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Best-Ever IRONMAN World Championship Fields Set as Qualification Closes

Best-Ever IRONMAN World Championship Fields Set as Qualification Closes

Championship fields set, the disruption of fueling, and new bike fit philosophy?

Matthew Sharpe
August 19, 2025

TOGETHER WITH BLUESEVENTY

Good morning everyone,

After a big build for my last race at IRONMAN 70.3 Boise, it feels weird to not have another race on the immediate horizon. I’m currently weighing my options, and until I decide training feels decidedly more like maintaining.

But what does that look like? The intensity across all three has dropped off. But I’m still doing my best to maintain volume on the bike and run. Simple stuff like a hilly 3hr bike ride one day, and a 22km long run the next.

It’s the kind of work that’ll keep my body ready to jump back into structure when I need to!

In today’s edition:

🏁 Best-Ever IRONMAN World Championship Fields Set as Qualification Closes.
🧨 How fueling is being disrupted!
🚴 And could you be missing out on your best bike fit?

-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

Have a triathlete in your life who can't stop swimming, biking, or running? Fire this off to them. Forwarded from a friend? Sign-up for free.

ONE BIG THING

Best-Ever IRONMAN World Championship Fields Set as Qualification Closes

IRONMAN

What is it: This past weekend saw the final opportunities for athletes to qualify for the IRONMAN World Championships.

And with the qualification window closed, the stage is set for what could be the most competitive World Championship fields in history.

Last-minute listing: Saturday’s IRONMAN Kalmar was the final opportunity for 2022 IRONMAN World Champion Chelsea Sodaro (USA) to validate her slot for Kona. She only had to finish to earn it. But any kind of mechanical or other issue could have ended her hopes of another title.

She ended up third overall. Validating her slot and ensuring she will be on the start line of what could be a race for the ages in Kona.

Wonderous Women’s World Championship: Laura Philipp (GER), Kat Matthews (GBR), Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR), Taylor Knibb (USA), and Chelsea Sodaro (USA) are all slated to be on the start in Kona.

Favorites aside, the Women’s race also sees incredible depth from athletes like Solveig Løvseth (NOR) - the recent IRONMAN Lake Placid champion.

Lisa Perterer (AUT) - 3rd at IRONMAN Texas, 2nd at IRONMAN Lake Placid
Julie Derron (SUI) - Olympic silver medalist, IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz champion.
Jackie Hering (USA) - IRONMAN Cairns champion.

Plus: Previous IRONMAN winners like Marta Sanchez (ESP), Alice Alberts (USA), Lotte Wilms (NED), Marjolaine Pierre (FRA), Hannah Berry (NZ), and India Lee (GBR) will all add an exciting dimension to race day.

Full list of Women’s IM World Championship qualifiers.

Men’s World Championship mayhem: Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) has gone undefeated in his previous four races, which include commanding wins at IRONMAN Texas and Frankfurt.

But Nice won’t be a nice walk in the park. Current World Champion, Patrick Lange (GER) will be competing, as will previous champions Gustav Iden (NOR) and Sam Laidlow (FRA).

They’ll be joined by World Championship podium stalwarts, Magnus Ditlev (DEN) and Rudy Von Berg (USA).

Other notable starters include Matthew Marquardt (USA) - IRONMAN Cairns and Lake Placid Champion.

Kristian Høgenhaug (DEN) - 2nd at IRONMAN Frankfurt
Casper Stornes (NOR) - 3rd at IRONMAN Frankfurt
Sam Long (USA) - IRONMAN Chattanooga Champion

And certain athletes could make a big impact on race day, like super-cyclist Cam Wurf (AUS), and front-pack fighters Jonas Schomburg (GER) and Jamie Riddle (ZAF).

Martin Van Riel (BEL), the current T100 World Champion and an athlete expected to be at the front of the race, is hoping to be healthy enough to compete after suffering a severely sprained ankle last month.

Full list of men’s IRONMAN World Championship qualifiers.

Tempo’s take: It’s easy to be hyperbolic, especially in today’s media environment where everything is ‘the greatest thing ever.”

But looking at these start lists, it’s clear the upcoming IRONMAN World Championships have the potential to be the greatest ever. On paper, they are the most competitive. And most athletes seem healthy and on track to be at their best when the gun goes off.

But a stacked startlist doesn’t always translate to a thrilling race. Take the men’s field. There are plenty of A-listers. But after an undefeated run, it’s hard to see another athlete who is ready to take on Blummenfelt.

The question he will have to answer is how he will navigate the brutal and unforgiving hills of Nice. And we haven’t forgotten that the Olympic Champion doesn’t always perform on the biggest stage…

In contrast, the women’s race has multiple athletes who could break the tape on the Big Island. Defending champ Laura Philipp is clearly in incredible form, but she was pushed to her absolute limit earlier this summer by Kat Matthews in Hamburg.

Could these two deliver the 21st century’s version of the IRONWAR?

And what about Lucy Charles-Barclay? She just outran the best middle-distance athletes in the world at T100 London!

We know her swim/bike is a World Championship-winning combo. But her run performance shows that even if she finds herself with company in T2, she may have what it takes to claim title #2!

Unfortunately, we can’t bundle the athletes in bubble wrap until race day. So for now, all we can do is cross our fingers and hope they arrive healthy and ready to put on a show!

Are you excited by the IM World Championship start lists?

TOGETHER WITH BLUESEVENTY

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FAVORITES

🧨 Fueling disruption: Sports nutrition is big business. Global sales of energy gels alone are expected to increase to over $1.3 billion by 2034. But for all the 2:1 carb ratios, bespoke sodium bicarbonate mixes, and protein everything, the big winner of the sports nutriton wars could end up being a 30 cent children’s treat? Learn more here! [Front Office Sports]

🚴 Your best bike fit: Think even pressure across your saddle means comfort and power? Not so fast. Research shows chasing symmetry can actually lead to hip rotation, back pain, and lost watts. This insightful blog post explains the what the real markers of a good bike fit look like, and how you can achieve next-level cycling comfort AND performance! [Wove Bike]

💥 The great fitness boom: We’re in the middle of an exercise boom where run clubs are the new pubs, and pickleball (sigh) is plowing ahead as one of the most popular sports of our time. But what’s driving this fascination with fitness? And who are the workout winners and losers? Find out in this article. [The Atlantic]

🚀 Lucy’s liftoff: We love seeing mainstream media cover triathlon! And as the IRONMAN World Championships fast-approach, we expect to see more coverage of potential champions like this eye-opening interview with Lucy Charles-Barclay. In it, the Kona hopefull opens up her “relentless injury grief,” battle with Celiac disease, and more! [The Independent]

TEMPO TALKS PODCAST

Is it Really Possible for You to Train While on Vacation?

And why the T100 results could change everything for Kona!

All this and more in the latest episode of the Tempo Talks Podcast!

Together with The TriDoc, we bring you the biggest stories in Triathlon,

Training tips to make you faster,
And breakdowns of the latest in sports science and performance!

Don’t miss a moment; listen to Tempo Talks on Apple, Spotify, and more!

REEL TIME

“Ohhhhh…that’s what you meant by swim…”

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QUICK NEWS

Stolen opportunity: Six athletes had a brutal shock race morning at IRONMAN Copenhagen when it was discovered that their bikes had been stolen! [Tri-Today]

Insufficient funds: The recently cancelled T100 Triathlon World Tour/World Triathlon World Cup was NOT due to previously reported issues with construction. According to this article, the real reason was insufficient fudning for the races. [Inside The Games]

A Wilde schedule: After recovering from a devastating crash to win the T100 race in London, Hayden Wilde (NZ) has his sights set on new goals which can only be described as diabolical! [TRI247]

Inclusive triathlon success: Over a thousand athletes gathered in Berkshire for the world’s largest inclusive triathlon! [ITV]

Triathlete transformation: He was “too fat to drive.” Now, thanks to a fitness transformation, he’s competing in triathlon’s, and driving his own car! [Mirror]