Louisville Gears Up for Big Weekend of IRONMAN 70.3 Racing
It might not be part of the IRONMAN Pro Series, but this weekend’s second running of IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville features a strong field of pro triathletes who we’re used to seeing at the sport’s biggest events. Slowtwitch will be on hand to cover this weekend’s racing in Kentucky’s largest city, the home of one of the world’s most famous horse races and the Louisville Slugger.
The second edition of the IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville triathlon is set to take place with over 1,300 registered athletes preparing to compete.
IRONMAN Return
Louisville hosted a full-distance race in Louisville from 2007 to 2019. The first race required a last-minute change to the swim course because of currents in the Ohio River, which led to the creation of a mostly downriver swim that became a popular feature of the race. The swim was followed by a deceptively challenging bike course that included lots of rolling hills through Kentucky’s spectacular horse country. The day finished up with a run that took athletes by the famed Churchill Downs, home of the famed Kentucky Derby, and into the unforgettable finish line at Fourth Street Live!
In July, 2020 IRONMAN announced that that year’s race would be canceled, and that the race wouldn’t return in 2021. It was suggested that IRONMAN would look into “future IRONMAn and IRONMAN 70.3 event locations in Kentucky.”
Last year IRONMAN racing returned to the state with IRONMAN 70.3 Louisville. The race was an age-group only event, won by Jacob Capin and Marni Sumbal.
Women’s Field
Jackie Hering, who finished second in last year’s IRONMAN Pro Series standings, headlines the women’s field. The American will no-doubt be looking to get her legs into speed-mode again after her win at IRONMAN Cairns in June and her eighth-place finish at IRONMAN Lake Placid last month.
Also included in the field is Gabrielle Lumkes (USA), who took 12th in Lake Placid, along with Jeanni Metzler (RSA). Others to keep an eye on include France’s Anne Basso and Canadian Dominika Jamnicky, who just missed making it to the Olympics last year.
Men’s Field
Jason West and Ben Kanute will be wearing the top-two numbers in the men’s field, but fellow American Trevor Foley is certainly deserving of a top-seed position as well.
West is bouncing back after his first full-distance race in Lake Placid, where he blasted through a 2:37:18 marathon to finish fifth. As a contracted T100 athlete in 2025, West has a pair of top-10 finishes over that distance in Vancouver and San Francisco to go along with a runner-up finish at 70.3 Pucon and a third-place finish at 70.3 Chattanooga this year.
Foley “struggled” (it’s really hard to describe a 2:46 marathon as struggled) through the run in Lake Placid after ripping through the bike course to lead off the bike, but was still able to finish third. While he had a tough day at 70.3 St. George in May, he finished second at 70.3 Eagleman (behind Sam Long).
While Kanute has enjoyed some solid 70.3 racing in 2025, he’s coming off a pair of disappointing IRONMAN performances in Texas and Frankfurt, so he’ll no-doubt be looking to use the race in Louisville as a springboard to some top performances for the latter-half of the season.
While all eyes will no-doubt be on those three heading into Sunday’s race, Justin Metzler, Matt Kerr (NZL) and Trevor Desault (FRA) are just a few of the athletes in the field who promise to keep things interesting.
The pros are racing for their share of a US$25,000 prize purse and two men’s and women’s slots for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Spain in November. You can see the full pro field here.
let’s go!
How much does Ben need to hold off Trevor ?
How much does Trevor need to hold off Jason ?
Looks like Trevor made up 35seconds on the bike
Trevor started 2m41 down, finished 2m06 down. Good bike for Ben who is more aero but less raw watts.
Definitely a great ride by Ben!
Note: you have not tested Trevor in his current position with his current equipment. Very strange decision to take digs at athletes in public spaces, where they read your comments and will choose to no longer use your services.
Not a dig. Very simply, Trevor puts how huge watts, to get 35 secs, one assumes Ben is more aero. I didn’t see Ben’s power nor Trevor’s, we are speculating. Neither are people I actively work with.
Lighten up
They’re pretty dumb comments…
My apology, I will bow out
It’s hot… bike course is a complete cluster… and everyone is already tired and feel like shit…
It’s going to be a rough day for everyone doing this race
What in the world? @marcag hasn’t said anything that is even remotely offensive or out of line.
Agreed, with his experience it’s more than just an educated guess.
Jason has made up 2:10 on Trevor at nearly halfway through the run and is now 2:20 back. May be a tight one!
I was registered to do the race but two tears in my left leg put an end to my 2025 race schedule. Kind of not sad to be racing in those conditions.
Don’t shed any tears for me though.
Currently sitting on my balcony at a resort in Key West eating an açaí bowl and drinking an iced peanut butter latte. Going snorkeling in a couple of hours.
Can Jason sustain this pace??
On a scale of offensive things posted here, this might be the mildest I’ve ever seen. If this is offending sensibilities, people may want to take a break from the internet.
Retirement is hard