Javier Gómez Noya continues to grow his legend as one of the best triathletes in history. At 34 years old, the Galician was crowned Ironman 70.3 (Half Ironman) world champion for the second time at the World Championship held in Chattanooga, United States.
Gómez Noya completed the race with a time of 3 hours, 49 minutes, and 45 seconds, beating American Ben Kanute by 1:22 minutes and Briton Timothy Don by 2:15. A victory that demonstrates his enormous competitive level and his ability to dominate in top-level endurance events.
The Ironman 70.3 is a discipline that combines 1,900 meters of swimming, 90 kilometers of non-drafting cycling, and 21 kilometers of carrera running. In the cycling segment, triathletes use road bikes specifically designed for triathlon, seeking maximum aerodynamics and efficiency. Although very different from the mountain bike discipline, where the terrain and technique completely determine the type of effort, both disciplines share the need for endurance, strategy, and effort control.
This title is the second Half Ironman world championship for the Spaniard, after the one achieved in Edmonton (Canada) in 2014. On this occasion, Gómez Noya once again stood out especially in the swimming and carrera running segments, but his performance on the bike was equally decisive in building his advantage.
For those who train with both road bikes and mountain bikes, Gómez Noya's example is an inspiration: mastering various disciplines, adapting to different terrains, and remaining competitive for years is not a matter of chance, but the result of meticulous and versatile preparation.
His main goal for the year remains the Triathlon World Championship, where he aspires to achieve his sixth world title. The final event will take place in Rotterdam from September 14 to 17. There, his main rival will be fellow Spaniard Mario Mola, the reigning champion of the circuit, who would only need to finish fifth to retain the crown he won in 2016.
