IRONMAN New Zealand 2025: Chronicle and Results
El calendar 2025 of the franchise HOMBRE DE HIERRO The event began this Saturday in Taupo (New Zealand), with a competition that brought together high-level triathletes from around the world.
The day was a pleasant day, ideal for participants to give their best during the 3,8 km swim, 180 km bike ride (Ironman distance) and 42,2 km run.
The test started strong with the Tahitian Benjamin Zorgnotti setting the pace: he left the water in 47:49, dragging a leading group in which the Spaniard was Mikel Ugarte, who completed the swim in third position.
Meanwhile, the favourites in the women's category, including the Swiss Analis Siffert and the British Fenella Langridge, they also signed very competitive times.
A few kilometres into the race, a seven-man group formed and took a lead of more than 3 minutes over their pursuers. The Dutchman Pim van Diemen He came to lead the group with Mikel Ugarte comfortable in third position, while the British Joe Skipper He was fighting to close the gap after having lost more than four minutes in the water.
The situation remained stable until kilometer 130, where Mikel Ugarte He was sanctioned with a blue card for “drafting” (going too close to another triathlete).
This meant a mandatory stop and significantly hampered the Spaniard's chances of taking one of the slots for the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship. As Ugarte himself explained on his social networks, he did not agree with the penalty, but had no choice but to comply with it.
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In the men's category, the final break occurred near T2, when Mike Phillips He distanced himself from the group and reached the transition alone with a time of 5:03:12, 1:40 ahead of his pursuers.
His dominance increased in the marathon, with a split of 2:40:42 to seal victory in 7:45:47, breaking the record for the event. Joe Skipper was second (7:48:47) and the New Zealander Jack moody finished third (7:49:12). The last slot was taken by Benjamin Zorgnotti.
For its part, Mikel Ugarte She finished in sixth place (7:56:38) after running the marathon in 2:44:38. Once again, she was one step away from securing the coveted world championship spot for 2025.
In the women's race, the New Zealander Regan Hollioake He came back in the marathon after a good cycling split to win comfortably with a time of 8:51:30.
The American Jocelyn McCauley crossed second (8:56:52), and the Swiss Nina Derron She was third (8:57:48).
Men's 10 Top
| Job title | Athlete | Final time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Phillips | 7:45:47 |
| 2 | Joe Skipper | 7:48:47 |
| 3 | Jack moody | 7:49:12 |
| 4 | Benjamin Zorgnotti | 7:53:49 |
| 5 | Tim Van Berkel | 7:56:00 |
| 6 | Mikel Ugarte Ramos | 7:56:38 |
| 7 | Ben hamilton | 7:59:32 |
| 8 | Arnaud Guilloux | 8:00:47 |
| 9 | Louis Richard | 8:15:01 |
| 10 | Liam Duval | 8:16:07 |
| 11 | benjamin hill | 8:17:10 |
| 12 | Lukas Stahl | 8:29:04 |
| 13 | matt kerr | 8:29:23 |
| 14 | Kevin Portman | 8:39:54 |
| 15 | Pim Van Diemen | 8:44:32 |
| 16 | Scott Harpham | 8:47:56 |
| 17 | Kyle Tremayne | 8:50:33 |
| 18 | Colin Schuch | 8:58:28 |
| 19 | Mike Tong | 9:33:50 |
| DNF | Nathan Dortman | –:– |
| DNF | Jason Christie | –:– |
| DNF | Brett Clifford | –:– |
Top 10 female
| Job title | Athlete | Final time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Regan Hollioake | 8:51:30 |
| 2 | Jocelyn McCauley | 8:56:52 |
| 3 | Nina Derron | 8:57:48 |
| 4 | Gabrielle Lumkes | 9:08:56 |
| 5 | Kate Gillespie-Jones | 9:20:00 |
| 6 | alani siffert | 9:25:52 |
| 7 | Skye Wallace | 9:38:05 |
| 8 | Fiona Gallagher | 9:38:56 |
| 9 | Danyella Eberle | 9:43:55 |
| 10 | Christine Massey | 10:14:23 |
| 11 | Sarah Carpinski | 10:26:16 |
| 12 | Heather Neill | 10:35:06 |
| DNF | Fenella Langridge | –:– |
What's next for Mikel Ugarte
The Spaniard had undergone excellent preparation at altitude and was confident of sealing his place for the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship, which will be held in Nice.
However, the sanction received complicated his aspirations and left him, once again, at the door of that great objective.
We will have to wait and see if he gets his well-deserved ticket to the next events.
