Kristian Blummenfelt is reportedly ’90 percent certain’ to switch to cycling in 2025 with the reigning Olympic triathlon champion set to target Tour de France glory.
The 30-year-old from Bergen is due to defend his title on Tuesday morning at Paris 2024 – assuming of course the water quality in the River Seine allows the race to go ahead as planned.
In recent weeks though rumours have swirled that ‘Big Blu’ – who has carried all before him in recent years in swim/bike/run – could be about to leave the sport and move on to cycling. His coach Olav Aleksander Bu admitted the shock switch was a possiblity in a recent TRI247 interview with tri icon Mark Allen.
Now it appears those rumours are moving towards reality, with Bu revealing in an interview with Norwegian outlet TV 2 on Sunday that the move is now more than likely.
Bu on Blummenfelt cycling switch
He revealed: “Let’s say that it is 90 percent likely that we will go cycling next year. The reason I say 90 is that we haven’t signed a contract yet. There are still a few small things that must be cleared.”
Bu and Blummenfelt, together with fellow Norwegian superstar Gustav Iden, have taken the sport to new heights in recent years – claiming every major title there is to win. Now though it appears a new challenge is on the horizon, with Bu claiming: “We don’t go cycling to retire. We go cycling to make a difference”.
Should the move be confirmed, Bu and Blummenfelt have lofty goals, you would expect nothing else from a team which has constantly pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the sport of triathlon. The end goal is the pinnacle of cycling – the Tour de France. And winning in the Tour, not just competing, is the target.
Kristian Blummenfelt pictured during the bike familiarisation at Paris 2024 (Photo – World Triathlon).
Tour de France the target
Bu admitted that will not happen overnight though, explaining: “We probably need a few years. The first year will probably not be the Tour de France. 2025 will probably be more of a year of mapping, where we have to find out where we have to work. Not only with Kristian specifically, but also with the team.
“In 2026, we aim to sit in the Tour de France. In 2027 we must be in a position to take some jerseys. If we are not in a position to take some stage wins or be at the very top in the overall, it is difficult to think that we will do something magical until 2028. So we think that then we will really test it in 2027, and then the goal of going all in in 2028.”
Why cycling for Blu and Bu?
One question many will ask is why cycling? Bu has a pretty simple answer – it’s clearly something he and Blummenfelt have thought about long and hard.
“We go for cycling because we believe there is an opportunity to make a difference there. We feel that the research, development, technology and approach we have is being met with open arms in some teams, who really want and understand that you need to make a further step up there.”
For now Kristian is staying tight-lipped about the reported switch, only concentrating on Paris on Tuesday and then his Kona bid in October. But after that, it appears ‘Big Blu’ could target yellow as his new favourite colour….get the popcorn.
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