Champions and Challengers Clash at Women’s IRONMAN World Championships!

Good morning everyone,

It’s officially Kona race week! What felt impossibly far away in January is now finally upon us. And of course, it’s setting up to be one of the greatest showdowns in the history of the sport.

• So there’s only one place you’ll find me on Saturday. On the couch with 8 hours (maybe less! 😃) worth of popcorn!

In today’s edition:

• 🌴 A preview of the unprecedented Women’s IRONMAN World Championship!

• 🦵 How to tame tendon pain.

• 🚴 And bike speed killers!

-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

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ONE BIG THING

Champions and Challengers Clash at Women’s IRONMAN World Championships!

What is it: After a season of mind-blowing performances and unexpected twists, the heavily anticipated Women’s IRONMAN World Championship will kick off this Saturday morning in Kona, Hawaii.

• And with the majority of the world’s top professional women in attendance, the race should be an incredible battle from start to finish!

The Big Four, Favoured

The four favorites to take the win have landed in Kona, and are completing their final preparations.

Laura Philipp (GER): Last year’s champion appears to be in even stronger form after taking impressive victories in Challenge Roth and IRONMAN Hamburg, the latter being the fastest-ever female IRONMAN!

Kat Matthews (GBR): Other than her close second to Philipp in Hamburg, Matthews has been unstoppable. Massive wins at IM Texas, and 70.3s Swansea and Zell-Am-See show she’s ready for a first World Championship win.

Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR): The defending Kona Champion from 2023 has had an incident-free season. And with recent wins at T100 London and the French Riviera, she arrives on the big island with incredible momentum!

Taylor Knibb: In any other season, a 2nd at IRONMAN Texas plus a full T100 podium set would make Knibb the odds-on favorite. But convincing losses to Matthews and Charles-Barclay leave her the least favoured of the four.

• Will her 2025 full-distance emphasis lead to an incredible Kona? Or has a shift in training forced her to forget her strengths?

Julie Derron (SUI): The Olympic silver medallist and T100 winner seemed to be en route for an exceptional World Championships debut. However, days ago, she revealed that she had yet to recover from an August bike crash, preventing her from competing in Kona.

Darkhorses Descend

Although the big five is now four, there are plenty of other athletes who could have a dream day in Kona.

Solvieg Løvseth (NOR): Yes, another exceptional Norwegian triathlete! Since switching from short course, Løvseth has seen nothing but success. And with a strong third at IM Hamburg plus a win in Lake Placid, she enters Kona a legit contender, but without the baggage of being a favorite. Always a lethal combo!

Lisa Perterer (AUT): Perterer, another short-course convert, may be one of the most versatile triathletes on the planet. A podium at the T100 Singapore, followed by podiums at IRONMAN Texas, Lake Placid, and 70.3 Zell Am See, speaks to her ability to perform on demand.

• Could a World Championship podium or win be added to the list?

Chelsea Sodaro (USA): Since her 2022 win in Kona, it’s been a battle for consistency for Sodaro. Although she still managed to hit the World Championship podium last year in Nice. And her form has been steadily improving throughout the year. Plus, the positive memories of this course will serve her well when the pressure is on!

How Will it Play Out?

The winds and heat that made Kona infamous once again appear to be muted this year. Which means bigger packs on the bike, but also less punishment for those who attack early.

🏊‍♂️: Watch for a small group out of the water with Charles-Barclay leading the charge. If Knibb can swim with her, or even slightly behind, it sets the stage for an incredible two-woman breakaway.

• Strong cyclists like Matthews and Løvseth will hope to have a meaningful gap over athletes like Philipp, Sodaro, and Tamara Jewitt (CAN)

🚴‍♂️: If Charles-Barclay and Knibb work together through the bike leg, it could be lights out for the chasers - especially if a big second pack emerges from the swim.

• If so, expect Matthews and Løvseth to try and break away early.

But if the second group is organized and sees athletes sharing the front, the lead pack could be swallowed up by the time they hit T2.

🏃‍♂️: What kind of T2 gap do Charles-Barclay and Knibb need to stay away from the Laura Philipp/Kat Matthews express? 5-6 minutes - at least.

• If it’s under that, the chasers - and their fresher legs - will be ready to hunt down their front pack prey.

• More? And it will simply be too much of a gap to overcome.

So who will be the Queen of Kona?

An athlete who can race off the front and whose recent running prowess has evolved extraordinarily - Lucy Charles-Barclay.

• 🥇 Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR)

• 🥈 Laura Philipp (GER)

• 🥉 Kat Matthews (GBR)

How to Watch

The race starts on Saturday, October 11th at 6:25 AM HST, 12:25 PM EDT, 6:25 PM CEST, and 3:25 AM (Sunday) AEST.

🇨🇦 🇺🇸North America: Watch live and free on the Outside TV app. 

🌍 Rest of the world: Watch live and free at proseries.ironman.com

FAVORITES

💪 Tame Tendon Pain: Think rest will fix that sore Achilles or cranky elbow? Think again. Research shows tendons need load, not long layoffs, to heal, strengthen, and adapt. But how do you tame your tendon pain and make them more resilient? Find out here! [Howard Luks, MD]

🚴 Bike speed killers: If you’re looking for a faster bike split in 2025, it might be time to adjust your training. But free speed can also be found, especially when you take control of these six brutal bike speed killers! [MOTTIV Method]

🦾 Ten tips to prevent sore muscles: Staying hydrated and getting a massage can certainly help you avoid sore muscles. But Epsom salt baths and backing off on the last few miles of your workout can also keep the next-day soreness at bay. These six other tips can too! [Women’s Health]

💍 Ring things: Smart rings that track our health metrics like sleep and heart rate variability are booming. And this interview with the Oura Ring CEO explains why high-performing athletes and CEO’s are locked into their rings. Thinking of getting your own? This in-depth review is a great place to start!

Clarification: In the last edition, we wrongfully said that Zwift was suing Garmin when it is actually Strava. Thank you to the readers who flagged it! And to Zwift’s legal counsel - we are sorry! 😬

REEL TIME

Winning the Supertri League title and getting engaged? It’s a day (and reel) you’ll never forget!

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TEMPO TALKS PODCAST

Why the World Triathlon Corruption Scandal Could Upend the Sport

A swim drill to help you nail your rhythm. And how poor air quality can lurk in plain sight - ruining your training!

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!

RACE WEEKEND

Supertri League Final - Toulouse

Jeanne Lehair (Podium Racing) and Csongor Lehmann (Stars and Stripes Racing) won the race and sealed the overall individual Supertri victories.

• Podium Racing took the team title, breaking Crown Racing’s winning streak.

Full race results

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