kona rehearsal this weekend with the Norwegian trio against Lange, Geens’ full distance debut adds extra spice, and Laidlow steps into his 70.3 debut as the favourite with real questions about his form.

This sits alongside Flash News: Texas Tragedy, Laidlow Wins 70.3 Debut. Racelify lists the race calendar by date and distance.