Lionel Sanders Ready To Shake Up Short Course Racing As He Enters Arena Games Triathlon Montreal

February 6, 2023

Canadian long course legend to test himself in front of home fans at triathlon esports World Championship Series opener

/ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Lionel Sanders is ready to shake up short course racing with the multiple Ironman champion set to make a sensational debut at Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift in Montreal.

Sanders, a four-time Ironman champion and 30-time 70.3 winner, will dramatically drop in distance to tackle Super League Triathlon’s unique hybrid format that blends real life and virtual racing.

The 34-year-old will be performing in front of a home Canadian crowd at the Parc Olympique as the Arena Games Triathlon World Championship Series kicks-off in style on Saturday, February 25.

Sanders said: “I’m excited. I’m nervous. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’m excited to have the opportunity to do something new, something fun, something really good for the sport and professional triathlon and really good for you because high end I think is extremely important.

“My favourite sport to spectate is MMA. I don’t want to get in the ring and scrap, but I would love to experience walking out as if you are going to scrap, and this will probably be the closest I will ever get to that, being the centre of attention in a true spectator sport, so that will be fun to experience.”

Other long course athletes also preparing to put their necks on the line in Montreal are fellow Canadian and four-time 70.3 winner Jackson Laundry and South African Jeanni Metzler, who has multiple 70.3 wins, a second place at the 2021 Ironman 70.3 World Championships and full distance podiums to her name.

Montreal will be the first venue for the 2023 Arena Games Triathlon World Championship Series. Tickets are on now sale via Ticketmaster.

Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift is a trailblazing concept pioneered by Super League Triathlon. The real-life and virtual reality blended racing provides an immersive viewing experience for fans both watching at the venue and on broadcast. Athletes swim in an Olympic pool, bike on static trainers and run on self-powered treadmills, with their efforts turned into racing gameplay by Zwift – all over a unique, short and action packed format.

Athletes battle it out to be crowned the triathlon esports World Champion thanks to Super League’s partnership with World Triathlon.

Since its launch in 2020, Arena Games Triathlon has won a host of sport’s industry awards and established itself at the cutting edge of innovation, enthralling fans with sell-out crowds and broadcast viewing numbers of 21.7 million in 2022.

After Montreal, the Series visits Switzerland (March 12) before a Grand Final in London (April 8), with the previously announced event in Singapore postponed in 2023 ahead of an exciting announcement.

For further information on Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift please visit the Super League Triathlon website.