Canadian triathlete Lionel Sanders shattered the bike course record at the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 St. George, powering his way to victory in the North American Championship with a dominant performance. Sanders’ remarkable 1:58:13 bike split broke the previous record and helped secure his overall win, while Paula Findlay claimed the women’s title in convincing fashion.
Men’s Race Recap: Sanders vs. Long
The men’s race featured an exciting battle between two of triathlon’s biggest stars, with Sanders ultimately prevailing over American Sam Long. Sanders completed the 70.3-mile course in an impressive total time of 3:37:54, while Long finished second in 3:40:08.
Sanders emerged from the swim in 25:00, just a minute behind Long who posted a solid 26:00 swim split. The Canadian made his move on the challenging bike course, where his record-breaking 1:58:13 performance put him firmly in the lead heading into the run.
Despite Long’s valiant effort on the run with a slightly faster 1:11:30 half-marathon compared to Sanders’ 1:11:49, the gap from the bike proved too substantial to overcome. American Colin Szuch rounded out the podium with a total time of 3:44:04, delivering an impressive 1:14:00 run split to secure third place.
Sanders Shatters Bike Course Record
The highlight of the day was undoubtedly Sanders’ phenomenal bike performance. His 1:58:13 split demolished the previous course record of 1:59:57, which had been set by Sam Long in a previous edition of the event.
“I felt incredible on the bike today,” Sanders said after the race. “I’ve been focusing on my power output in training, and it really paid off on this challenging course. Breaking the two-hour mark on this terrain is something special.”
Sanders maintained an average power of approximately 330 watts throughout the undulating St. George bike course, demonstrating both technical skill and raw power on the iconic red rock backdrop of southern Utah.
Women’s Race Recap: Findlay’s Victory
In the women’s race, Canadian Paula Findlay dominated the field to win in 4:11:06. Findlay displayed consistent strength across all three disciplines, exiting the water in 25:57, powering through the bike in 2:17:47, and closing with a solid 1:24:08 run.
Paula Findlay mentioned her strategic approach: “The St. George course requires smart pacing, especially on the bike. I focused on maintaining consistent power through the climbs while staying aerodynamic on the descents.”
American Danielle Lewis put in a strong performance to finish second in 4:14:12, with her 1:23:17 run split being the fastest among the top women. Fellow American Jackie Hering completed the podium in 4:17:06, delivering a well-balanced race across all disciplines.
“Winning here in St. George means so much to me,” said Findlay after crossing the finish line. “The course suits my strengths, and I’m thrilled to add another IRONMAN 70.3 victory to my resume.”
2025 IRONMAN 70.3 St. George Full Results: Top Finishers
Men’s Top 5
| Rank | Athlete | Nationality | Total Time | Swim | Bike | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lionel Sanders | CAN | 3:37:54 | 25:00 | 1:58:13 | 1:11:49 |
| 2 | Sam Long | USA | 3:40:08 | 26:00 | 1:59:53 | 1:11:30 |
| 3 | Colin Szuch | USA | 3:44:04 | 25:37 | 2:01:13 | 1:14:00 |
| 4 | Magnus Ditlev | DEN | 3:45:22 | 24:45 | 2:00:28 | 1:16:34 |
| 5 | Ben Kanute | USA | 3:46:10 | 23:12 | 2:03:45 | 1:15:29 |
Women’s Top 5
| Rank | Athlete | Nationality | Total Time | Swim | Bike | Run |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paula Findlay | CAN | 4:11:06 | 25:57 | 2:17:47 | 1:24:08 |
| 2 | Danielle Lewis | USA | 4:14:12 | 29:07 | 2:18:36 | 1:23:17 |
| 3 | Jackie Hering | USA | 4:17:06 | 26:44 | 2:23:30 | 1:23:04 |
| 4 | Skye Moench | USA | 4:19:33 | 27:21 | 2:20:12 | 1:27:55 |
| 5 | Tamara Jewett | CAN | 4:21:05 | 30:41 | 2:27:13 | 1:19:48 |
The 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 St. George
The 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 St. George featured several notable moments and performances beyond the headline-grabbing bike course record:
- “Racing against Lionel always pushes me to my limits,” said Sam Long. “Today he was simply stronger on the bike. I’ll be working even harder to close that gap next time we face off.”
- Race director Kevin Lewis noted: “The conditions were nearly perfect today, with temperatures in the low 70s and minimal wind. It created an ideal environment for record-breaking performances.”
Impact & IRONMAN Pro Series Standings
The IRONMAN 70.3 St. George, serving as the North American Championship, carried significant implications for the IRONMAN Pro Series standings. With his victory, Sanders moves into first place in the North American rankings, strengthening his position for the World Championship qualification.
Findlay’s win further solidifies her status as one of the top women’s 70.3 athletes in the world, extending her lead in the Pro Series standings. Both athletes are now well-positioned for the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship scheduled for September in Finland.
The St. George event, known for its challenging terrain and spectacular scenery, continues to attract elite athletes from around the world. The 2025 edition featured over 2,500 age-group participants competing alongside the professional field, making it one of the premier triathlon events in North America.
For complete results and additional coverage of the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 St. George, including age-group performances and photo galleries, visit the official IRONMAN website.
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