Sam Long's Dominant Bike Split and Kirsten Kasper's Epic Run Comeback Steal the Show at 70.3 Boise
Two American athletes took center stage in Boise, Idaho, each carving a unique path to victory. One dominated the bike course with an almost untouchable performance, while the other staged a remarkable comeback on the run. Welcome to the 2026 70.3-distance Pro Series in Boise, where Sam Long and Kirsten Kasper delivered one of the season's most captivating race days.
Whether you're a seasoned triathlete analyzing split data or a newcomer trying to grasp elite racing dynamics, this event had it all: redemption arcs, tactical gambles, a late charge that reshaped the leaderboard, and proof that there are multiple ways to cross the finish line first.
The Men's Race: Sam Long Goes Full Send — Without a Computer
A Modified Swim Creates Early Drama
Race morning brought high winds severe enough to cancel the age-group swim entirely. The professionals, however, tackled a modified two-lap course, with the choppy water immediately sorting the field.
Ben Faeh (Switzerland) emerged as the dominant swimmer, building a lead of over four minutes on the chasers. Even Vincent Luis (France), renowned for his swimming prowess, briefly lost contact before regaining his position. Meanwhile, Ari Klau (USA) trailed the leaders by over four minutes as they transitioned to the bike.
Sam Long exited the water in a respectable position, just 2:32 behind the leaders. On paper, it seemed like a gap to close. On the bike course, it became irrelevant almost immediately.
The Bike: Where Long Took the Race — and Kept It
In a surprising move, Sam Long started the race without a bike computer. No power data, no pace targets — just instinct, feel, and intention.
This wasn't reckless; it was deliberate. Long had framed Boise as "the game of revenge," a playful challenge against himself to prove his true potential. Removing the data screen was part of that — racing freely rather than managing metrics. For those interested in exploring different training approaches, check out our guide on AI training apps for triathletes to understand how data and feel-based training can complement each other.
The result was staggering.
Long surged to the front faster than expected, briefly drafting behind Faeh and Luis to refuel, then made his move and never looked back. His final bike split: 1:52:37, with speeds approaching 30 mph at times. It was the fastest bike split of the day — by a wide margin.
"It has been a while since I had a heater like that." — Sam Long, post-race
By the time Long rolled into T2 (in the fastest transition of the day), the race was effectively over. He'd built a five-minute lead that no one would touch.
The Run: Protecting What He'd Built
Long didn't need to do anything spectacular on the half-marathon. He settled into what was described as "a very traditional 70.3-distance run performance for him" — consistent, controlled, purposeful.
He finished in 3:32:25, crossing the tape with a five-minute buffer and claiming the 22nd professional victory of his career. The "game of revenge" had delivered exactly what he'd promised himself.
The Battle Behind: Klau and Harris Shake Up the Podium
While Long mentally celebrated his victory lap, the real drama unfolded behind him. Faeh and Luis entered T2 expecting to hold the remaining podium spots. They hadn't counted on the runners coming for them.
Ari Klau — already carrying momentum from his win at Mont-Tremblant — ran the fastest split of the day (1:08:32). He methodically worked his way through the field, passing Matt Hanson and then surging past Luis to secure second place.
Then came Blake Harris (Canada), racing with bib No. 46 as a relative dark horse. Coming off his own podium at Mont-Tremblant, Harris had something to prove. He passed Luis in the final miles to claim third — a bittersweet moment for the Frenchman, reportedly competing in one of his last professional races.
Men's Final Results:
| Position | Athlete | Swim | Bike | Run | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Long (USA) | 26:06 | 1:52:37 | 1:10:45 | 3:32:25 |
| 2 | Ari Klau (USA) | 27:50 | 1:57:09 | 1:08:32 | 3:37:21 |
| 3 | Blake Harris (CAN) | 25:21 | 1:58:22 | 1:10:36 | 3:37:52 |
The Women's Race: Kirsten Kasper's Five-Minute Comeback
Out of the Water: Everyone Still Has a Shot
Unlike the men's race, the women's swim produced no decisive separations. Rebecca Clarke (New Zealand) led out of the water, but Kasper was right on her heels, with De Vet and Berry less than 20 seconds behind. The race was wide open heading onto the bike — making the 56-mile ride crucial.
The Bike: De Vet Takes Control
Hanne De Vet (Belgium) entered the race with a strategic goal: ride conservatively. She'd pushed too hard on the bike in previous outings and wanted to protect her legs for the taxing half-marathon.
Even her conservative ride was dominant. De Vet consistently put time into the field throughout the bike leg, finishing in 2:06:48 — the fastest women's split of the day. By T2, she had built a substantial lead. Kasper had not only fallen behind De Vet — she'd also lost ground to Hannah Berry. The deficit heading into the run: five full minutes.
Berry, fresh from a long altitude training block in Utah, could see De Vet ahead but lacked the legs to close the gap. On paper, De Vet had done everything right. She'd built her cushion and was preparing to manage it home. This is a key lesson in understanding 70.3 pacing dynamics — where building a lead on the bike doesn't guarantee victory.
The Run: Kasper Tears Up the Script
What happened next is the kind of moment that makes live coverage essential. Kasper hit the run course five minutes down and immediately — immediately — began taking time back. Not gradually. Not cautiously. Significantly, mile by mile.
Her short-course background, with its high-end running economy, transferred directly to the half-marathon. By the eight-mile mark, she was within one minute of the lead. Berry had also caught De Vet by this point, but neither could match Kasper's pace.
In the final miles, Kasper passed them both, crossing the line in 4:00:50 with the fastest women's run split of the day: 1:19:33. Berry held on for second. De Vet, whose bike lead had evaporated, finished third.
Kasper's Honest Post-Race Take
Kasper's story is compelling not just for her victory but for her honesty. She wasn't riding on the back of a breakthrough bike performance. She was uncomfortable, admitting that, as a predominantly short-course athlete, "it still feels long" — and she was "ready to get off" the bike at around the 80-kilometer mark.
Yet she won. By trusting her run. By staying patient through discomfort. By knowing where her real strengths lay. This was only her third 70.3-distance start — and her second win at the distance. That's a learning curve that should concern every women's field going forward.
Women's Final Results:
| Position | Athlete | Swim | Bike | Run | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirsten Kasper (USA) | 25:41 | 2:12:13 | 1:19:33 | 4:00:50 |
| 2 | Hannah Berry (NZL) | 25:56 | 2:08:13 | 1:23:51 | 4:02:05 |
| 3 | Hanne De Vet (BEL) | 25:54 | 2:06:48 | 1:27:16 | 4:03:29 |
What Boise 2026 Actually Teaches Us About Racing
Racing by Feel Isn't Crazy — Sometimes It's the Point
Long's decision to ditch the bike computer will spark debate in training forums for weeks. But consider what it represented: a conscious choice to remove the ceiling. When you're chasing a data target, you race to that number. When you're chasing instinct, you might discover what you're truly capable of.
For age-groupers, this doesn't mean throw your bike computer in the lake. It means there's value in occasionally training and racing by effort — learning to hear what your body is telling you before the data can intervene.
A Bike Lead Is Not a Race Win
De Vet's story is important and deserves to be told without diminishing her performance. She executed her bike strategy well, built a six-minute cushion, and prepared for the heat. Yet she finished third because the run exposed what the bike had hidden.
Winning a single discipline doesn't win a triathlon. What matters is total cost — how much energy each discipline takes from the next. De Vet's bike, even the conservative version, left her with a 1:27:16 half-marathon. Kasper's slower bike produced a 1:19:33 run. The math is unforgiving.
Your Weakest Discipline Doesn't Have to End Your Race
Kasper's five-minute deficit was real. It wasn't spin. But instead of riding aggressively to close that gap on the bike — a move that likely would have blown up her run — she accepted the deficit, trusted her strength, and executed where she was best.
This is a genuinely transferable mindset for triathletes at every level: identify your strongest discipline, protect it, and build your race strategy around letting it work for you. For those looking to optimize their race kit, explore our triathlon suit options to ensure you're comfortable across all three disciplines.
What's Next: Kona Points and the Race to Kalmar
Both Long and Kasper leave Boise in strong positions in the Pro Series standings. The season's next major milestone is the full-distance race in Kalmar, the final qualifier for the long-distance triathlon World Championship in Kona.
Keep your eyes on Kasper in particular. Two wins from three starts at this distance — with her running economy visibly improving — makes her a serious threat. Long, meanwhile, appears to have found his groove again after a period where he felt his performances weren't reflecting his true level. His "game of revenge" narrative may have more chapters ahead.
And for fans of the sport's history: Vincent Luis, one of the most decorated competitors of his generation, reportedly raced Boise as one of his final professional starts. He finished outside the podium — passed late in the run by both Klau and Harris — a bittersweet ending to a remarkable career.
Key Takeaways
- Sam Long biked 1:52:37 — the fastest split of the day — without a computer, proving instinctive racing can unlock peak performance.
- Kirsten Kasper erased a five-minute bike deficit using the fastest women's run split (1:19:33) to win in 4:00:50.
- De Vet's conservative bike strategy built a lead that couldn't survive the run — a reminder that pacing is a whole-race calculation.
- Ari Klau and Blake Harris both ran their way onto the podium from outside positions, showing that run fitness remains the great equalizer in competitive fields.
- Kasper's 2-for-3 record at the 70.3 distance signals a dangerous new force in women's middle-distance racing.
Want to follow the Pro Series as it heads toward Kalmar and the Kona qualification showdown? Bookmark this page and check back for full coverage as the season reaches its climax.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 70.3 Boise men's race?
Sam Long won the 70.3 Boise men's race with a time of 3:32:25.
What remarkable performance did Sam Long deliver during the race?
Sam Long dominated the bike segment, completing it in 1:52:37 with an average speed nearly reaching 30 mph, which effectively ended the competition before transitioning to the run.
How did Kirsten Kasper perform in the women's race?
Kirsten Kasper won the women's race, executing a strong come-from-behind victory by overcoming a five-minute deficit during the run, finishing with a time of 4:00:50.
Why was the swim portion canceled for age-group athletes?
The swim was canceled for age-group athletes due to high winds and adverse conditions, although the professional athletes were allowed to race a modified two-lap course.
What challenges did the professional athletes face during the swim?
The chop created by the high winds put pressure on weaker swimmers, while stronger swimmers like Ben Faeh and Vincent Luis were able to create early gaps in the competition.
What upcoming events are situated in the Pro Series?
The next event in the Pro Series will be held in Kalmar, which is the final full-distance race to qualify for the long-distance triathlon World Championship in Kona.
Source: triathlete.com — Sam Long & Kirsten Kasper Win 70.3 Boise 2026
