Results/Photos

Date: July 25, 2026 Participant: Rafe Vitelli #4301 Race: 2026 Spudman Olympic Triathlon Event: Olympic Triathlon Weather: Hot, but otherwise a great day for a triathlon.

Bike Strength Drives a Standout Placement Finish Rafe Vitelli capped off the 2026 Spudman Olympic Triathlon in 2:40:45, finishing 179th overall and 19th in the Elite Men's division out of 1,987 participants his best overall placement across his four Spudman appearances, even though his time was nearly identical to his 2023 result. The bike leg was clearly his strength this year, averaging close to 19 mph over the course, with one stretch (miles 8.814.4) clocked at an impressive 2:56/mile pace, good for a top-10 split among Elite Men at that point in the race. The swim was comparatively his weakest segment, landing him outside the top 300 in his gender group early on, but he steadily climbed the field through the bike and held his position through a solid 55:42 run. Rafe's ability to move up nearly 200 spots between the swim and bike legs highlights a well-executed transition into his strongest discipline.