Blummenfelt's U-Turn Is A Massive Triathlon Boost

As fans will know, one of the beautiful things about sport, whatever the discipline, is the element of the unknown and it is a gift for the media as each and every day there is always something new going on, or something unexpectedly changes, and Kristian Blummenfelt has performed quite the u-turn in relation to what many fans had expected him to do based on earlier interviews.

The sport of triathlon had seen plenty of good moments over the summer months, but with the announcement that the 30 year old Norwegian would be ditching the discipline to take up pro cycling and the Tour de France challenge, there was a regret in the air as nobody associated with triathlon wanted to lose someone who is arguably one of the, if not the, biggest stars in the game as it would have undoubtedly been a huge blow to the world of swim, bike and run and for those who dabble with sports betting, his success would have led to some odds uncertainty as he has proven himself such a reliable and consistent winner.

Just prior to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Blummenfelt's well respected coach Olav Aleksander Bu, had announced that the Bergen born talent had long been mulling the switch, and was likely '90 per cent' sure that they would take the pro cycling route from 2025 onwards with the ultimate aim of achieving his Tour de France ambitions. Much to the delight of many, the remaining 10 per cent has won out and the versatile athlete will now stay in triathlon and has instead turned his attentions to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as his new potential long term goal.

With the 30 year old continuing his preparations for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona which kicks off in just over a weeks time, Bu has now built on his earlier words and explained that the timing is just not right now, and whilst it might not be the most romantic decision, few will argue about the pragmatic aspects at play here, as simply put, sticking with elite triathlon is better for his bank balance.

Blummenfelt's rise to the top coincided with the Professional Triathletes Organisation and the continued rise of the supertri, and if he was to walk away now, having already shown he can win every major prize at play, he would basically just be walking away from revenue that he could comfortably expect to receive. Financially he hit the top at the right point, from a pro cycling and Tour de France standpoint, those ambitions are now a 'disadvantage' to his future financial stability as the payment and reward gap is currently just too large.

There is no speculation offered by Bu as to whether or not this is a more short term decision that will see him maximise the financial revenue at play until after the showpiece LA event in 2028 before again turning his attentions back to his wider ambitions - he would, of course, still be at the right age at that point to have a proper crack at achieving success in that arena and he could then potentially secure the best of both worlds before he decides to wind his career down as the 40 milestone arrives, but for more answers on that front we will simply have to wait for the next interview.