Defending IRONMAN North American Champ Matt Hanson spends considerable time throughout the year training in The Woodlands, TX. Given no major long distance events take place near his home in Iowa, the speedy marathoner considers IRONMAN Texas his hometown race. He is ready to defend his title riding a Quintana Roo PR 6.

All photographs © Lars Finanger

Hanson rode a Quintana Roo to his breakthrough win last May and will ride their PR Six on Saturday.

Zipp 808 Firecrest Carbon Clincher is Hanson's front wheel choice. There are over 80 turns listed on the 95-mile IRONMAN Texas bike course.

Zipp Tangente Speed tires, 25mm wide.

SRAM Red front brake calipers.

Cockpit shows careful planning for optimal fueling with the Torhans hydration systems, pace and power output monitoring with his Garmin computer, and the SRAM Red eTap shifting.

SRAM’s junction box nestled between Torhans bottle and stem.

Some handy work by Hanson to ensure his nutrition storage box sits snugly behind the stem.

Another Torhans aero hydration bottle bolted to the frame so Hanson does not comprise his fueling strategy or aerodynamics.

A Cobb JOF 55 saddle keeps Hanson riding comfortably and allows for an additional bottle to be attached to the saddle rails using an XLAB Gorilla XT cage. Black electrical tape marks his desired seat height.

A closer angle showing where bottle cage attaches to saddle rails. QR also labels the desired position angles ranging from a slack 77-degrees to a steeper 83-degrees

QR’s rear storage unit good for multiple purposes.

SRAM 55-tooth chain ring and Quarq ELSA power meter.

Hanson works with custom cycling shoe manufacturer, Riivo, run by Brad Harper, a former speed skater based in nearby Conroe, Texas.

SRAM Red rear derailleur

Zipp Super-9 Carbon Clincher Disc.

Zipp Tangente Speed 25mm tires in the rear too.

Hanson cool under pressure and seems to be enjoying being the race favorite this year.

Jeff Symonds and Hanson are two of the quickest runners in the sport both with a number of IRONMAN marathons in the low 2:40’s to their names in recent years.