Sam Appleton finished a creditable sixth in the PTO 2020 Championship at CHALLENGEDAYTONA®, which was won by fellow Giant-sponsored triathlete Gustav Iden.

The 30-year-old Australian led the race on his Trinity Advanced Pro bike after one of the day’s best splits on the 80km leg but slipped down the stellar field on the 18km run.

He was passed by Iden on the run and finished behind the surging Matt Hanson as well as George Goodwin, Lionel Sanders and Rudy Von Berg. Sam still pocketed $25,000, though, from the richest ever triathlon, after clocking a time of 3:06:58.

“Overall, it was a great day for the team,” Sam told the Giant website. “I am really satisfied with sixth place at CHALLENGEDAYTONA®. It was probably one of the most competitive fields ever assembled in a race, so I am really proud to come away with sixth place.

“I had a little bit of a poor swim, but I managed to ride really hard and reach the front of the race on the bike, and I fought all the way on the run until the end.”

That Trinity Advanced Pro bike is just one of Sam’s Weapons of Choice. Here are the others which contributed to his fine placing at Daytona:

Swim

Goggles: Roka F2
Wetsuit: Roka Maverick X2
Speedsuit: Roka Viper X
Trisuit: Wattie Ink Champion Suit

Bike

Bike frame: Giant Trinity Advanced Pro 1
Frame size: S
Aero Bars: RideSync
Front wheel: Cadex 4 spoke tubeless
Rear Wheel: Cadex Disc tubeless
Front tyre: Cadex Race 25mm
Rear tyre: Cadex Race 25mm
Tyre and Tube type: Tubeless
Component Groupset: Shimano Dura Ace Di2 11 speed
Power meter: Shimano Dura Ace P-9100
Head unit / Computer: Garmin 520
Crank length: 165mm
Helmet: Giant Rivet TT
Pedals: Shimano Dura Ace 9100
Cycling shoes: Shimano S-Phyre
Cleat System: Shimano 6mm float
Gearing: 55/42 11-28
Hydration System: Giant Aero Vault integrated

Run

Shoes: Saucony Endorphin Pro
Eyewear: Roka Matador
Headwear: Precision Hydration