IRONMAN 70.3 Women's World Championships Preview
We have made it, just, I think, to the end of the season and year of racing (well at least for the Northern Hemisphere). It’s been a ridiculously long and monumental season for the sport, with the inaugural PTO T100 series and IRONMAN Pro Series. The former finishing a month ago, Taylor Knibb (USA) and Martin Van Riel (BEL) being crowned the T100 Champions. The later culminates this coming weekend at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in Taupo (Toe-Paw), New Zealand.
We are going to see races within races. The crowning of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, but also the IRONMAN Pro Series winner, who takes home a lovely $200k for the honour. Most athletes will want to win the race, the World Champion title, or of course do the best they can, for the best result, on the day, and therefore points. But there may be some strategic games to be played by athletes wanting to secure their ranking in the Pro Series.
So just like the 2024 season has been long… so is this article, so let’s see who’s racing and what may happen.
It could be a battle that we have seen in the last few races of the T100, with the two time, and reigning IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, Taylor Knibb, against Paris Olympic Silver Medallist, Julie Derron (SUI). Oh and add in Australian Ashleigh Gentle, who was the Queen of the T100 until Knibb arrived. But of course there will be more women who will want to have their say and make their mark. Kat Matthews (GBR), Paula Findlay (CAN) to name a few, and always the dark horses, or just athletes that have their day and surprise everyone, even sometimes themselves.
Taylor Knibb has well and truly this year established herself as the best middle distance athlete globally. Whilst she didn’t have the performance at the Olympics, she did show her talent and played a key role in the USA winning silver in the Mixed Team Relay. She also did compete for the USA in the time trial, and I believe could have challenged for top 10, if conditions were different (I know that’s racing, so I’ll leave it there). She has dominated the T100 races she has done, winning by significant margins in San Francisco, Ibiza, Las Vegas and then, in Dubai, winning when everyone thought the course and conditions favoured others. She won starting the run with a smaller gap to the chasers, and put in a performance that showed her class and character. Knibb is the only athlete on the start list who has previously won the World Championships. Since 2014 there have only been three other winners (mainly dominated by Daniela Ryf), but none of these are racing. However, it’s been a big year for Knibb and a long one, and that takes its toll mentally and physically. However, I still believe she’s the favourite to win the three peat. Her level is just so much higher than the rest of the women at the moment. She’s also excited to race and wants to race which is dangerous too with Knibb.
(As an aside, I feel she may also go after the bike course best time at a World Champs. This is currently held by Julie Dibens from 2009. Julie is Taylor’s swim coach now, and I feel there may be some bets or challenges going into the race. And another thing, Taylor’s Mom (yes American spelling) is also racing! )
Julie Deron surprised everyone with her silver medal winning performance at the Olympic Games in the summer. She then went on with Wild Cards for the T100 to be the challenger to Knibb’s dominance, finishing second in the three races she did. If Deron has a good swim and then is near the front coming off the bike, she’s one of the fastest runners (on paper) and could be dangerous.
Kat Matthews loves a big race. Another athlete who’s had a big year, balancing the T100 and the IRONMAN Pro Series, and making it work. Matthews finished fourth in the T100, banking $75k (in addition to the race winnings and the PTO End of year bonus too). Matthews is also on target to win the IRONMAN Pro Series, a $200k pay day, on top of race winnings. Matthews is sitting second in the series currently, but has a race in hand. Athletes are allowed 3 IRONMAN and 2 70.3 races to count. Matthews prior to the World Champs has 3 IRONMAN races but only one 70.3. So will add significant points to her tally in Taupo (assuming she finishes), and is pretty certain to take the series win. Obviously, I’m sure Matthews will be wanting the World Champion title, which would then give her the Pro Series win anyway. Matthews is a determined racer, and fights to the end, and has the ability to bring something special on the day.
Ashleigh Gentle has missed the last few years of the 70.3 World Championships, last year she chose to get married instead! Seriously! Ha ha! But focused on qualifying for Taupo, being just over the ‘ditch’ from her home in Australia. Gentle is classy and for sure one of the best in the sport over the middle distance. She’ll want to regain her crown and show she can lift her game to challenge (and beat) Knibb and Deron. A good swim will set her up well. Her run is her weapon, so watch out in the later kilometres.
Paula Findlay, another athlete with a big year, racing the T100, and winning 70.3 St. George and 70.3 Mont Tremblant, but also representing Canada at the UCI World Championships Time Trial. She’s always up there and in the mix, and has podiumed at the 70.3 World Championships previously. I think this bike course will suit Findlay. It’s tougher than athletes will realise (due to the road surface) and I think this is to Findlay’s benefit.
Other athletes who could podium, or top 5 and to be honest I’ve struggled to narrow this down, there are so many that could make it, which is awesome for the sport and women’s triathlon. Imogen Simmonds (SUI), 3rd at 70.3 World Championships in Nice (2019) and has this year come back from injury in style, finishing 2nd at the T100 London, amongst other good results. Again a course that could suit Imogen very well.
And those I wouldn’t be surprised to see perform
- Carolina Pohle (GER) with four middle distance wins and a third place at the recent 70.3 Bahrain. Pohle has had a break through year with her performances. She’s also the highest ranking, non T100 atheltes in the PTO Global Rankings.
- Solveig Loevseth (NOR) may go under the radar as hasn’t raced many half distances, but when she has she’d dominated.
- Nikki Bartlett (GBR) will be flying high of her 5th place at the IRONMAN World Championships in Nice. Nikki can still be dangerous over the half distance, and with the pure joy and happiness on her side and has her racing weapon, I think she could feature high up, similar to Nice. She also got married this year, just after Nice, so is still on cloud 9!
- Jodie Stimpson (GBR) and Valerie Barthelemy (BEL) have moved up to the middle distance in the last few years, Barthelemy just this year. Barthelemy finished 10th at the Tokyo Olympics, but has been racing the half distance having been over looked for Paris. Whether she’s a factor this year, which I think she has the potential to be, she’ll be a name in the coming years.
From a local perspective, don’t underestimate Hannah Berry and Bec Clarke. New Zealand’s favourite female long course athletes and will be using the home town and country support to their advantage, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it payed off.
There are of course a lot of other athletes to mention. Jackie Herring currently leads the IRONMAN Pro Series, an impressive standing, having come back to full distance racing in 2024 after nine years away from the distance. And so many more – not to mention some significant names missing – Daniela Ryf, Lucy Charles-Barclay, Chelsea Sodaro, Anne Haug, India Lee, Emma Pallent-Browne, Laura Philipp and Lucy Byram to name a few. But shows the depth of the women’s side of the sport, that we still have an incredible race on our hands with the best in the sport.
From a Parcours perspective, obviously we wish all the women a good race, but perhaps a little more push to Hanne de Vet (BEL), who is racing on Parcours wheels!! Whoop whoop! Speedy!
