3 reasons why 2024 will be Trek Factory Racing Triathlon’s biggest year ever

2024 will be the biggest year for Trek Factory Racing Triathlon ever. Sound like a bold claim? Maybe, but we like to think we’re not prone to hyperbole here. There’s good reason why this year will be unlike any other for TFR Tri. Three of them in fact.

Reason 1) With nine athletes, Trek has never rolled out a bigger TFR Triathlon squad. In a quantitative sense, this squad is big, and encompasses triathletes both young and veteran across a wide range of distances. 

Taylor Knibb, Alex Yee, Sam Long, Skye Moench, Marten Van Riel, Holly Lawrence, Ben Kanute, Fenella Langridge and Matthew Marquardt are all returning Trek athletes, and they’ll all receive the best support in the sport no matter what event they’re taking on, from the eclectic formats of Super League racing up to full-distance Ironmans.

Reason 2) Feel good stories abound. This squad is out to prove itself in a myriad of ways. No sport in the world tests the physical and mental limits of its participants like triathlon, and that’s before you factor in that these pros are also mortal human beings who are battling injuries, starting families, or in one case, completing a medical degree. 

Van Riel and Lawrence are both entering 2024 on the rise after battling ailments last year. Lawrence dealt with an Achilles injury throughout the season that ultimately forced her into a DNF at Ironman 70.3 World Champs. She’s building a solid base for a long season that includes another crack at 70.3 World Champs in New Zealand next December. Van Riel won back-to-back Ironman 70.3s to close the ’23 season after overcoming ankle, rib and shoulder injuries. 

“I am super excited to go into 2024,” Van Riel said. “I am finally healthy again and have been able to get some serious winter training done, right in time for a big year. Going for a medal at the Olympics in Paris is the biggest goal, but I can’t wait to dip my feet in more long course racing, and I am obviously over the moon with my hotshot ticket for the T100 Triathlon World Tour. I will be racing the best in both short and long course triathlon this year and I am ready to bring my A-game.”

Long is another fascinating character. With a 6’4 frame and even bigger personality, he’s hard to miss on course. He is also coming off one of the most eventful years of his life, not only winning Ironman 70.3 St. George, Gulf Coast and Boulder, but becoming a father. He joins Kanute (third at 2023 Challenge Roth, second at 2022 Ironman 70.3 World Champs) as the team’s resident dads. Both are racing for their families, and they’ll be especially motivated to perform on their home turf.

“This year I am looking forward to the biggest schedule triathlon has ever seen,” Long said. “Nearly every race is a big race and being consistent and durable will pay off. We have several big races on U.S. soil and those are what I’m most excited about!”

Marquardt is one of the most unique athletes you’ll ever meet. Not only has he quickly ascended up the ranks in triathlon at just 26 years old — taking podiums at Ironman Coeur d’Alene, Texas and Florida last year — but he is also deep in the midst of medical school at Ohio State University, and racing to raise money for cancer research. 

Competition means something more to him, and he’s always seeking out opportunities to compete against the top athletes in the sport.

“I think even this coming season, I still view myself as the new guy on the block, and I feel very little pressure in that regard,” Marquardt said. “Any opportunity where you get to compete against the best of the best and find where you actually stack up, I think it’s always super valuable.”

Reason 3) The prizes are bigger than ever. Not only will TFR triathletes be taking on Ironman races big and small, and not only will they be vying for season championships in the newly-minted T100 Triathlon World Tour, but several will also be headed to Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics. 

Knibb and Yee both competed in Tokyo in 2021, and they will have their eyes set on hardware. Yee took silver in the men’s individual triathlon in Tokyo, and will head to Paris with big expectations after winning the test event last year. Van Riel will be vying with Yee for Olympic hardware in the men’s field, as well. 

Knibb is an any-distance athlete who has even suited up for the Lidl-Trek road racing squad. She’ll be focusing on short course racing to start her ’24 season in order to prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She took silver in the mixed relay in 2021. 

“I love racing, and I love putting myself out there, but I don’t always feel prepared,” Knibb said. “So I forced myself to write down my priorities and think about that. That was a big exercise for me in terms of shaping the year. And the thing I had as the top tier was Paris. And so that’s what the year has been shaped around. 

“After Paris, I’m gonna get to do some more fun races, but in the lead-up to Paris, it’s very focused and purposeful of what I need to do, and pretty much nothing else.”

Moench seems to improve with every race, which is mind-blowing when you consider she set an American Ironman record in Florida last year. She’ll spearhead TFR Triathlon’s T100 efforts as one of 20 women taking part in the series. Knibb and Lawrence will join her, as will Long, Kanute and Van Riel on the men’s side.

Langridge is last in mention only. The energetic Brit keeps finding ways to set new milestones, including a course record in her first ever Ironman win last year. She’ll be focusing on the Ironman series in 2024, giving her the opportunity to travel to new locales and take part in the lively atmospheres that suit her best. (See: Fenella’s star turn at the front of Ironman World Champs in 2022.)  

Whatever happens in 2024, TFR Triathlon will be the best supported squad in the sport.

Triathlon training can be a lonely pursuit, but Trek goes out of its way to make sure its athletes have everything they need no matter where they’re racing.

The 2024 season will start with a bang this weekend with two major races. On March 8-9, Yee, Knibb and Van Riel will be in Abu Dhabi for the opening race of the World Triathlon Championship Series, racing at Olympic distance with other Paris hopefuls. 7,800 miles away, Long, Moench, Lawrence and Kanute will be tackling the T100 opener in Miami. Every single one of Trek’s triathletes will be rolling on custom painted Speed Concepts.

Knibb is entering her third year as a Trek athlete. The two-time Ironman 70.3 World Champion cited trust and a personal touch as the biggest benefits of racing for the brand. All of Trek’s triathletes work closely with Trek Race Shop team support manager Mark Andrews to make sure their equipment needs are met.

“The trust and support from the beginning says a lot,” Knibb said. “Whenever Mark comes to a race, it’s such a stress relief because you know he’ll take care of everything. And he’s such a calming presence, that if you’re a little bit anxious, you get down to earth because he’s just going to do his job. 

“It sets a standard because when people are accountable, your own accountability rises, and so you just can’t let anyone down.”

The 2024 triathlon season could go down as one of the most fascinating in history, and no matter what happens, TFR triathletes will have a big say in how events unfold. Rest assured that they’ll have everything they need to put their best foot forward.