The 2025 IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz, held on Sunday, July 13th in the Basque Country of Spain, saw a commanding victory in the women's professional race and some fierce competition in the age-group categories.
Women's Pro Race
- Julie Derron (SUI) dominated the field, securing a decisive wire-to-wire win in just her second full-distance IRONMAN race.
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- Derron's victory was significant, showcasing her strength across all disciplines and earning her a slot at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona.
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- She finished with an impressive overall time of 8:21:48, setting a new course record and crossing the finish line nearly 38 minutes ahead of her closest competitor, Lottie Lucas (UAE).
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- Marjolaine Pierre (FRA) rounded out the podium in third place.
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- Notable moments included Anne Haug (GER), a former IRONMAN World Champion, dropping out of the race before the 10km mark of the run.
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Age Group Highlights
- The race also saw a strong turnout and passionate support for the age groupers.
- Many athletes shared personal stories of triumph and perseverance, highlighting the mental and physical challenges of the IRONMAN distance.
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- One Reddit user shared their experience of finishing the race in 13h33, expressing pride in their accomplishment despite feeling it might be considered slow by others. They described a challenging but ultimately rewarding race, including a struggle with nausea after crossing the finish line but feeling fully recovered a week later.
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Course Conditions
- The race featured a swim in the calm waters of Ulibarri-Gamboa, with wetsuits allowed due to a water temperature of 21.7 degrees Celsius.
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- The bike course was described as rolling, taking athletes through the scenic Basque countryside and charming villages.
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- The run course was flat and saw large crowds of enthusiastic spectators lining the streets to cheer on the athletes.
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- One athlete described the run as "torturous" due to passing the finish line multiple times before finally being able to enter the chute.
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Overall, IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz 2025 was a memorable event, marked by a dominant performance in the women's professional race and the inspiring achievements of age group athletes amidst a supportive atmosphere.
- FEMALE PRO:
- 1 Julie Derron CHE 8:21:48
- 2 Lottie Lucas ARE +37:54
- 3 Marjolaine Pierre FRA +42:11
- 4 Mena Suter CHE +52:29
- 5 Joanna Ryter CHE +55:54