06-03-19 - Following his 13th place finish at Kona
last October, Luke Bell took a
wrecking ball to his career. Five months later, standing at last
Saturday’s Ford Ironman 70.3 California start line, Bell had a
new coach, a new wedding ring on his finger, and a nearly
complete sponsor make-over.
Where Bell
saw defeat in his Kona result, others saw possibility. Racing in
the shadow of Kona 2004 where he was carried off the course,
Bell could have easily pulled out when his seat post broke
tipping his seat down. He didn’t. Instead, he toughed out the
second half of the bike course and ran himself into a
respectable finish. Maybe Bell missed it in the disappointment,
but others saw this performance as confirmation of the
potential indicated by his 2003 fifth place finish.
“My Kona
race was doubly devastating because all my sponsor contracts
were set to expire at the end of 2005 and I didn’t know what
would happen,” said Bell. “I was surprised that suddenly I had
more opportunities than ever. I can’t tell you how much
confidence I got from the confidence that other people and
companies showed in me. I spent the months after Kona reviewing
everything – every piece of equipment, every relationship –
everything.”
The net
result was a sea shift. Bell’s biggest moves were to sign with
Zoot Sports for apparel and wetsuits and Veltec Sports for
cycling equipment and nutrition. His Look 496 frame set now
features Easton wheels, handlebars and components. He’s turning
Look pedals with Sidi bike shoes. There’s not a nut or bolt left
from his 2005 bike set up. His engine is being feed with Enervit
sports nutrition products and Asics is now supplying Bell’s
running footwear. Bell’s only hold-over sponsors are Lazer
Helmets and Oakley Eyewear.
The
housecleaning didn’t stop with equipment. Bell hired
multisports.com’s Paul Huddle to coach him and married his
long-time girlfriend, Lucy, in February. “We honeymooned in
Borneo and I had time to reflect on where I am in life” said
Bell. “I realized that I love what I do for a living and I can’t
let external pressures take the fun out of the sport. Paul’s fun
and casual approach to coaching is a constant reminder to
enjoy.”
Enjoy is
exactly what Bell did on the Oceanside race course. Despite cold
and rainy conditions, Bell, who had just arrived from the heat
of the Australian summer, didn’t let the elements or his
competitors bother him in the least. After swimming at the front
of the main group, Bell charged to the front of the race and
opened a near 7 minute gap starting the run. Normann Stadler,
the 2004 Ironman World Champion, was heard to comment after Bell
ran past his spectator position: “I’m glad I’m not racing him
today.” After building his lead to nearly 8 minutes, Bell shut
it down and even walked the finish chute to acknowledge fans
and, no doubt, savor his first Ironman victory.
