Reigning IRONMAN World Champion Lucy Charles-Barclay will NOT be on the start line in Nice tomorrow after an injury at the 11th hour puts her out of the race.
Defending IRONMAN World Champion Lucy Charles-Barclay was one of the hot favourites for victory again in the 2024 showpiece in Nice on the Cote d’Azur on Sunday (September 22). But sadly, the dream is over for the British superstar.
Making the announcement on her Instagram page, she revealed: “It’s with a heavy heart that I share I won’t be able to race in the Ironman World Championships this Sunday.”
“I felt some pain in my leg yesterday morning. After consulting with my medical team and some scans we’ve confirmed that the discomfort in my leg is due to a grade 1c muscle strain.”
A season that has been spent carefully managing an Achilles injury she picked up while running her way to victory at Kona in 2023 has taken another turn with discomfort she experienced in her leg this week now diagnosed as a grade 1c muscle strain.
It’s not the first time that injury has led to disappointment for Charles-Barclay this season, after ongoing issues from that Kona 2023 injury saw her DNF at her home race in July – London T100. Speaking to Bob Babbitt earlier this week, she described the injury as “a bit of a jigsaw puzzle and if I get it wrong it’s really unhappy, if I get it right then it’s great.”
While the muscle strain is currently described as a ‘relatively minor issue’, Charles-Barclay highlights that racing on it could turn it into a far bigger problem, explaining: “…after what I went through last year, I don’t want to risk facing months of rehabilitation again.”
With Lucy absent from the start line, that means whatever happens out on the race course on Sunday we will be crowning a new IRONMAN World Champion.
Germany’s Anne Haug, who won in Kona in 2019, will now be many people’s top pick to take the crown. But she’ll have stiff competition from the likes of Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews to contend with. Our John Levison has tipped Matthews as his pick for the win – so don’t rule out a British champion quite yet.
And without Lucy to tear the field apart on the swim, we could see Philipp, Matthews and Haug locked in a battle out on the bike course far sooner into the race than we might have anticipated. LCB’s absence could certainly shake up the race dynamics, leaving the door open for some of the uber cyclists in the field such as Els Visser to be right up there in contention.
It’s certainly not a race you’ll want to miss. Stock up on the popcorn and find out how to tune in live.
The impact of LCB’s withdrawal
The absence of Charles-Barclay from the race is a significant blow to the event. She is one of the most popular and successful athletes in the sport, and her presence on the start line would have been a huge draw for fans. Her withdrawal also changes the dynamics of the race, as she would have been a major contender for the win.
It is a shame that she has been forced to withdraw from the race, but it is understandable given her recent injury history. She has clearly made a difficult decision, but it is the right one for her and her long-term health.
What’s next for Lucy?
Charles-Barclay has said that she will be cheering on the other athletes from the sidelines. She is clearly disappointed to miss the race, but she is also focusing on the future. She has three more T100 events remaining, including next weekend in Ibiza, and she is determined to make a full recovery and return to racing soon.
With the IRONMAN World Championship now without its reigning queen, the stage is set for a dramatic and unpredictable race. All eyes will be on the other contenders, including Anne Haug, Laura Philipp, and Kat Matthews, to see who will step up and take the crown.
The IRONMAN World Championship is always a spectacle, but this year’s race is sure to be even more exciting with Charles-Barclay’s absence. It will be interesting to see how the race unfolds and who emerges as the new champion.
The race goes on
Despite the disappointment of Charles-Barclay’s withdrawal, the IRONMAN World Championship is still set to be an exciting event. There are plenty of other top athletes in the field, and the race is sure to be a close one. With the race now open, the stage is set for a new champion to be crowned. So, tune in and enjoy the show! It will be a race that you will want to watch.
