Today we are really excited to share with you an exclusive interview with one of our most passionate triathlon ambassadors, who has managed to qualify for the second time in his age group for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. This is Jules, a young triathlete from Toulouse who started 2024 as one of our ambassadors on social networks. You can follow him on his instagram @jules_rcs or Tik Tok with the same name. Join us to learn more about his career, his motivations, and his advice for all triathlon enthusiasts in our 365Rider community.
Congratulations on qualifying for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship for the second time! How do you feel about that?
No stress for this Ironman 70.3 in New Zealand; I will simply enjoy as always and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. I have a real passion for triathlon and of course I want to combine performance with pleasure. I love giving my all to an activity.
Could you tell us a little about your career and experience in the world of Ironman? How did you start and what were your main motivations?
Since I was little I have been very involved in sports, starting with tennis and karate. When I started university, I started running and combining swimming and cycling, which led me to become interested in triathlon. 6 years ago, I started with shorter distances, such as sprints and Olympic distances. Recently, I ventured into the world of half Ironman. In 2021, I participated in my first half Ironman in Nice. I love this sport because it requires you to give your best; You can't cheat, it's an internal struggle. Plus the atmosphere is great. I joined a club, Lureau Team, owned by Manon Genêt, the Ironman champion. I also have a trainer who supervises my workouts.
What shoes do you use to train and compete?
I alternate between 3 models. The brands that stand out the most for me are Saucony and Asics. For everyday running, they are the Asics Novablast. To train more deeply I use the Magic Speed, Endorphin Pro and the Metaspeed Sky. For racing, I use the Metaspeed Sky.
Could you recommend a product for each segment of the triathlon (swimming, cycling, running) that you consider essential?
Swimming (open water and pool): For open water competitions, an important thing is a wetsuit. This allows you to float well, maintain a position parallel to the water and not get cold. The Aquasphere brand offers excellent options.
Cycling: An essential element for cycling are carbon wheels. The DT Swiss, Zipp brands offer good options. Furthermore, the choice of tire height must be adapted to the type of route. On flat terrain, taller wheels are usually faster.
Running: The featured shoes are the Asics Metaspeed Sky and the Saucony Endorphin Pro 4.
What motivated you to become a 365Rider ambassador and what do you expect from this collaboration?
Becoming a 365Rider ambassador was motivated by my passion for triathlon and the desire to share that passion with a trusted brand, with whom I can express myself freely. Additionally, I enjoy sharing my training vlogs with my growing and engaged community on TikTok, who like to follow my fitness goals.
What are your short-term goals in triathlon?
As for my short-term goals in triathlon, my goal is the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in New Zealand. I aspire to be among the top 50 and obtain the best possible result in the 25-29 age category. Last year, I finished 100th in my category, and I'm looking forward to taking on new challenges at the regional half Ironman competitions this summer.
What is your sporting dream?
My ultimate sporting dream is to one day participate in the full Ironman World Championships in Nice or Hawaii. Next year, I plan to delve into full Ironman events. If I continue on this path, perhaps I will have the opportunity to compete in the Ironman World Championships in 2025.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in the world of triathlon?
Enjoy the practice. Not necessarily looking for performance. The more we train with passion, the better we become. It is important to set goals over time, over a period of 6 to 12 months. When you train so many hours, it should not become an obligation, but always a passion.
How do you prepare mentally and physically for a competition as demanding as the Ironman 70.3? How many hours do you dedicate to each sport?
I have a trainer with whom I prepare programs for 2 weeks. After the 2 weeks, I share my impressions of the training and we create a new program for the next 2 weeks. I train 13-15 hours a week, about 2-3 hours a day, and spend more time on the weekends. I do 3 sessions of each sport per week: 3 running sessions, 3 swimming sessions and 3 cycling sessions. My weekly training includes 3 hours of swimming, 3-5 hours of running and 7 hours of cycling (in the preparation phase for a half Ironman).
Do you train the 3 segments of the triathlon in the same way throughout the year?
Yes, we carry out well-defined training cycles, generally 3 to 4 a year. During the winter, we focus a lot on running because in February and March we participate in duathlons, running and cycling. These are short distances, so it is crucial to run very fast to gain positions, since in cycling you can't make much of a difference. Starting in the spring, when the half-Ironman season begins, we once again focus on cycling to make a difference. We also do intense running training at half-Ironman pace. I generally spend less time swimming. If you are weak in swimming, it is important to compensate for it with good performance in cycling and running.
I'm sure you have had many anecdotes to tell during your competition/training sessions, could you tell us some?
I have 2 anecdotes. When I did the half Ironman in Aix-en-Provence, my rear wheel was solid, but upon arrival I discovered that solid wheels (which provide inertia on smooth terrain) were prohibited due to the wind during the competition. It was a great stress. A friend from my club, who was also participating in the race, had two rear wheels, so I had to use his. He was prepared to run with the solid wheel, so it was a big surprise.
When I traveled to Finland for the world championships, I met, by chance the day before, Kristian Blummenfelt, Ironman and half-Ironman world champion, and current Olympic champion. A triathlon legend. We were able to exchange a few words and I wished him good luck in the race.
Lastly, what message would you like to share with the 365Rider community and other athletes who follow us?
I have 2 main messages for the 365Rider community: The most important thing is to enjoy what you do. We spend many hours training. The entire training process is as important as the end goal. Never give up. With passion, hard work and discipline you can achieve great things.
We hope this interview inspires you as much as it does us. We thank our ambassador for sharing his time and experience with the community 365Rider. See you at the next race! And don't forget, reviews, interviews, advice and more in our blog 365Rider Magazine.