Kat Matthews and Trevor Foley win at IRONMAN New Zealand 2026
El HOMBRE DE HIERRO New Zealand 2026 opened the season of IRONMAN Pro Series with Kat Matthews winning the women's race and Trevor Foley winning the men's race after two very different races in Taupo.
Lake Taupo once again hosted the start of the long-distance season. IRONMAN New Zealand 2026, first stop of the IRONMAN Pro Series, brought together more than 40 professionals in search of the first points of the circuit.
The day produced two very different stories: the clear dominance of Kat matthews in the women's race and an unexpected twist in the men's, where Trevor foley He ended up winning after a spectacular marathon.
The race was held with an added incentive: the application of the new regulations of 20 meters distance in drafting, a rule that IRONMAN announced at the beginning of February and that has been applied to all its competitions since this year.
Kat Matthews sets the pace from the marathon
The women's race began with a strong group in the water. Fenella Langridge, Hannah Berry, Lotte Wilms, Rebecca Clarke y hannah knighton They set the pace in the swimming and came out of the water together with a time of 50:51.
Meanwhile Kat matthews She started the bike race in sixth position, 2:39 behind the leading group. The British rider, the reigning champion of the IRONMAN Pro Series, began to cut time almost from the first kilometers of the cycling segment.
Gradually, the leading group dwindled. First, Clarke dropped back, leaving the race in the hands of three triathletes: Matthews, Berry y WilmsThe three rode together for much of the 180 kilometers, extending their lead over the rest of the field.
By the time they reached the second transition, the three leaders already had a margin of more than five minutes over Regan HollioakeWhile Danielle lewis It was rolling at almost thirteen minutes.
An early attack decides the race
The key moment came practically at the start of the marathon. Kat matthews He changed pace in the first kilometer of the run and left behind Hannah Berrywhich in turn opened a gap over Lotte Wilms.
From that moment the race was over. Matthews increased his lead kilometer by kilometer until crossing the finish line in 8:28:55, securing a clear victory and also setting a new course record.
The New Zealand Hannah Berry she finished second in 8:35:43, while the Dutch Lotte Wilms closed the podium with 8:39:57.
The Canadian Tamara jewett, author of one of the fastest marathons of the day (2:42:40), finished fourth after making up a lot of ground in the second half of the race.
Top 3 women IRONMAN New Zealand 2026
| Position | Athlete | Time |
| 1 | Kat matthews | 8:28:55 |
| 2 | Hannah Berry | 8:35:43 |
| 3 | Lotte Wilms | 8:39:57 |
Foley surprises in the men's race
The men's race had a much more unpredictable script. The focus was on Kristian Blummenfelt, champion of IRONMAN Pro Series 2025But its premiere in 2026 was marked by problems.
In the swim, the leading group emerged very compact with Pierre Le Corre, Robert Huisman, Kyle Smith, Sam Osborne, David Martin y Henrik Gosch separated by barely twenty seconds. Blummenfelt and Frederic Funk They conceded a little over a minute and a half.
Trevor foley He came out of the water in 14th position, almost four minutes behind.
The race changed during the cycling leg. Kyle SmithEncouraged by the local crowd, he was the strongest and managed to open up a lead of more than six minutes over the chasing group.
Meanwhile, Blummenfelt was suffering from a mechanical problem: one of the aerodynamic handlebar extensions broke and he had to complete much of the segment holding it with only one hand.
Despite everything, the Norwegian reached T2 in third position.
A marathon that changed the whole career
As the marathon began, Kyle Smith He seemed to have victory within his grasp. The New Zealander started with almost a four-minute lead. Frederic Funk and about six over Blummenfelt.
But the race took a turn as the kilometers passed.
Trevor foley He began to close the gap with a steady pace. By the halfway point of the marathon, he had moved into second place, although Smith still maintained a lead of more than four minutes.
Everything changed around kilometer 28. Foley caught up with Smith and overtook him when the New Zealander began to suffer cramps. Smith would eventually crumble and fall to 11th place.
Behind, the Frenchman Pierre Le Corre He was also gaining positions with a great running split.
Foley maintained his pace until the finish line and secured the victory in 7:46:44, crowning a spectacular performance with a marathon of 2:35.
Top 3 men's IRONMAN New Zealand 2026
| Position | Athlete | Time |
| 1 | Trevor foley | 7:46:44 |
| 2 | Pierre Le Corre | 7:48:26 |
| 3 | Matt Hanson | 7:50:39 |
| 6 | Kristian Blummenfelt | + 14: 18 |
The Norwegian finished sixth after suffering vomiting during the running race, a problem that had already appeared in other long-distance competitions.
An intense start to the 2026 IRONMAN Pro Series
Over 5.000 circuit points at stake, the IRONMAN New Zealand It once again demonstrated its importance within the international calendar.
The victory of Kat matthews He confirms his great form after a 2025 season in which he already dominated the IRONMAN Pro SeriesIn the male case, Trevor foley He achieves the best possible start in a year in which he had not planned to compete in the full circuit.
The season of IRONMAN Pro Series 2026 It has just begun, but Taupo has already made it clear that the year may bring many surprises.
Check the race results
