The Bikes, Wheels, and Gear of the Fastest Riders from Kona 2026

It’s one of our most awaited articles of the year — the fastest bikes and associated components used at the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship. This year saw an interesting mix of choices. The fastest women’s rider was in an aero road helmet instead of a pure TT one and didn’t use the raciest tire that Continental has on offer. On the men’s side, a Pinarello bike was under the fastest rider, but there were some interesting choices there, too.

Of note: more than half of the fastest bike splits came from SRAM equipped drivetrains. Bikes were mixed amongst a fair number of brands. Continental remains the preferred choice of the fastest pros, but Pirelli is making in-roads. And there are twelve different wheel manufacturers in these top splits. Peak aero, indeed.

Let’s get down to business. As always: you had to be in it at the end to win it, so no Lucy Charles-Barclay or Magnus Ditlev to be found here (among some other speedy rides).

Women’s Fastest Bike Splits

Taylor Knibb 4:40:04

Solveig Løvseth 4:42:12

Laura Phillip 4:43:00

Paula Findlay 4:43:41

Lisa Perterer 4:43:54

Imogen Simmonds 4:45:21

Hannah Berry 4:45:23

Regan Hollioake 4:48:21

Julie Derron 4:49:35

Lotte Wilms 4:51:27

Men’s Fastest Bike Splits

Gregory Barnaby 4:11:23

Matthew Marquardt 4:11:28

Nick Thompson 4:12:36

Cameron Wurf 4:12:41

Sam Long 4:12:50

Jon Sæverås Breivold 4:13:21

Kristian Blummenfelt 4:15:06

Vincent Luis 4:15:42

Marten Van Riel 4:16:14

Frederic Funk 4:16:29

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