He’s bib #1 on the IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta start list this weekend but Lionel Sanders has confirmed he’s not returning to racing just yet.

‘No Limits’ has been on the sidelines for a while – due to a gluteal issue, potentially caused by the diet-related condition known as Relative Energy Deficiency, or RED-S, and a sacral stress fracture.

The Canadian’s last race was in early May when he won IRONMAN 70.3 George to make it two victories from two races following 70.3 Oceanside in April.

The IRONMAN World Championships in Nice came too soon but Sanders is still hopeful that the 70.3 Worlds in Marbella are a realistic target.

70.3 Worlds timeframe ‘feels very, very tight’

Talking through his plans in his latest video, which is embedded below, he said: “The 70.3 Worlds is likely next. I put my name on the Augusta list but it’s just not happening. It’s not happening in time.

“It’s seven weeks from Sunday this week to the 70.3 Worlds which feels very, very tight.

“But that’s the situation I’m in so that’s where we’re headed.”

Paula Findlay tops women’s field

The video shows training gradually ramping up on a trip to Hawaii and one consolation for Sanders is that he will be one of the fresher athletes in Marbella after what’s been a long season for many.

The men’s 70.3 Worlds take place on Sunday 9th November – in close proximity to Dubai T100 the following Saturday.

In Sanders’ absence in Augusta this weekend, the revised start list is headed by Australia’s Sam Appleton and American duo Jason West and Ben Kanute.

On the women’s side Canada’s Paula Findlay wears bib #1 and faces a field made up entirely of North American athletes, bar France’s Anne Basso.