The inaugural IRONMAN Leeds 2025 was held today, July 27th, 2025, in Leeds, UK. The event, featuring a men's only professional race alongside a large age-group competition, was a resounding success, marked by a dominant performance from 2023 IRONMAN World Champion, Sam Laidlow.
Professional Men's Race
- Winner: Sam Laidlow (FRA) demonstrated exceptional form, leading the race from start to finish and securing a decisive victory with a time of 8:10:08. Laidlow, already qualified for the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, used this race to validate his spot.
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- Second Place: Nathan Guerbeur (FRA) took second, crossing the finish line in 8:24:43.
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- Third Place: Harry Palmer (GBR) rounded out the podium with a time of 8:28:42.
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- Key Moments: Laidlow's dominance was established early, with a strong swim (45:50) followed by a powerful bike segment (4:38:04) that saw him build a significant lead over his rivals, He then maintained his advantage throughout the marathon run (2:41:15) to secure the win.
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- World Championship Qualification: With Laidlow already qualified, the three IRONMAN World Championship slots available went to Nathan Guerbeur, Harry Palmer, and Kieran Lindars (GBR), who finished fourth.
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The Course
- Swim: A 2.4-mile (3.8km) two-loop swim took place in the calm waters of Waterloo Lake within Roundhay Park.
- Bike: The challenging 112-mile (180km) bike course traversed the stunning Yorkshire Dales National Park, incorporating sections of the 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart route and approximately 2500m of elevation gain. It featured three loops through picturesque villages and suburbs to the north of Roundhay Park.
- Run: The 26.2-mile (42.2km) run consisted of a four-loop course around Roundhay Park and its surrounding areas, with spectators lining the streets to cheer on the athletes.
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Overall
IRONMAN Leeds 2025 delivered a thrilling race, with Sam Laidlow's impressive victory highlighting the elite competition. The event showcased the challenging and scenic Yorkshire course, creating a memorable experience for both athletes and spectators.