2025 Moments of the Year
2025 has been a massive year of racing, and a long one. It’s been the second year of the Ironman Pro Series, and second year of the T100 series, which is only just finishing just this coming weekend in Qatar. With the Olympics last year, you’d think a quieter year for the WTCS series, but not really, as we head into the start of qualification for LA2028! Challenge Family, SuperTri and the rest, and we are spoilt for choice for races.
From one respect, for the sport, it’s fantastic to see the growth and so many events, and for the Professionals more prize money being put into races through the T100 Series and Ironman Pro Series. However, it also leads to the tricky decision for athletes to make; which series, what races, so many to choose, get greedy, but risk burn out? I think we are seeing a change in the sport. A few years ago it was about longevity, and athletes wanting a long careers in the sport. Now I feel it’s about hitting racing hard for two to three years, making as much money as you can, and then exiting, either burnt out, injured or just needed to move on. The standard of racing is a lot higher now too, and there aren’t really any ‘easy’ races. Everyone is turning up to everything.
However, before I risk this turning into an article on the state of the sport, as we head towards the end of 2025, (yes how the heck did that happen), and start looking ahead to 2026… the Parcours team and athletes put down their votes for the performance of the year! These aren’t necessarily Parcours athletes, but just standout performances in the sport, that we’ve been impressed by. 
Dov Tate: Founder & big boss
· Triathlon: Our two Parcours Pro athletes (Hanne de Vet & Lizzie Raynor) coming top 10 at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, Marbella after racing each other hard all day! (Ed: We are super excited to see (and support) Hanne and Lizzie into 2026 as they rise up the sport.)
· Road: Kate Richardson taking the National Champions jersey at the National Crit Championships. Or non-Parcours related then I’d say any time Tadej Pogacar rode his bike! But being specific I’d say defending the rainbow jersey in Rwanda - everyone knew he was going to attack, but going regardless with >100k to go and still winning was superb
· Gravel: Cam Jones dropping Simon Pellaud on the last uphill kicker coming into Emporia at Unbound
Amy Marks: Head of Marketing and PR
· Triathlon: For me this was being on the ground at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Marbella and seeing Parcours athletes Lizzie Rayner and Hanne de Vet absolutely smash it to two top 10s. Seeing them racing then celebrating with them after was very special!
· Cycling: Team Parcours member Victoria Stansfield winning the Etape du Tour Femme in August this year. Victoria was planning to race professionally as a trail runner this year before a broken pelvis stopped this. However, it took her in a totally new direction into cycling and after only 2 months training she won the inaugural Etape du Tour Femme at the top of the Col du Madeleine. I am so excited to see what she is going to achieve next year!
Laura (Sid) Siddall: Pro athlete in a former life, now just still pretending …
· Triathlon: I think being in Kona, on the ground, for the women’s Ironman World Championships and watching the incredible day of racing from the start to the dramatic final few kilometres, with Solveig Lovseth winning. I was fortunate to be part of the commentary and so felt incredible privilege to call the last few kilometres, with the heart break for Lucy and Taylor but the elation for Solveig and so many of the other women as they crossed the line.
· Cycling: The Tour de France Femme avec Zwift and watching Pauline Ferrand-Prevot take the Yellow jersey and title. But for me just the whole event and how much it grows each year, and the number of people watching, and the characters of the riders and the stars of the peloton and their athleticism and ability I just love!
Kyle Smith: Kiwi Pro Athlete, 13th PTO World Ranking 9x middle distance Champion
For me it’s Casper Stornes winning the Ironman World Championships. Amazing guy who’s had a tough time and to pull that out the bag was pretty awesome!
Lizzie Raynor: Brit triathlete on the rise… watch out 2026
Lucy winning Ironman 70.3 Worlds was my moment of the year. What a comeback! Unexpected too I think. It took me 5-10 mins after finishing 70.3 worlds to even think to ask who won and I was so happy to hear it was her. It just so happened she was right in front of me in that moment so I just went “you won!!” and gave her a big hug. Such a nice moment.
Hanne de Vet: Belgium triathlete on the rise…watch out 2026
I think it’s hard to not chose Hayden’s performance comeback in London, I think that was definitely one of the most impressive races!
For the women I will go for Taylor Knibb’s second place at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, in Marbella! What she did after Kona, I think was very very impressive and you really have to be mentally strong to come back like that!
