Live 2025 Men's Ironman World Championship Race Coverage

11:50 a.m. Sunday: Sam Laidlow takes the lead

There’s a new race leader at the 2025 Ironman world championship, and it’s quite the familiar face. Sam Laidlow (FRA) made the pass on Belgium’s Marten Van Riel while rounding a corner at mile 92, in the middle of one of the most technical sections of the course. Though both were traveling at high speed, there was a marked difference in comfort with handling the tight switchbacks: Laidlow remained low in aero position, while Van Riel popped up frequently to grab his handlebars.

It’s something we’ve seen before on this course, and underscores just how important comfort with descending is for a race like this. Gutsy descents defined last year’s race in Nice, where pro women like Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews pulled away from then-race leader Marjolaine Pierre to build a lead of over seven minutes into T2 – all on the descent. Read our analysis of the role descents play in Nice.

Also bombing down the mountain with ease, only five seconds behind, is Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR), followed by Gustav Iden (NOR), Nick Thompson (AUS), and Casper Stornes (NOR). The top six competitors are currently within the span of only one minute as they inch ever closer to town, where T2 and an epic run battle await.

11:38 a.m. Sunday: The hammer drops

Sam Laidlow (FRA) and Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) are going for it. On Coursegoules, the third and final climb of the race, Jonas Schomburg (DEU) fell off the pace set by frontrunners Marten Van Riel (BEL) and Jamie Riddle (ZAF). Sensing blood in the water, Laidlow and Blummenfelt surged ahead, knocking off Schomburg first, then Jamie Riddle (ZAF) just after cresting the climb. Now they have race leader Marten Van Riel (BEL) in their sights, some 25 seconds down.

Though it looked like Gustav Iden (NOR), Nick Thompson (AUS), and Casper Stornes (NOR) attempted to tag along, their initial efforts were brief – instead, they’ve absorbed Schomburg and are staying within striking distance of the front, roughly 1:30 down.

Meanwhile, Magnus Ditlev (DEN) was spotted almost 3 and a half minutes down from the front. Further back, American Matthew Marquardt is making moves, now sitting in 10th place – though he’s riding by himself 7:46 down from the lead. Other big movers and shakers are Aussie Cam Wurf, who has once again made his way from a low placing in the swim (41st) to a respectable 18th place, and American Sam Long, who exited the water in 45th and is now riding in 20th.

With all the climbing concluded, a lot can happen on the long descent back to sea level. But this is no coast to T2 – the road is even more twisty and technical, and littered with speed bumps. It requires a lot of mental focus to navigate and also get in as many calories as possible before the run begins.

10:51 a.m. Sunday: Triathlon fans are the best fans

Though much of the bike course is isolated from the very busy city center of Nice, where most of the spectators congregate, a few die-hard triathlon fans can be spotted riding the very climbs the pros are conquering, in search of the perfect spot to cheer on the athletes. If you’re out there: we see you, and we salute you.

10:27 a.m. Sunday: World championship rookies lead at halfway point

55 miles into the bike leg, the trio of Marten Van Riel (BEL), Jonas Schomburg (DEU), and Jamie Riddle (ZAF) continue to ride like they stole it. They’ve added a full minute to their lead over the chase pack – a gutsy move for the Ironman world championship rookies.

In the pre-race press conference, all three were named as a threat by Sam Laidlow (FRA), who said “I feel like Ironman’s evolved a bit; there are more and more athletes that are coming up from short-course triathlon and racing aggressively, like I have done in the past…I think they’ll both be up front, and it’ll be a new scenario for me in a world championship.” (Laidlow also said he was “excited” about the fresh blood and new dynamics, though we wonder if he still feels that way right now.)

Laidlow and the Norwegians (Kristian Blummenfelt, Casper Stornes, and Gustav Iden), along with Denmark’s Magnus Ditlev, aren’t showing any signs of concern – rather, they all seem fairly content to sit back 2:20 behind. Perhaps they learned their lesson from last year’s race, which was full of big risks and big blow-ups, and are biding their time. When Australian Nick Thompson made a move to surge ahead of the chase pack and push the pace to bridge the gap, no one bit. Thompson seems to have taken the hint and has now settled in between Laidlow and Stornes.

Further back, Rudy von Berg (USA) and Antonio Benito (ESP) are riding together 5:09 down from the front, followed by a group of six (including Denmark’s Kristian Hogenhaug) 7 minutes down. American Sam Long and Frenchman Leon Chevalier were spotted in line of 10 riders making 12 minutes back from the lead.

9:41 a.m. Sunday: Race reaches the top of the Col de l’Ere

Athletes have reached the top of the Col de l’Ecre climb – regarded by many as where the race really gets serious. The major climbing is done and the course levels out for a bit – you may have heard this portion described as the “plateau.” Historically, this middle section involves a lot of riding in the aero position, testing the athletes on how well they can push sustained watts. It’s also where – as we reported in the women’s race here last year – athletes are exposed to the wind, adding a new challenge to the already-grueling bike course. In the past, we’ve seen a lot of athletes riding on their own or in small groups during this section, rather than the big “main group” we often see in Kona.

The current top three  – Marten Van Riel (BEL), Jonas Schomburg (DEU) and Jamie Riddle (ZAF) – have about a one-minute gap to the chase pack of Sam Laidlow (FRA) and the Norwegian trio of Casper Stornes, Kristian Blummenfelt, and Gustav Iden in fourth through seventh places, respectively. Nick Thompson (AUS) and Magnus Ditlev (DEN) follow in eighth and ninth, respectively, 1:28 down.

On the opposite end of the race, three-time Ironman world champion Patrick Lange (DEU) seems to be struggling – he’s fallen from 31st out of the swim with a two-minute deficit to 40th place with an 11:26 gap to the front. He’s currently riding with a group of seven containing Joe Skipper (GBR) and Andre Lopes (BRA).

9:23 a.m. Sunday: A replay of Nice 2023 or Kona 2024 for Sam Laidlow?

Despite a rough swim, a moment of stretching in transition, and plenty of grimacing on the bike, 2023 Ironman World Championship Nice champion Sam Laidlow (FRA) is making up for lost time, moving from 29th out of the swim to fourth place at mile 33 of the bike. He’s absolutely giving it his all – but at what cost? Remember, Laidlow employed a similar strategy of unleashing a blistering pace on the bike at the 2024 world championship race in Kona, but paid for it in a big way, falling from first to 18th place and walking for much of the run. That’s two years with two very different results – what will happen today?

8:51 a.m. Sunday: Norwegians, assemble!

The Norwegian trio of Kristian Blummenfelt, Gustav Iden, and Casper Stornes has reunited at the 25-mile marker on the bike course after exiting the swim spaced out. They sit 1:37 down from current race leader Marten Van Riel (BEL).

In the pre-race press conference, they shared that an all-Norwegian podium was the dream for today. However, Iden also acknowledged that though they planned to work together on the bike and initial miles of the run if possible,”the last half of the marathon is a fight for yourself.”

But this is not an exclusive party: currently, Rudy Von Berg (USA) and Magnus Ditlev (DEN) are also in the pack. Folks, it’s shaping up to be a stunning ride.

8:44 a.m. Sunday: Age-groupers join the party

There’s plenty of action going in the pro race, but let’s not forget they’re sharing the course with 2,500 age-group men, all vying for their own podiums in their respective age groups. There are a lot of loud cheers at the swim exit and through transition as friends and family spot their athletes – we love when the fan club comes along.

8:19 a.m. Sunday: The climb begins

Though the swim was a blazing-fast one, there’s no time to rest. As athletes take to the bike course, they encounter three short but steep climbs at 10% grade, plus several sections that are twisty and technical.

We’re already seeing this effort hit the front swimmers, and strong cyclists like Rudy von Berg (USA), Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR), Magnus Ditlev (DNK) are making quick work of the initial miles in the quest to reach the front of the race and overtake the swim leaders. Who will be the first to get there?

Sam Laidlow is plugging away – in fact, we just saw him make a pass on Patrick Lange, who did a double take and looked utterly confused at seeing the super-swimmer behind him for once.

7:50 a.m. Sunday: A new swim course record

What a swim! Andrea Salvisberg (SUI) has set a new course record of 45:11 as he exits the water with Jonas Schomburg (DEU) only one second behind. In total, 11 men exited the water in the front pack in very close proximity.

That time is 2:30 faster than last year’s fastest split – which means we’re on track for a sub-8 hour day in Nice.

Top swim times, 2025 Ironman world championship men

1. Andrea Salvisberg (SUI), 45:11
2. Jonas Schomburg (DEU), 45:12
3. Jamie Riddle (ZAF), 45:15
4. Marten Van Riel (BEL), 45:17
5. Finn Große-Freese (DEU), 45:17
6. Sven Thalmann (CHE), 47:17
7. Jan Stratmann (DEU), 45:18
8. Antonio Benito (ESP), 45:18
9. Wilhelm Hirsch (DEU) 45:19
10. Mattia Ceccarelli (ITA), 45:19
11. Casper Stornes (NOR), 45:21

30 seconds down was another pack, led by Rudy von Berg (USA),  Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR), Kaspar Stepniak (POL), Matthew Marquardt (USA), Jason West (USA), and Magnus Ditlev (DNK).

A slow and steady trickle of athletes followed behind, including Sam Laidlow, who exited the water with an uncharacteristic 1:15 deficit and took the time to stretch in transition; Patrick Lange (DEU) Gustav Iden (NOR), 2:00 and 2:02 down, respectively; and Kristian Hogenhaug (DNK) at 2:19 down.

Six minutes behind, we saw the the final group of swimmers, containing Leon Chevalier (FRA), Matt Hanson (USA), Sam Long (USA), and Joe Skipper (GBR).

7:46 a.m. Sunday: Barreling to the swim exit

Five minutes out from the swim exit, swell and chop is building in the bay. We’re seeing the swim break into three packs, spaced out by about 30 seconds. Jonas Schomburg (DEU) is now in the lead, with Jamie Riddle (ZAF), Andrea Salvisberg (SUI), and Marten Van Riel (BEL) making up the pointy end of the lead pack of 12.

7:39 a.m. Sunday: A shocking swim strategy and a game of musical chairs

In a surprising move, swim leader Jamie Riddle (ZAF) took a moment to…backstroke? He’s let Marten Van Riel (BEL) take the front position for pulling the full men’s pro field, which is now swimming behind in single file. Riddle slotted back into that line behind Jonas Schomburg (DEU), Andrea Salvisberg (SUI), and Laidlow (FRA), with Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) on his feet.

Then, we saw Riddle re-take the front, where he’s setting a blistering swim pace. Smart racing, or something else? In the words of the great philosopher Pepper Brooks: “It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for him.”

We also saw Sam Laidlow make a full stop in the swim, and for a moment it looked as if he was looking to swim back to shore before deciding to re-join the pack on the feet of Kristian Hogenhaug (DEN). The reason for the stop is unclear – perhaps a cramp?

7:10 a.m. Sunday: Speed (and a brief stop)

Minor wind and swell in the water are making for a fast swim. Currently, Jamie Riddle (ZAF) is currently leading a long arrowhead formation of athletes, with Andrea Salvisberg (SUI) on his feet, and Jonas Schomburg (DEU) in third. We also see Marten Van Riel (BEL) in the pointy end of the mix, and though Sam Laidlow (FRA) was initially up in the fifth spot, he’s drifted back to 11th next to Wilhelm Hirsch (DEU).

Magnus Ditlev (DNK) had a bit of a hiccup – we spotted him swimming to a support kayak to briefly adjust his goggles. Though he fell slighty fell behind, he is still within the full pack.

7:05 a.m. Sunday: And they’re off!

Here. We. GO! The start horn has fired, and the men’s pro race has officially begun with a 2.4-mile swim in the Baie des Anges. As always, there’s an immediate scrum, though we’ll likely see some anticipated frontrunners pull away at some point. To help with navigation, Ironman has assigned distinct swim cap colors to those frontrunners:

• Jonas Schomburg (DEU): Orange
• Marten Van Riel (BEL): Powder blue
• Wilhelm Hirsch (DEU): Violet
• Jamie Riddle (ZAF): Yellow
• Sam Laidlow (FRA): Green

The swim course in front of downtown Nice is an “M” shape, starting with a deep-water start (as in Kona). It’s two out-and-backs, each leg about 900 meters long. The middle turn will be close to the beach, but athletes will stay in the water, and there won’t be an “Aussie Exit” or an intermediate timing mat to check the leaders (and those stuck behind).

6:50 a.m. Sunday: The final countdown

The pros are warming up in the water, getting ready for what will be one of the most competitive men’s races in Ironman world championship history.

In our pre-race preview, Trirating expert Thorsten Radde predicted a few strong swimmers out front from the gun: Sam Laidlow (FRA), who won in 2023, along with  Jonas Schomburg (DEU) or Marten Van Riel (BEL), who will be prepared to take over when the pace slows down. How will it play out – and will the rest of the gang be able to hold on?

6:35 a.m. Sunday: Pro preparations and pre-race rituals

Each pro has its own pre-race ritual, be it stretching, jogging, or simply finding Zen (we see you, Sam Laidlow).

Or, if you’re Patrick Lange, you roll up to warm-ups in a leopard-print coat.

6:26 a.m. Sunday: It’s go time!

Good morning from Nice, France, where 2,500 athletes are ready to take on the ultimate challenge at the men’s 2025 Ironman world championship! Body marking and final preparations are currently underway in transition, and there’s a definite buzz in the air.

Also in the air: lots of humidity. As the sun prepares to emerge, air temperatures are currently 65 degrees F with 71% humidity; the forecast calls for 79-degree temperatures and similar high humidity.

Today’s swim will take place in 73-degree temperatures, making it a non-wetsuit swim. Many athletes are donning swim skins.

The nerves are building, but so is the excitement. It’s a great day to have a great day – let’s get it!