Hawaii champion Chelsea Sodaro leaves the BMC Triathlon Team

The BMC Pro Triathlon Team powered by 2XU has announced its seven-strong roster for the 2023 season. The reigning Ironman Hawaii winner Chelsea Sodara from the USA is no longer on board. The British Kat Matthews is also leaving the Belgian-led professional team. Briton Lucy Buckingham and Thor Bendix Madsen from Denmark are new to the team.

In 2013, the then BMC Uplace Triathlon Team started with the big goal of eventually providing the winner of the Ironman Hawaii. With Chelsea Sodaro, the team managed to triumph on Alii Drive last October. In addition, the Australian Max Neumann was one of the surprises of the Ironman Hawaii 2022 in fourth place. Back in May, Kat Matthews contributed second place at the Ironman World Championships, which were moved to St. George. Unfortunately, the Briton, who was one of the favorites, was unable to compete in Hawaii due to a serious bicycle accident that she suffered at the training camp in Texas.

Both athletes are now missing from the 2023 team roster. “Chelsea (4 seasons) and Kat (3 seasons) have been instrumental in what we have been able to achieve as a team over the years. Chelsea have been on the team since 2019 and Kat since 2020 and both were fantastic athletes to work with. Sodaro’s win at the last Ironman World Championships in Kona and Katrina Matthews’ runner-up title in St. George earlier this year are two of the most memorable moments for the BMC Pro Triathlon Team. We are very grateful for what Chelsea and Kat have done for the team, as top athletes, as amazing people to work with and for the outstanding results they have achieved as members of our team. It’s been an incredible journey and we wish them all the best for their future careers,” said team manager Bob De Wolf, who also announced the direction for the future.

“We want to keep winning big races”

“We want to continue winning big races next season and maintain our position as one of the leading teams in the world. Our biggest goal is to win another world title in the next few years,” says De Wolf. “We have been Ironman World Champion, ITU LD World Champion in recent years and have been on the World Championship podium six times. I truly believe we have the operational capabilities, the support of fantastic partners and the quality of the team to make this happen.”

Kat Matthews: “Thank you, Bob and Ben De Wolf. Being part of the BMC Pro Triathlon Team for the last (and first three) years of my career was a professional foundation that I can only describe as the ultimate experience for a new pro athlete. Being immersed in a group of athletes who are now friends and strive for excellence is eye opening and inspiring every day. It was fantastic to perform well for the team but also to see my teammates win. The podium for the team at IM WC St. George and first place at ‘Sub 8’ were my personal racing highlights.”

Chelsea Sodaro: “It is a great honor for me to be part of the BMC Pro Triathlon Team. Bob and Ben De Wolf signed me before I even competed in my first 70.3 race and have been committed to my journey and goals for the past four years. The team has supported me throughout my first professional long distance season, pregnancy, the birth of my child and winning the Ironman World Championships with a toddler in tow. Through the team, I’ve forged relationships that will last a lifetime and created memories I will always cherish. I’ll never forget watching Bob run down Ali’i Drive to Kona Victory. That moment felt like the ultimate collective victory and is a memory that will cherish me for a long, long time. I wish Bob, Ben and the team every success in the future and will be cheering for them from afar.”

The two slopes are replaced by the British Lucy Buckingham (formerly Hall) and the Dane Thor Bendix Madsen.

The BMC Pro Triathlon Team powered by 2XU in 2023

• Lucy Buckingham (GBR)
• Pablo Dapena Gonzalez (ESP)
• Chris Leiferman (USA)
• Thor Bendix Madsen (DEN)
• Patrik Nilsson (SWE)
• Max Neumann (AUS)
• Kristian Hogenhaug (DEN)