Lucy Charles-Barclay is aiming for a double at IRONMAN Kona 2025.
The big week of triathlon is here. This Saturday, Hawaii Island will once again be the epicenter of the sport with the World championship HOMBRE DE HIERRO women's 2025, an edition that brings together the best triathletes on the planet and promises a historic battle between world champions, Olympians, and rising stars of the long-distance world.
A luxury poster with all the favorites
The starting list is impressive: Nine of the top ten of Nice 2024 will be in Kona.
Among them, last year's world champion Laura Philipp, his great rival Kat matthews and US Chelsea Sodaro, who in 2022 became the first mother to win the world title.
But they all look at one thing: Lucy Charles-Barclay, champion in 2023 and owner of the circuit record with 8:24:31The British woman arrives in top form after winning in London and Oropesa, and returns to the place where she shines the most: the Pacific Ocean.
The list also includes Taylor Knibb, a three-time IRONMAN 70.3 world champion and a full-time professional debutant in Kona. Her cycling prowess and ability to swim alongside Lucy make her a real threat.
In addition, there will be 19 debutants in the World Cup, including the Olympics Julie Derron, Solveig Lovseth y Lisa Perterer, all eager to leave their mark from a distance.
More than a title: key points for the Pro Series
The event will not only crown the world champion, it will also be decisive in the IRONMAN Pro Series, where they are distributed 6.000 points.
With Kat matthews Dominating the rankings and just 120 points lost all season, a strong performance could give them the overall title. Behind them, Marta Sanchez, Lovseth, Perterer y Jackie Hering They still have a chance to reach the final podium.
Charles-Barclay at the waterfront
If one thing doesn't change in Kona, it's the name leading the swimming competition. Lucy Charles-Barclay has left. first in the water in all its world championships And no one expects this time to be any different. The question is whether Taylor Knibb can keep up with him, as he has done in two of their matches this year.
Behind, it is expected that Rebecca Clarke, Haley Chura y Lotte Wilms pull the chasing group, about 90 seconds, while India Lee, Holly Lawrence, Marta Sanchez y Julie Derron could form a larger block.
Cycling, key to making a difference
The bike section will be crucial. If Knibb manages to connect with Charles-Barclay, they could open up a gap before reaching Hawi. Behind them, Matthews, Løvseth, and Peterer could work together to secure the race.
The german Laura Philipp, one of the best runners in the world (2h45 in Hamburg 2022), will seek to not lose more than 7 minutes in the water to stay in the fight.
In this scenario, heat and wind management will be crucial. Kona is unforgiving, and every mistake is costly in the final kilometers of the Queen K.
The marathon will decide the champion
Everything points to a final duel between Charles-Barclay, Knibb, Philipp y Matthews. Philipp and Matthews arrive with the best running times on the circuit, while Lucy seems to be in the best form of her career. Behind them, we must not forget Chelsea Sodaro, one of the few capable of running under 2h52 in Hawaii.
With a lineup of this level and unpredictable conditions, the IRONMAN 2025 World Cup promises to be one of the most exciting in recent history.
The race can be followed live on proseries.ironman.com, DAZN, YouTube, and channels like OutsideTV, The Team, HR, ESPN o SuperSport.
