Lionel Sanders: I Surpassed All My Goals At Amazing Arena Games Triathlon Montreal

Lionel Sanders says he “transcended all his goals” with his stunning performance at Arena Games Triathlon powered by Zwift Montreal.

The Canadian star was cheered up by a rapturous home crowd at the Parc Olympique and only finished 38 seconds back of the eventual winner despite many doubting he would even qualify for the Finals.

Sanders smashed the all-time Arena Games bike record in the heats and produced a stunning performance to finish sixth in what was his first short course race at the age of 35.

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The two-time Ironman World Championship runner-up said: “It was a lot of fun. I am just grateful to have come out and have participated with these great athletes and they showed me what real top end speed looks like.

“My only goal was to reach the final and I transcended all of my goals so it was a great event.

“I got a lot from their race, and the big thing is those brick workouts. I have done ten rounds of this in five days now and I feel a way more competent swimmer, so much more confident to take it out from the start.

“I feel more competent on the bike and the transitions are where the sport is going. These guys are coming up to middle and long distance and are leading our sport so those are the guys you have to compete with.”

Sanders was hoping for a unique experience, and got just that, both in terms of a true arena experience and managing his approach to it.

“That was amazing,” he smiled. “My favourite sport is MMA and I think that is the closest I will ever get to walking out to the cage for a big event.

“I figured I would soak this in. I didn’t know if I would be invited back so I wanted to soak in everything about it.

“This is weight based and part of any weight based sport is cutting weight. I didn’t push the limits and if I did do this again I would push it further just for fun to see what happens.

“It was grander than I had imagined. The only thing that would add to it is if we could do our favourite songs for a walkout. I would choose a death metal song.”