IRONMAN 70.3 World Champ Jelle Geens Kicks Off 2025 Season in Geelong Ahead of T100 Tour

As the dawn of the 2025 triathlon season approaches, all eyes are on Belgian powerhouse Jelle Geens, who is gearing up for an exhilarating start at the IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong. This event, nestled just outside the vibrant city of Melbourne, Australia, marks a pivotal moment as the inaugural race of the IRONMAN Pro Series for the year.

Fresh off a stellar 2024 season, capped by a triumphant victory at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in New Zealand, Geens is not just riding a wave of success—he's making waves. With the picturesque Geelong racecourse setting the scene, Geens is poised not only to defend his world title but also to lay down a strong foundation for his ambitious season ahead.

Joining him in this quest is none other than his podcast co-host and fellow professional triathlete, Aaron Royle. Together, they host the engaging 'All in Triathlon' podcast, where they recently bantered about their training progress and friendly rivalry. Royle, coming off a challenging year, is determined to reclaim his top form, making Geelong a battleground not just for points but for personal redemption.

Geens, who has been training in Australia, mentioned on their podcast, "I need some more training. You’ve [Royle] for sure had more training than me. I raced very late in the season, so I only started training around four weeks ago.” Despite the crunch in preparation time, his strategic approach to the race calendar reveals a meticulous plan. With the T100 triathlon series on his radar, Geens views the Geelong and subsequent Singapore races as perfect stepping stones for managing the rigorous two-week intervals between the high-stakes competitions.

The camaraderie and competition between Geens and Royle add an intriguing layer to the race dynamics, as both athletes are set to go head-to-head for the first time since starting their podcast. With a playful wager pending on their race outcome, the stakes are amusing yet high.

As the triathlon community buzzes with anticipation, Geens remains focused on his broader goals. "With T100 we’re going to have a lot of races two weeks after other races, so with Geelong and Singapore two weeks apart it’s a good chance to see how to manage those two weeks in between," he explained.

This season opener in Geelong is not just a race; it's a narrative of resilience, strategy, and friendship, woven through the heart-pounding world of professional triathlon. As these athletes line up at the start, their stories of preparation, challenges, and aspirations remind us that every race is a journey—a microcosm of life's larger race, where every step, every breath, and every heartbeat counts towards something greater than the finish line.