Pro Files: Jelle Geens Ironman 70.3 World Champion

This week on Another Triathlon Podcast, brought to you by @maunaapparel, we sit down with newly crowned Ironman 70.3 World Champion Jelle Geens. Fresh off three and a half months on the road and a gritty title defence in Marbella, Jelle joins us from Australia to unpack the real story behind his rise from a junior swimmer to one of the most feared middle distance racers in the sport.

We walk through his journey from chasing the Olympic dream to finding new purpose in middle distance racing, the coaching and aero changes that transformed his bike leg, and every detail of that dramatic Marbella race. From the crash and derailleur chaos, to fighting back through the field, to the tactical twenty one kilometre duel and sprint finish with Kristian Blummenfelt that decided the world title, Jelle shares the mindset, patience, and belief that carried him to back to back 70.3 world championships.

Highlights
 • Growing up as a runner and discovering triathlon through his dad
 • Early struggles in junior races and overcoming panic attacks in the water
 • The long road to the Olympics and the heartbreak of missing Tokyo
 • How middle distance revived his motivation and confidence
 • Behind the scenes of his Las Vegas breakthrough and Taupo world title
 • Switching coaches, aero testing, and transforming his bike leg
 • The Marbella crash, chasing back, and the tactical duel with Kristian
 • Handling pressure as a defending world champion
 • How family life shapes his racing and recovery
 • Goals for 2025 from T100 to Nice to a possible Kona debut

Quickfire Q and A
 • The weirdest thing he has eaten during training
 • The pro he would most want to race an Ironman with
 • His chosen fourth discipline for triathlon
 • His guilty pleasure training music
 • The best piece of advice he has ever been given

Follow the show: @anothertriathlonpodcast
 Jenna Caer: @jennacaer
 Josh: @joshmvernon
 Fede: @fedemultisport

Guest: Jelle Geens
 Instagram: @jellegeens
 Podcast: All In Triathlon on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Transcript

Another Triathlon Pod (00:01.842)
Welcome back to another Trathon podcast brought to you by Mauna Apparel. This week, we've got an extra special episode with one of our profiles and we have got the newly crowned Ironman 70.3 world champion, Yela Geins, joining us and joined as always by Josh and Fede. But let's dive in first by saying hello to our guest, Yela. Welcome to the podcast. How are you doing?

Jelle Geens (00:23.922)
Hello, thank you. Thanks for having me. I'm good. Yeah, we back in Australia now back home, which is which is nice. We're overseas for three and a half months. It's always nice to to settle back in. And last night was the first night that Sienna had our daughter had a proper night's sleep. So yeah, we're doing well.

Another Triathlon Pod (00:42.932)
Now a little behind the scenes, that is the third time Yala has had to say that to us. had to pick up on some issues, but he's been kind enough to hit record again for the third time. So we definitely appreciate that. But let's kind of dive into things. We usually start these out with learning a little bit more about how you just got started in TrapOn.

Fed (00:48.535)
to.

Jelle Geens (01:04.842)
Yeah, I actually always did athletics when I was younger. I first started with soccer or football. I don't know, the one where you use your feet and not your hands. then you do use your hands. But yeah, then I started doing athletics when I was eight, I think. Combined a little bit with soccer as well, but then just went for athletics and...

Another Triathlon Pod (01:14.964)
it.

Josh (01:15.542)
Hey, I was a goalkeeper, so I used my hands.

Another Triathlon Pod (01:21.332)
you

Jelle Geens (01:32.297)
I knew about triathlon because my dad used to do it. Like quite like just as an age group, but like having fun doing triathlons when he was older, I think he was like 36 when he started or something. And then one like summer holidays, I was a bit over just doing athletics. think I was like 16 years old and I said to my parents, like, I think I want to do triathlon and like start swimming in the pool in our like...

Like complex, were staying in and still like finished that season as a runner and then that winter like started swimming with like my dad's old trout on team, like started swimming twice a week. then the following season I did like my first few trout, trout ones, but still mainly focused on athletics. then, yeah, from there on it went more, more trout on less athletics until like, yeah, I think it was like 17, 18 when I properly decided to.

to go for triathlon and stop athletics.

Josh (02:33.102)
And when you jumped into the triathlon, was it like, all right, I'm going for the Olympics. like the dream was lit already or, or were you just kind of working your way in and trying to figure it all out still.

Jelle Geens (02:46.771)
Well, I was always like inspired or my dream was always to go to the Olympics. First it was in athletics. but then when you start trotting, it's like, I was quite a bad swimmer and, like I didn't have much success in the start. so I think it took me until I came second at junior Europeans in 2011. and that was actually my first like good international race I did. Like they even had to like,

I wasn't automatically qualified to go to the Europeans. had to like, yeah, in the end, because there wasn't enough Belgians qualified, like they said, you can go as well. And then I came second, I was like, maybe I do have some talent here. And I think then it's when it started to grow a bit on like, I want to try and go to the Olympics in Tratland. But yeah, at first, like I just wasn't good enough to really think about it, to be honest.

Another Triathlon Pod (03:42.548)
Fair enough. And how did you find that first few years of like racing short course? Was it long before you're in like the WTCS series or how did that progress go?

Jelle Geens (03:53.608)
Yeah, well, for a very long time and I guess up until now, it was always the swimming that was my problem. And I remember that those first couple of years, I wasn't really racing upfront because my swim was too bad. I remember actually the first junior European Cup I did, I stopped halfway during the swim because I got a panic attack because I wasn't used to so many people.

Another Triathlon Pod (04:19.582)
Good.

Jelle Geens (04:23.216)
like in such a small space in the water and I just wasn't comfortable enough swimming. So I went into the boat and it brought me back to shore and I said to my parents, that's it, I'm done with Troutland. So yeah, definitely came with ups and downs and then, yeah, I went through the junior ranks, had some success there, like second at European juniors and I won like a couple junior European cups. Yeah. And then stepping up as like under 23, I noticed that, my swim really was a weakness and

really worked on it. And those early years, always had like some success every year, but a lot of races also were quite bad. And I wouldn't be there after the swim and like basically race was over after the swim. And then I would be there, but I have a bad run. Like, but then a few times every year with like, it would all click and I would podium European cup or podium world cup or in 2015 I came.

Eight in the grand final as well. was 22, like quite young. So like a few times it would click, but most of the times I would race quite poorly.

Fed (05:29.901)
I wanted to ask you, like, during your short course days, to me, you are one of the most talented athletes that could have won an Olympic Games, but, you know, the stars didn't align. Nothing that was your fault or anything but...

I just wanted to ask you what the mindset that you have now of just competing and showing up every single time. Was that something you developed as a runner or was that something you started when you started doing triathlon there? No matter what I'm going to show up and I'm going to train hard and no matter the result, I'm just going to put all of my eggs in the basket and see what happens.

Jelle Geens (06:16.178)
Yeah, I think it grows over time. think I've always just loved to train. So it was quite easy for me to to just train and having fun doing it. So that never was really an issue. I think when you're younger, I think more like

when races don't go how you want, it's quite disappointing. it's maybe, like I said, that one time, that first junior European Cup where I stepped in the boat, I was really thinking, okay, that's done. I'm going to stop trotting on this. It's not for me. But then I guess I just loved it too much doing it. like those few successes I had really like helped to like maintain the confidence that I could be good. like also after like disappointing races with like

Yeah, make me keep showing up on training or on racing with always with like the intention of like the Olympics, I guess, in the beginning. And once I reached that to just try and win races. Um, so I've never had the lack of like motivation. I think it was always there. Um, I think I'm now someone that's quite good at, if I have a bad race or bad training to just get over it and just keep going and like believing in myself and

I think now as well with like having my family and having stuff outside of Troutland, I think it helps a lot as well to like, puts it in its perspective. Like, yeah, Troutland is very important for me. It's my job. It's like our whole lives basically often evolves around it, but there is still like a lot, a lot else in life that's, that's fun. And, and yeah, that keeps you going even after a bad race, but I think it definitely progresses a bit where,

Like when I was younger, if I had a bad race or bad training, like it could stay with me for a bit. like, would, like, I think people around me would definitely notice in the days after that I wasn't happy or that I was struggling.

Josh (08:18.764)
You describe it like with all these struggles early on in the short course and stuff. So it's, it's crazy to think that this kid who struggled swimming and struggled in the short course has been to three Olympics. And like you've, you've been to the top of the game and, and seen it all in short course. And now all of a sudden we're witnessing you over the last year and a half, two years doing what you're doing in the, in the, longer course. Like, is there a piece of you that wishes your short course career ended a little earlier or like, or, is it something that

Jelle Geens (08:45.702)
Looking back at it for sure, I would have probably wanted to go to middle distance earlier, but then probably have had done that. I be sad that I didn't give Perez a shot. think I would like not like because Tokyo, I think I was in a really good shape there. think

Josh (08:46.912)
You, the Olympic dream was just there and you had to go give it another shot.

Jelle Geens (09:14.81)
Yeah, I believe I could have medaled there in that race, but I got COVID just before and I couldn't go and I only was able to the relay. And then I said to myself, like, okay, I have to give Paris my all and see if I can medaled there. And I actually was struggling that year before Paris, like mentally mainly too, because 2022 was actually a really good year for me. I was really consistent. I came fourth overall in WTS and I put into grand finals. It was a good year.

Consistency was always my problem in short course, but that year I was quite consistent. And then 2023, I actually had quite a bad year. I wasn't consistent at all. Only had basically one or two good races and I wasn't too sure why like training still was going well. I was doing the same things as I always did in training, but then racing, didn't click. So that winter I actually had like quite a bit of...

struggle mentally to stay motivated. That's also why I ended up doing 70.3 Oceanside because I needed something else to get motivated. But yeah, think if I would have switched after Tokyo, think now I would regret it and saying like, if I would have gone for Paris? So it's always easy in hindsight. But yeah, I'm just happy now that it's going well and that I have made that step and

that seems that that consistency that I didn't have in short course that I do found it in middle distance racing. So yeah, it's always easy afterwards, but I think, yeah, I needed to give Ferris a shot.

Josh (10:55.47)
gonna have to go back a few episodes, even ourselves, because I think this man fed was one of the first ones that called you as somebody to watch out for in the, in the, this distance. I remember the episode. I'll have to find that, but he definitely is like, we got to watch out for this yellow kid.

Another Triathlon Pod (11:02.759)
I think.

Jelle Geens (11:07.461)
That's cool.

Fed (11:09.781)
Hey, I've been following along for a while, And I know you were heartbroken in Tokyo with the COVID, but I had you as my favorite in that race. yeah, I've been on the Jerry Pins.

Jelle Geens (11:10.457)
Yeah.

Jelle Geens (11:21.924)
Ah cool. Yeah, I think I was in really good shape there. Because Marte came forward there, right? Marte van Riel and we've trained a lot. But we did train with Joel together. I definitely think I was in a similar, better run shape. But yeah, it is what it is, know? Like no point in looking back sad, looking back to it sad and like, yeah.

It happened.

Fed (11:53.079)
Yeah. Yeah.

Another Triathlon Pod (11:53.427)
Yeah, and actually speaking of Martin, guys have had a few races against each other over the years with the short course and the long course. How has that kind of evolved? Obviously now you guys are kind of at the top of the short course, sorry, middle distance racing at the moment going between 2E100, the 70.3 World Champs. Are you guys, how does it feel kind of racing more head to head now almost like for the top spots?

Jelle Geens (12:22.189)
Yeah, I've known Martin a very long time like that European Championship I came second in 2011 he was there as well already came like 13 maybe 14th See I've known him a very long time like yeah, we trained together with Joel We've lived together in Gerona. So like we're good friends and then when he left Joel like we Split up a bit, but I still hear him a lot. We have a group chat with Aaron Whirl, Martin and me were

I guess we talk daily basically. And then actually in short course, always said like, would be cool to be on a podium together, which we've never managed. I think we've been twice that I was first and he was fourth and then the other way around and we had as well. then yeah, actually Lake Las Vegas was the first time where we raced each other over Middle-Dist and then we came first and second and we've done it again in Vancouver this year, T100. So it's quite cool that like, yeah.

Another Triathlon Pod (12:57.0)
Sorry.

Jelle Geens (13:18.318)
the two of us that from like quite a small country in Belgium that race so much together and trained a lot together and lived a lot together and short course and everyone was able to pull him that we did straight away in middle distance. And yeah, now both are at the top, I think in middle distance racing and Martha and Ironman already as well. So yeah, it's quite cool. Like we've come a long way.

Josh (13:40.972)
What was your mindset going into Vegas? Cause that was kind of shortly after Paris, right? And you're coming in Martin's had the year that he's had undefeated and, here you come and probably with a lot of confidence, but not many people talking about it. And then all of sudden you get on the heels of those golf course and he couldn't keep up.

Jelle Geens (13:59.542)
Yeah, I didn't know what to expect that race to be honest because I did like 270.3s shortly after the Olympics just to try and get into T100 because you needed three scores. Because I did Oceanside in the beginning of the year, I needed two more. But I wasn't really trained properly for it. Like I didn't do like any work on the TT bike, the fit wise. And I think I was sitting way too aggressive in those races and like just

couldn't push power and couldn't run off it. But then a lot of changes happened actually after that, like I changed coach, I did do some aero testing and like it started to click in training. I could feel it already, but still like I had no idea how it would stack up against like the T100 where especially for me, wasn't like the bike level is going to be so big there. Like I probably won't be able to follow on the bike and just have to

Yeah, do damage control on the bike and then see how fast I can still run. was like, probably hoping for like a top five. but then yeah, I surprised myself on the bike and then like, I came off the bike, still feeling quite fresh and like, could quite easily catch up to Martu at like a bit of a quicker transition. And then like, quite easily drop him on like one of the first clients, but then he would come back on the downhill and repeat a few times like that. But I felt like.

the whole run that I had a bit under control. But yeah, I raced for the win in short course. So it's not that it's something new, but it was just, I guess, in a new distance where now all of a sudden could race for the win. But yeah, I did surprise myself there, to be honest, because I honestly was not sure what to expect.

Another Triathlon Pod (15:50.611)
Yeah, absolutely. And how were, so you haven't been in the longer distance, the middle distance for very long at this point, but you've been incredibly successful at it. How did it feel going into that first 70.3 world championships, like being still fairly new and you hadn't faced all of these competitors yet and facing them on the world stage?

Jelle Geens (16:11.126)
Yeah, that was also a bit an unknown, think, especially because after Las Vegas, like we cleaned up our house in Girona and moved over to Australia with the family. So it was like quite a busy period of like packing up the house, selling a lot of stuff, like giving stuff away. Because we lived in Girona for four years, so you get quite a lot of stuff in four years and then fly to Australia. Then we stayed with with Kate, my partner's parents, until Taupo.

Yeah, we had lots to arrange here as well once you were here. But yeah, still did all my training and felt fairly good. Like it was a bit hard to really judge training because it was also very warm here at that time. And I was struggling a bit with the heat in the beginning. So like if you would ask Aaron or Marte, like I wasn't probably too confident going into Taupo. But then again, like.

I went into the race wanting to fight for the win. knew Hayden and Leo were probably my biggest competitors or Rico or Kyle if they would get away on the bike. But then early on in that bike, you could feel that no one was getting away. It was too close. I mean, the 12 meters on a fairly flat course, was like, yeah, no chance of anyone going away. then on the run at one point, I was settled for a second. thought Hayden was gone, but then...

Yeah, he blew up like he did and all of a sudden I was running in the lead, which yeah, it was crazy. yeah, like three, four months before I was still a short course guy and then now I won first T100 Las Vegas and then I'm in 70 points with three world champs in Taup. It was quite surreal and yeah, like then that's when I thought maybe I should have done this a bit earlier.

Another Triathlon Pod (18:09.892)
One question I had with that race was, it was pretty out there that Hayden Wild had a pace that he wanted to set and a goal time he wanted to hit. Did you, had you heard about that beforehand or, and did that affect any of your training or race day? Kind of knowing that he was like dead set on getting this time.

Jelle Geens (18:27.905)
Yeah, he definitely said it a few times so I picked up on it and it didn't change my race tactics. I knew I was probably capable of running like a 66, maybe a 67. I ended up running a 67. It was not the flattest course either on the run. And actually it was Marte van Riel who told in that same WhatsApp group, we talk a lot.

He's like, yeah, if Hayden is really going to go out at that pace, think he'll blow up, which he ended up doing. But yeah, for me, it didn't really change much. I went into the mindset, if he runs that 65 or whatever he said, I won't be able to do that. he's like, fair enough. He will win the race because I don't think anyone can do that. And if he doesn't, we'll have a run battle.

Fed (18:54.019)
Thank

Jelle Geens (19:23.071)
Ran out a bit slower, I think it would have been a good run battle between us. They ended up trying to go for that sub 65 or sub 65. I'm not sure what he said anymore. But then, I guess paid the price at the end where he really slowed down a lot.

Fed (19:41.059)
Speaking about that race in Topol, a lot of people know how good of a runner Jelle is, but I don't think a lot of people give you enough credit on the bike because to me, well to us three, we know...

you can keep up with anyone on the bike. And one thing is to have the run speed that you have. And another thing is to be on a group with that much firepower and then running off the bike the way you did. Did you approach that, especially that race in New Zealand differently? Like, were you trying to be a better cyclist and then just conserving your run speed or were you more...

we're approaching it more of a I'll just run away from everyone.

Jelle Geens (20:33.378)
No, I think when I did change coaching from Joel Filio to Ben Russell, but who is my coach now like

Our main focus was the bike for sure, because in middle distance, think it was the weaker of my three disciplines. Especially on flat courses with my weight is sometimes not so easy against those powerhouse that weigh 15 to 20 kilograms heavier. We did put a big emphasis on the bike and we still do. I have quite big bike weeks at some points with some specific

bike sessions for race courses. Um, and we did the same for Taupo, think. Yeah, there is a big focus on, on, on the bike and I need to be in it, uh, after the bike to be able to win. know that the run is, is a weapon of mine. And also just, I feel in, middle distance racing, just coming off the bike with a little bit less cooked legs is a big difference in the run. Like in the end, there's a lot of people that can run a 67 or 68, but not a lot.

people can do it off the bike or off a hard bike. And I think that's one of my strengths where I can run fast off a hard bike. Like I think there's a lot of people that would beat me just in the run race, but I think if it's after a bike, there's not so many. And I do think that also comes into effect to like, just being as strong as possible on the bike will also make you run faster. And yeah, for me, it's still a work in progress. Like not every race I...

I end up coming off the bike in front, especially in those T100 races where it's a 20 meter rule sometimes it's, and on the flat course, it's sometimes not so easy for me. I really need to have a good race and good power to be able to stay with like a Rico or a Hayden on those flatter courses. So it's still a work in progress and I feel like I still make progression for sure. And Taupo actually was a race where I...

Jelle Geens (22:36.285)
Yeah, pushed good watts and actually felt really comfortable and never at any point in that bike was thinking like, I'm, I'm going to have to slow down or I'm going to have to let the group go. actually felt really within myself that whole ride. and was fairly confident I would be able to run fast off of it because I just felt good that day on that bike ride.

Josh (22:59.126)
It's interesting because we talked about hindsight and what ifs and you think about last year, a lot of people were kind of upset that you couldn't do the T100 grand final. And that ended up turning into a 70.3 world champs and now back to back 70.3 world champs. But how did getting that contract this year for the T100 and really laying out your season for the first time in your long distance, middle distance career, how did you look at this year as a total

piece and how big was 70.3 world champs and defending that title and how you laid out the T100 schedule along with it.

Jelle Geens (23:37.367)
Yeah, I was quite disappointed I wasn't able to do the final of the T100, but in hindsight, it might have been...

been a good thing. Maybe I wouldn't have been world champion if I was able to race there because it was going to be a lot of racing with all the moving as well. But then coming into this year, like I knew I had the contract and yeah, T100 was a big, big, or is a big focus for me, but I also really want to be well at 70.3 worlds. Like I wanted to be in the best shape possible to defend my title. Like it was very important for me as well. And that's why we actually made the plan to

do quite a lot of race in the beginning of the year. And I did all the T100 races up until the one in Europeza, the Spanish one. Just because I wanted to have my four results and being able to then like skip a few races and really focus on 70.3 worlds. I went, yeah, I went on altitude camp to Andorra. I actually went from Europeza. went to Germany and Belgium to do bike fitting and wind tunnel testing.

Then I went back to Spain to then drive to Andorra and did a three and a half week altitude camp in Andorra. So we really tried to optimize stuff both on the bike and then training wise with an altitude camp, which I hadn't done since Parasollympics or since the altitude camp before Parasollympics. And I always really loved altitude camp. I always felt really good off it. So I really wanted to do it before Marbella as well because

As a single race, was my most important race of the year. So yeah, think, well, that answers it. Like I wanted to really be well in the T100 and be high up there and do well at 70.3. was like I said in the beginning of the year that I ideally would want to win both. Winning the T100 will be very, very hard. think Hayden has to do another lap too much on the bike for that to happen. But...

Another Triathlon Pod (25:35.848)
You

Fed (25:38.11)
Hahaha

Another Triathlon Pod (25:38.196)
You

Jelle Geens (25:39.93)
At least I ticked one off already.

Another Triathlon Pod (25:43.101)
There we go. Now, having kind of exploded on the middle-distance scene and ending that first season with a world championship title, how did it feel going into this year? How did you kind of, did you feel a lot of extra pressure knowing that you're trying to back it up?

Jelle Geens (26:01.309)
Yeah, it was definitely a different approach. think it was a lot busier the days leading into the race. I had quite a bit more sponsor obligation and media obligations to do. But I think we managed well to spread it out over a couple days and not like all like do it in one day. So I think we managed to do it quite well. But yeah, for sure it was quite a bit busier. There was quite a lot more like

Yeah, I guess just like everyone expected more from me. I think in top, like I was probably one of the ones that people were talking about, but now I was, yeah, me and Kristian maybe were the favorites going into especially, I may probably also with Kasper. Gustav said beforehand he wasn't feeling great. So I guess he, and he seems to always be quite honest about this stuff. Like there is people probably saying they're not good, but killing it in training.

So there was definitely also for myself, like I really wanted it. really, yeah, like really was focused on this race to try to try and win it again. I think also if you would ask Kate, my partner, like I was quite a bit, quite nervous, even like weeks out already. Like I not so much nervous, but like deep down I had like this bit anxious feeling. Like if I remember like two days before the race, was

sitting with my dad in the car to drive somewhere and he was driving too slow for my liking and I was getting like a bit nervous about it. So I could just see that I was quite nervous for it because I put quite a lot of pressure on myself and there was quite a lot of pressure from other people as well. But yeah, that's part of it and being able to still race well under pressure is what high performance...

Fed (27:33.792)
Haha

Jelle Geens (27:56.538)
throughout L'ONNES, I guess, and I'm happy that I was able to raise to my potential even with the pressure.

Josh (28:07.074)
You talked about earlier, like it's, it's just triathlon. Yeah, it's your job and it means a lot, but there's so much more going on, especially now in your life with, the child. bet a lot of that mindset came in handy in Marbella as you fall going down the first turn of the bike course, not even really the bike course yet. and, and, and you, you had a decent swim. You were kind of where you wanted to be and knew you were going to be able to get to the front at that point, but.

Man, that's a hard thing to overcome. And you're a lucky that you're not injured and you can keep going on the bikes, not totally damaged. You can keep going on, but, but what was your mindset at that point? Like was it, I hope the bike still works because you felt okay. Just tell me how did you get back to the front as quickly as you did.

Jelle Geens (28:44.186)
Yeah.

Jelle Geens (28:56.347)
I guess it went in steps where when I was laying on the ground, the initial thought was, is over. I had the same, I crashed that last race of T100 Europe, I also crashed and it was the same, I laying on the ground, I thought, this is over. It was my first initial reaction. Then you do get up, you assess the bike, you assess your body, then I kept going and I think it was good for me that when I got on the bike, the first athlete I was following was Kristian Blumenfeld.

I was like, okay, at least he's here as well. Like it's not too bad. and then I noticed at one point that my, rear derailleur was hitting my disc and I couldn't use my like smallest gears. then that was the problem. once that was fixed, I felt like only then I really got back into the race. Like until that point, I still thought like, I might have to pull the plug at one point because my bike is not working properly.

I definitely came in stages, not straight away after I crashed I was thinking I'm still gonna win this. It really came in in steps and slowly I was more back with my mind into the game. I think it took me until the top of the climb basically to really think to myself, I still have a shot here and I'm still in the race.

bit of a rollercoaster at first, like 15-20k on the bike for sure.

Josh (30:24.206)
Do you think that course played into it? Like with that elevation profile, do you think that really helped you get back as quickly as you did and help that mindset?

Another Triathlon Pod (30:24.307)
And again.

Jelle Geens (30:33.775)
Yeah, I think for sure.

I did make up quite a lot of places and spots already on the flat in the beginning. I just felt quite strong on the bike, to be honest. But it's easy to overtake a lot of people when it goes uphill because if you push a lot more power there than the others, it goes quite quick. And I do have the advantage there that I am quite a lot lighter than a lot of the other people. So when I'm pushing 340 or 350 watts, like a lot of...

People have to push over 400 watts to ride as fast as me up a hill. so it definitely helped that I had that whole bit to, to come like first to catch back to the group, then to overtake most of, most of the people then to be able to bend back my rear derailleur a bit so I could go on my smaller strings and then ride up again. It definitely helped that it was uphill and that I had, I guess, quite a bit of reserve there compared to other people that were maybe more on the limit than me on that.

on that climb.

Another Triathlon Pod (31:36.732)
Yeah, and once that happened, sounds like Casper Stornis gave you some advice or encouragement when that did happen. What did he tell you? And would you do the same thing for a competitor that it could be one of your main competitors to win?

Jelle Geens (31:52.685)
Yeah, already actually when he, I think he was one of the first ones that was behind me when I crashed and he already then shouted something like, keep going yellow or whatever. And then when I overtook him at the start of the big climb, like he asked me how I was. And because obviously he saw that he saw he saw my crash and I said, I'm okay, but my rear derailleur is bent or something.

and then he said, just go to the front and stop at the top of the climb, bend it back and you'll still be in the group. so I was like, okay, that's actually not another bad idea. so then I did, I stopped like the climb was like in two, two stages. So I stopped on the first bit just before the downhills and then I had the second climb to. Overtake overtake a few people, the spots that I lost again. but yeah, it actually was really good advice because what, yeah, you go a lot slower. So like.

Fed (32:31.18)
Yeah

Jelle Geens (32:51.994)
I only lost probably two or three spots by doing this like quick stop. So yeah, was very kind of him, very nice of him. I don't know if he would have done it knowing the results now, but I feel like it speaks for him. he, I feel like he did it because he wanted to race me and he wanted to obviously to beat me, but he wanted me to be there, which I really appreciate. And to be honest, I,

I'm not sure if I would have that advice in that moment. Obviously I want... I'm also someone who I thrive out of racing the best in the world. I don't like doing a small race where there's no one there and it's an easy win. I prefer when it's a win against the big names, against the Norwegians. So I would want, if it was Kasper or Kristian that was falling, I would want them to...

still be in the race, but I'm not sure if I was gonna be able to give that advice at that point in time, because in the end, you're still in your race. feel like I'm not sure if I would have that mind to go there at that place where I would maybe stick more to my own race and my own pace and plan.

Josh (34:13.006)
It says a lot about him, especially coming from the Ironman world champ and what he had probably been through and all the interviews that you went through. He's going through as well, coming off of what he did in Nice, right? So really kudos to you guys in the community that you've all developed as professional athletes and triathlon. We talk about it all the time. There aren't many sports that A, we get to share the same courses with and B, just approach. And I mean, I sent you a DM to start this conversation and you answered it and said, yeah, I'd love to come on.

You don't get that often. I mean, I do believe if you were in that same situation, you'd probably say something and keep Chapo, keep the guy going. It's just how you guys are.

Jelle Geens (34:52.218)
Yeah, think it actually makes Troutland fun at the moment. feel like, yeah, you race each other when you're in the race and you want to beat each other, but I think it's friendly and fun.

Besides the race, know Jan Frodeno once gave me slack for it in a T100 race because I had that mindset. But for me, it just makes racing a lot more fun. And maybe I'm not the killer that some other people are, but that's just not who I am, I guess. And then it's, could you have the blue tick? Because I had a lot of messages. So was the blue tick stuck out and I could see it.

Josh (35:28.423)
ha ha ha ha ha.

Another Triathlon Pod (35:31.156)
perfect.

Fed (35:32.759)
I mean, I think it goes to show that Triathlon is in a good place right now because I think the common denominator right now is that every single one of you guys who is at the top of the sport wants everyone that's at the top of the sport healthy and ready to race at every single start line. It's not like you guys are shying away or finding races where Hayden's not racing or Martin's not racing or you you want everyone there because you want to prove you're the best.

And I think that only brings the sport to the level that we want it to be. So I think this generation of athletes is taking that step towards making the sport super competitive and like in a healthy environment of safe competition and everybody respects each other.

Jelle Geens (36:23.086)
Yeah, definitely. I think it also comes from y'all

I like we all come from short course and there you have the WTCS circuit and you do race each other all the time, every race basically. So yeah, think we all come from there and yeah, just I think we all agree that it's like more fun for me to win a race against Kristian and Gustav and Kasper than if they're not there. it just...

It means more the victory I feel like, and of course you're not maybe going to win as much as if you tried to go for, yeah, the smaller 70.3 races. but yeah, it makes it a lot more fun. I feel like that's what motivates me in training as well. Just racing the best in the world. And it doesn't really motivate me to try and dodge the best in the world and just getting as many victories as possible. I prefer to maybe then.

I have a few big ones over, yeah, quality over quantity.

Another Triathlon Pod (37:27.068)
There we go. Now, let's get to the part that had everyone on the edge of their seat for the back half of this race was that run with you and Kristian Blumenfeld basically shoulder to shoulder for most of it. And you saw a couple of times one of you would push off the front and then it looked like you had some cyclocross tactics going on, taking some of those corners to your advantage. What's going through your head during...

a run like that, you guys are both in the fight for the world title, he's won a gold medal, you've won the last 70.3 Worlds, like where's your head at during that?

Jelle Geens (38:00.427)
Yeah, was, my head really was in that race, think, like trying to figure out what the best tactics is to beat him. because yeah, it wasn't, it wasn't an easy race, you know, it's a lot easier when you run away and then you just have to make sure you keep eating, keep your energy levels up and, make it to the finish line. This was really, it really got into like a very tactical run. with Kristian not really.

wanted to do any work and it was quite windy out there. And then I didn't really want Casper to come back easy without like putting too much effort in. And so I tried to keep the pace quite honest, but then also had in the back of my mind that I can expect an attack from Kristian at any point. And I think, and he said it actually on, on mine and Aaron's podcast that he also was thinking about this race battle we had in

Another Triathlon Pod (38:35.187)
Yeah.

Jelle Geens (38:56.998)
WTCS in Yokohama in 2021 where I was probably running in front for 8k with Kristian breathing very loud behind me as if he was gonna have to stop at any point. But then with like 2k to go, like accelerate and I just couldn't follow. So I think we both were thinking about this and he was thinking like I can do the same thing and I was thinking I need to be ready for when he does. And actually I was thinking he would

attack maybe a bit early with like five or six k to go because that's what he did in the 70.3 in Aix-en-Provence. I think he went with like six k to go, like a big attack and dropped Gaspar and it was Simon Vien. So I thought he would go there but then he didn't and it took actually quite long before he made that attack. And what I really tried to do on that run like the whole

21k or like until he attacked with like one off kit to go was like try to make use of the uphills because I'm quite a bit lighter and remembering Las Vegas, I'm good at running uphill. So I was trying to like attack every uphill and in the beginning it was to try and break him and, and, and get clear of him and, and, and run my own, run my own race with him getting dropped. But then after a while I've yeah, I, I, I like knew that I wasn't going to be able to drop him.

So then it was just to try and tire his legs out and yeah, try to that he has less energy left for when he does attack. And then his attack actually came just after a long stretch of headwind. But when he attacked, I actually could follow quite comfortably without being on my limit. And I really felt like, I definitely have another gear in me. And then it was just being patient.

I really looked at the final turn, where it exactly was and how it looked like in the lab before, because at that point I already thought it might be a sprint finish. And I decided I wanted to go whenever I saw those coins lining up to take the finish shoot and not the extra lap. So then when I saw that, I went for it.

Jelle Geens (41:17.172)
I actually thought at one point I went too early and slowed down a bit. And that's when he like tries to overtake me. And because he has the momentum, he almost does it as well. luckily I could accelerate again and like, yeah, I think in the end it was for me really important to be first at that U-turn. It was still long enough, I think, to overtake, but it was going to be very hard and you had to be really quite a lot quicker than the other one to still overtake. yeah, basically it was a sprint.

sprint finish to that u-turn to them do another sprint finish to the tape.

Another Triathlon Pod (41:50.132)
See?

Josh (41:51.499)
It seemed like you broke his rhythm. Like, you, you, talked about this, I think when Jenna alluded to like that cyclocross mentality, like he had to pause a little bit and it almost seemed like his form broke down and, you were able to stay true because you knew what your plan was by being in front. So I think that was a huge, like that, that decided the race really, when you got to that, you turn first and, from there. I think you maybe looked over your shoulder once, but you knew you were home free and if anything, he was going to need a miracle and.

And what's going through your head is the now two-time world champion. When you get to that tape, we could all see the, the acceleration. Like you you were totally stoked when you hit that line and how different it was than maybe the year before.

Jelle Geens (42:33.682)
Yeah, it's like that's the cool thing about a sprint finish. It's like raw emotions at the finish because you only know like two seconds before you hit the finish line that you're gonna win and it's different when you have a couple of kilometers to

Josh (42:37.934)
Ha!

Another Triathlon Pod (42:38.984)
Yeah.

Jelle Geens (42:47.732)
to like soak it in already. it was quite, yeah, like in the end, it's crazy to me. Like if I thought one and half year ago when I was still aiming for Paris, that now I would be two times 70.3 world champion. Like I would have said, I don't believe you, you know, like it's a dream come true to be honest. And especially that like my family was there at the finish line, I think meant a lot for me because we did this whole, yeah, lead up into the race together.

They were there for everything with Sienna, Kate and my parents. we, we traveled together to Andorra. We traveled to Alkali. We traveled early to Marbella. Because yeah, it's a lot of training for me and I do have to try and recover in between trainings as well. So we do need the help of my parents in that big block leading into racing. There was really a team effort and it was...

for me like it made it a lot more special that they were all there at the finish line and being able to yeah hug them and yeah it's still like quite surreal that I've done it again.

Another Triathlon Pod (44:04.978)
Well, the question is then do you have what is your plan for next year? Is that third time? I don't think it's ever been done by a male triathlete to win the 70.3 world champs three times. Is that the big focus of next year? Are we going to see you heading to Kona and going after the pro series?

Jelle Geens (44:24.328)
I'm not too sure yet what I'm going to do. I'm definitely still waiting on the T100 calendar, what that's going to be and then trying to make the puzzle. I would really want to try and go for corner. That means that I have to do an Ironman to qualify. Then I would really want to be very good in Nice as well for 70.3 Worlds because I don't think anyone has ever done it three in a row. And then I would like to do T100 again as well.

But I'm not sure if that is all possible. I yeah, I think we got, got to be smart and like after a high, like winning 70.3 worlds, like it's easy to overdo it and just say like, I'm going to do it all. and I think, yeah, it's really important to stay smart and make choices. it's not easy making choices often. but I think it's really important where I feel like you can see if people that are

trying to do a bit of everything, they might not succeed in anything. So I think it's important then. at one point last year after TAPO I was saying to my coach Ben and to Kate as well, like I would really want to go for Nice because then it became clear that it might be the last time that it's the Ironman World Champs in Nice. And I think that course would really suit me. But then they said like, nah, let's not do it. Like don't...

make rational decisions, like don't make irrational decisions. just stick to the plan and like just stick to do what you're good at now. We know you're good at it's middle distance. so yeah, sometimes I like keep my emotions running a bit too quick and then I want to do everything. But I think it's yeah, for the people around me to sometimes hold me back and to be honest, I haven't talked to, to the people around me too much yet. Like they know I want to

I would really want to do Kona, but yeah, think it's first focus on, on Qatar, the T100 final in Doha and then hopefully the T100 calendar is out and then it's, yeah, trying to be smart about a plan where we hit most or all of those goals. But yeah, I definitely think what I just said to do T100, the series.

Jelle Geens (46:47.666)
70.3 worlds and Kona it's probably a bit too much so I definitely have to make decisions there but I'd say pro series I don't think I will do I don't think I will do three Ironmans yet in one year I think for my if I if I do Ironmans for my first first year in Ironman I think two is the maximum yeah

Another Triathlon Pod (47:04.754)
Yeah, that's a lot.

Fed (47:08.471)
Yeah.

Josh (47:08.539)
Do you have an idea of what Ironman that might be? You're just going to go to New Zealand with everyone else in the world and make a, another world championship out of nothing.

Jelle Geens (47:17.426)
To be honest, don't think so, I think because this season is so long that it's a bit too quick maybe and also I'm not sure if starting with an Ironman is the right call because we don't know how I will recover from it and what it will take. Like I said, never say never, who knows I'll be in top but I don't think so.

Yeah, I don't know which one, which other one it will be. really have no idea. think there's quite a few you can do to still qualify for Kona. I think then it's just like picking the one that is, makes the most sense in the calendar. And also has like, I guess enough spots to qualify. Maybe it's not smart to go to a race that only has one spot because then I guess nothing can go wrong. And I've never done one, so I definitely.

We'll probably make some mistakes at one point in that eight hour race. but yeah, I think there's a lot of, like I said before, I thrive on the bigger races. So, I would love to do a big iron man to qualify because that's what I just like. And that's what would motivate me in, in, training and not just pick one out that just to qualify. Like I do want to go out on that first one and prove to myself and

to others that I can also be good at Ironman.

Fed (48:44.683)
Yeah. Well, I today, today I wore my All Blacks jersey to get into your psyche to persuade you to, get to Zealand in March. I mean, it'll be cool to see the Topo world champion and then go ahead and win the full there and then winning Kona and win it in Nice. But then again, like you said, you know, yeah.

Another Triathlon Pod (48:52.766)
Yeah

Jelle Geens (48:54.972)
You

Jelle Geens (49:09.361)
I would sign for that.

Fed (49:11.939)
You don't want to burn your wings flying too close to the sun, so I totally understand.

Another Triathlon Pod (49:16.148)
you

Jelle Geens (49:18.033)
Well, the good thing or the easy thing with TAP is that it's only a three hour flight from where we live in the Gold Coast. Well, three hour flight plus a two and a half hour car trip or something. And I've been there, so I know we're there. I've good memories there, obviously, by winning 70.3 Worlds there. I'm just not sure if like I'm ready for an Ironman in what is it, the beginning of March?

Another Triathlon Pod (49:42.043)
Mm-hmm.

Jelle Geens (49:46.767)
It might be a bit too quick, reckon. Because I feel also like after racing Qatar, middle of December, I will need some time to just chill and be with the family and go to the beach and have a normal person's life.

Josh (49:49.452)
Yeah, especially.

Fed (50:02.947)
Sheesh.

Another Triathlon Pod (50:03.848)
Please, for a couple of weeks.

Another Triathlon Pod (50:08.533)
Well, we like to do some kind quickfire questions with our pros that we have on the podcast here. Nothing too crazy, but we'll start off with what's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten during a race or training? Now this could be like you've done a long bike ride, you're bonked and just need to get anything in. Have you ever grabbed something odd?

Jelle Geens (50:30.042)
question.

Jelle Geens (50:33.944)
No idea. Candy at the gas stop, but it's nothing crazy, you know? Like I would just go for the quick sugars, like an ice cream or candy. In a race, definitely not because I've done short course for most of my race and you just need two gels basically, that's it. So yeah, maybe I need to do an Ironman and really bonk and get something weird from the side of the road to be able to give a funny answer here.

Another Triathlon Pod (50:35.11)
Fair enough.

Another Triathlon Pod (50:42.643)
Mm-hmm.

Fed (50:55.959)
Yeah

Another Triathlon Pod (50:56.338)
There we go.

Josh (51:02.094)
We'll have him back after his first six hour, seven hour rides to train.

Another Triathlon Pod (51:05.972)
The next one is if you had to race a triathlon with another pro who would it be and this could be someone who would make you go faster or it could just be someone that you want to spend the eight hours that it takes to do a triathlon with for the day.

Jelle Geens (51:07.245)
Sounds good, yeah.

Jelle Geens (51:24.656)
Well, I've actually never raced against or with Jan Frodeno, so it would be cool to do that. Or like some of the... like Luc van Lierde or Frederik van Lierde, like the early Belgian Ironman legends. That would be cool as well.

Josh (51:40.236)
Yeah.

Another Triathlon Pod (51:42.546)
That'd be very cool. Definitely get to hear some good stories over those days. They were a bit more wild.

Jelle Geens (51:47.659)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we did mention they probably would have eaten something weird in a gas station at one point.

Fed (51:52.771)
That's for sure.

Another Triathlon Pod (51:54.314)
yeah. From what I hear, the after parties were a lot more lit up too.

Josh (51:54.552)
Yeah.

Josh (51:59.919)
Little different recovery process.

Fed (52:00.246)
you

Jelle Geens (52:01.145)
can imagine.

Another Triathlon Pod (52:03.948)
Yeah, totally. Now we usually ask if Trathon had a fourth discipline, what would you add? And I think you answered, was it steeplechase in Morpheia there? Is that still your answer, if that would give you an edge over everyone else?

Josh (52:12.6)
Yeah.

Jelle Geens (52:18.991)
Yeah, but then I'm not well, I need some practice though. But yeah, I used to do steeplechase when I was younger and was Belgium champion once I think when I was like 15 or 16 years old, was 2000 meter steeplechase still at the time. But yeah, I've always loved that. So I'm not good at any like ball sports or anything like this. So that would definitely give me a disadvantage. So I would say maybe this I feel like some people might struggle more with that like water pit than me.

Fed (52:47.551)
Yeah

Another Triathlon Pod (52:48.609)
Definitely. Do you have a guilty pleasure song that kind of gets you pumped up when you're going into a race or hard training?

Jelle Geens (52:57.391)
Yeah, there is. I don't use music before a race, actually. I just prefer to like talk to people. But in hard training, mainly on the bike, I would listen. This is very, very Flemish though. It's like, it's called bots out the music. It's like, what do you hear on like the fair? It's like, doom, doom, doom, doom. And it's like this Junter Day, his name is, and he would come on the radio at Saturday, Saturday evening, like late and we'd make these like,

Another Triathlon Pod (53:01.31)
Go.

Another Triathlon Pod (53:17.79)
Okay.

Jelle Geens (53:25.912)
playlist. So yeah, that's what I would listen to. It's really terrible music, but it gets you into like a good vibe and like, yeah, you just keep on pushing on the pedal basically.

Another Triathlon Pod (53:38.9)
Perfect. And last question we have for you. What's one piece of advice you've been given over the years that's really resonated with you?

Jelle Geens (53:48.59)
it's always a hard one. Like I've been doing this so long, I feel like I've got, yeah, people gave me a lot of advice. I think actually what, when I started going into middle distance, like, I did a few races with Bart Agenhoutz and he's a good friend of mine and like, he gave me a lot of advice and his like main advice would always be to be patient in a race.

He would say the last 30K on the bike, that's where you can make the, this is in the middle distance race. He says the last 60K on the bike in a, foolish, that's where like you can really make a difference. And like, yeah, if people are too hard in the beginning of the ride, like they'll start hurting there. And I guess it comes back to like also how one like Taupo, like it's that last, like you got to stay patient and stay within yourself and do what you can.

Yeah, I think that really is something that it's not always easy because nowadays in T100 they start races like it's a sprint distance race, especially on the bike. Like that first 10, 15 Ks can be super quick. but I feel like it's still something that also in Marbella I really used, like, I probably could have gone harder up the climb, but I made the plan to like stick with the group because it's still a long way to go and you don't want to.

blow or like spend too much energy or blow your legs up there. So I feel like that's good advice. Like it's a long race. like stay patient.

Another Triathlon Pod (55:22.484)
Perfect. Yeah. And you know what? So people can follow you. got your own podcast. If you want to give a shout out to the podcast and where it's easiest for people to follow you.

Jelle Geens (55:33.102)
Yeah, me and Aaron Warhol used to be a Trout Lead, now he's retired since three weeks. Yeah, have a podcast. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, we have a podcast called All in Troutland. Spotify, Apple, just a normal, not YouTube, we're not on YouTube yet. But yeah, that's where you can follow us.

Josh (55:36.984)
Ha ha ha.

Another Triathlon Pod (55:37.711)
you

Josh (55:39.992)
They're all retiring, it seems like.

Another Triathlon Pod (55:56.788)
Perfect. And for yourself, where's the best way to follow along with your training and racing?

Jelle Geens (56:01.73)
Yeah, I guess Instagram. Altie Alleghien, I imagine. I'm not even sure. Or I also started to do a bit more YouTube. I just released a YouTube video about Marbella and I have the plans to try and do it a bit more regularly in the future. Yeah, we'll see. It's always good to plan it, but it's harder to do it. But yeah, maybe there as well, potentially.

Another Triathlon Pod (56:07.06)
you

Josh (56:27.222)
One of those things that comes with being a top of the point pro triathlete these days is that that social media world, you got to stay up on top of it. But, I was going to say, if you get to Doha and you realize you want somebody to count laps for you, I'll, I'll jump on a plate.

Jelle Geens (56:36.863)
Yeah.

Fed (56:43.732)
Thank

Jelle Geens (56:44.94)
Yeah, I was usually always quite good in school and math, I think I'll be fine.

Fed (56:49.217)
Hahaha

Another Triathlon Pod (56:50.96)
I think you'll be able to make it to eight.

Jelle Geens (56:55.168)
I think I'll make it to eight and not nine. Yeah.

Another Triathlon Pod (56:59.56)
my goodness. Well, on that note, thank you so much for taking the time to join us and kind of share a little bit more about you and especially this incredible race just over a week ago. So we sure appreciate you coming on.

Jelle Geens (57:12.928)
Yeah, no worries. Thank you for having me and yeah, see you guys maybe in Doha then.

Josh (57:14.84)
there.

Good luck there.

Fed (57:18.434)
Yeah.

Jelle Geens (57:20.076)
Thank you.

Another Triathlon Pod (57:21.03)
Yeah. Have a good one, guys.

Fed (57:21.076)
Yeah

Thank you.