In the second episode from race week in Nice, host Matt Lieto connects with another trio of top contenders for the IRONMAN World Championship title: Sam Laidlow, Marten van Riel, and Matthew Matthew Marquardt
First, defending Nice champion Sam Laidlow reflects on a challenging year that started with a reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus. He explains how the forced rest shifted his perspective from chasing numbers to focusing on quality, health, and a more holistic preparation. This new approach led to breakthrough performances on surprisingly low training volume, giving him a newfound "inner peace and confidence" as he looks to defend his title on French soil.
Next, Marten van Riel opens up about his turbulent and "panicky" build-up to his first full-distance World Championship, which included a significant ankle injury that limited him to a four-week run block and a minor crash on the course just days before the race. Despite the setbacks, the Belgian Olympian discusses the freedom that comes from lowered expectations and his excitement to race on a course he feels is perfectly suited to his strengths.
Finally, American Matthew Marquardt details his season of two halves, from frustrating early-season results to dominant victories at IRONMAN Cairns and Lake Placid. The medical student gives a fascinating deep-dive into the physiological cause of the quad spasms that have affected him in T1 and explains the strategic evolution in his racing—learning to conserve energy on the bike to unleash his now formidable run, which he believes is the key to competing with the best in the world.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.