When Max hits the track, you can bet the atmosphere shifts; you'll either catch the sound of his infectious laughter or witness a striking display of runway-worthy outfits in T1. With a fresh haircut for every race, Max injects an electrifying energy into the starting line, ready to unveil any vulnerabilities of his competitors.
A world-class swimmer who can also drill the bike with power and skills, he is not afraid to send it and truly put it out there. Historically, his run has "let him down," but this year, with a 14:39 5k in Hamburg and 31:27 10k in horrendous conditions in Japan, Max is showing his run is getting up there, which is scary for everyone else.
Max is making a proper run to try and race for Great Britain in the 2028 LA Games. Although he is still not ready to switch over with 100% commitment, Max is a student of the game and is already being smart about his long-course equipment and positioning, so when he does switch over, he will be ready to come out swinging.
Q&A with Max Stapley
Q: Max, how is it going? Where are you and what's coming in the following weeks and months?
Hey! Yeah, I'm doing really well. I'm now 2/3rd's of the way through 2025 and sitting 12th in the world, aiming to really close in on that top 10 in Wollongong. I am currently "locked down" at the AIS for 3 weeks leading into the Grand Final, before flying back to Banyoles to do the final prep for 70.3 Worlds in Marbella. I'll then finish off the season with a couple more non-draft races in the UAE and Thailand.
Q: It is undeniable that short-course triathlon is more dynamic and maybe "fun", but from a business side, it's not as attractive to brands as long-course triathlon. How hard is it not to just make the jump?
Ahahaha, totally agree, I truly believe that now the only thing holding people in SC is the pull of the Olympics and the adrenaline rush from whizzing through major cities elbow to elbow at 55 kph. It's a given that if I were to sit down and plan how to maximise the amount of dollars in my bank account, I'd draw a line under SC and fully home in on 70.3 and T100 with an eye on Kona. However, seeing as this year I've really been able to fight with the cream of the crop on all sorts of courses in World Triathlon, the fan inside of me finds it near impossible to let it go, for now.
Q: You've done some 70.3s and PTO races now. What are your takes on what is necessary to be competitive near the front?
Totally. My strategy for each LC race is to make everyone else's life as hard as possible, a "kind of catch me if you can" if you will. Recently in Samarkand, I did my best ever 60-minute power in the TT position on a dead flat course, so things are trending the right way.
Q: You will now be using Sync extensions. What was your first experience with the brand, and why was it an easy decision to make the switch to the AB03s?
I received my Sync extensions in the post this week, actually, got them fitted right away, and boy, were they slick. For me, it was a no-brainer when I got the call. Sync wanted to support me. I've been following the brand for years now, and as an avid cycling fan who scrutinises each and every cyclist's positions during the season, I was always seeing these bars on Pro riders' TTs. Upon receiving the bars, I've been super happy to find I've saved almost a kilo on my setup, along with probably the smoothest, most simple adjustability in positioning. I can now comfortably hold a position that is significantly more aero.
Q: When it comes to quality and safety, how does the AB03 give you peace of mind when riding in the TT position?
When you open the box, you immediately feel the professionalism with which the products have been developed, engineered, and manufactured seeping out of the product. The bottle placement for me personally is also absolutely perfect, along with the placement of the cups which enabled me to drop my stack height to bring my head lower down. These aren't just any 3D printed bars, these are the real deal, and when I handled them down an Italian descent, I could genuinely feel the difference through corners and on the straights. Having confidence in your gear is one thing, but knowing you're on the best possible setup with data to back it up just makes me want to get out there and train as hard as I can to showcase the brilliance behind the product!
At Sync, we are thrilled to support Max's career as it progresses. Good luck in these last few races, Maxxy!