Best triathlon photos from the last couple of months

Triathletes ride bikes across bridge over sea — Credit Tommy Zaferes / World Triathlon

It’s early in the triathlon season, but there’s already been plenty of elite action from stunning locations both hot and cold.

In New Zealand, the Challenge Wanaka has produced what will doubtless be some of the most beautiful triathlon photos of 2025. The antipodean country also hosted the World Triathlon Cup in Napier.

Off-season competition in the northern hemisphere usually puts a different spin on the traditional multisport format. Snowy shots from the 2025 World Winter Duathlon Championships contrast with photos of the sandy shoreline at the WTCS event in Abu Dhabi.

Spring continued to showcase the diversity of triathlon. Images of triathletes riding mountain bikes were juxtaposed against virtual and indoor racing at the supertri E World Championship and T1 Indoor Triathlon World Cup.

In more conventional triathlon race formats, on her T100 debut Kate Waugh won in Singapore while Martin van Riel impressed in Ironman action on the stunning South African shoreline.

It takes two

two male triathletes run wear green and gold tri suits — Sam Harding and guide, pro middle-distance athlete Aaron Royle, compete at the World Triathlon Para Series Devonport, Australia, on 13-14 March. They were one of only two pairs to take part in the PTVI category, winning with a time of 1:02:38 and by almost 8mins ahead of Japanese athlete Ryota Kashiki. (Credit: Delly Carr / World Triathlon)

Xtreme off-road triathlon

XTERRA APAC Championship 2025 — Alizée Paties en route to posting the fastest (30.2km) bike split of the day with a 1:27:27 at the Xterra Asia-Pacific Championship, in Dunsborough, Australia, on 30 March. The Frenchwoman would also register the top (10.5km) run time of 49:43 to take the overall win in 2:43:51. (Credit: XTERRA Media)

And indoor racing

2025 T1 Indoor Triathlon World Cup Liévin 22-03-2025 — Is it a concert? No, this is in fact a nighttime indoor triathlon, the T1 Indoor Triathlon World Cup Liévin, France, to be precise, on 22 March. In the centre you can see the pro male athletes lining up on the edge of the 25m pool to start their 200m swim; the track surrounding it where the 2.8km bike and 1km run take place. Victors were Henry Graf (GER) and home favourite, Olympian Cassandre Beaugrand. (Credit: by_wout.photographer)

Going nowhere fast

London Aquatic Centre, UK for the Supertri E World Triathlon Championships on 5th April 2025 Pro Women Finals — It was another Beth-v-Beugrand showdown on 5 April, this time at the supertri E World Championship, in London. But it was the Paris champion who would lead from start to finish in the gruelling, back-to-back nine- discipline triathlon to take the title ahead of Potter. In the men’s event, the fabulously named Maxime Hueber-Moosbrugger would make it a double French victory. (Credit: Jesper Gronnemark/Supertri)

Martin reels in most of the Ironman field

Triathletes ride bikes alongside South African shore — A dramatic day of racing ensued at Ironman South Africa, on 30 March, where Denmark’s Magnus Ditlev destroyed the bike course record by more than 7mins with a 4:07:22 to win by 4:30mins over T100 world champion Marten Van Riel. The latter, in only his second full-distance race, also qualified for the 2025 Ironman Worlds. For the women, it was back-to-back IM victories for Anne Reischmann (GER) after winning November’s Cozumel race. (Credit: Getty Images / Ironman)

Waugh’s winning T100 start

Singapore on the 5th April 2025 for the Singapore T100 pro womens race at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore — T100 debutante Kate Waugh, seen at the bottom of the image, completely obliterated the competition at the season-opener in Singapore on 5 April. The Paris Olympian clocked a 3:45:18 to win by 6:41mins ahead of wildcard Lisa Peterer (AUT) in second and GB’s Lucy Charles-Barclay in third. In the men’s race, Paris silver medallist Hayden Wilde was first across the line. (Credit: @by_wout.photographer / wout roosenboom T100)

Geens’ glory in Geelong

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 23: Jelle Geens of Belgium runs in the 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong on March 23, 2025 in Geelong, Australia — Reining half-Ironman champ Jelle Geens (BEL) started the year as he ended 2024, with a decisive 70.3 victory, this time at Geelong, Australia, on 23 March. Playing catch-up on the swim and bike, no one had an answer for his 1:07:58 half-marathon, winning with a time of 3:33:23. In the women’s race, it was a first-time 70.3 victory for Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) in 4:05:58. (Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

Eventful racing at Oceanside

OCEANSIDE, CA - MARCH 5: General view of age group triathletes running on the strand during the 2025 Athletic Brewing IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside, in Oceanside, California on March 5, 2025. — Ironman 70.3 Oceanside, on 5 April, may be the most thrilling race of the year. Kristian Blummemfelt (NOR) suffered a puncture, lost 14mins but then broke the run course record with a 1:07:19; Gustav Iden returned to the podium in third; pro cyclist Cameron Wurf was DSQ’d for speeding; Lionel Sanders took his fourth Oceanside victory; while Paula Findlay clocked her second course win. (Credit: Donald Miralle/IRONMAN)

Some like it hot

Triathlete cycles along road with desert and wind turbines in the distance — The first-ever Challenge Sir Bani-Yas took place on 5 April in Abu Dhabi. Intense heat on the bike and run course proved the day’s toughest challenge, but for the men’s victor, Jonathan Guisolan (SUI), it was a happy hunting ground: “I just love the heat. Mentally, it doesn’t affect me”. Aurélia Boulanger (FRA), another athlete who admitted to preferring the heat, won in 4:22:07 for the women. (Credit: Challenge Family)

Take my breath away at Challenge Wanaka

Aerial view of a trail running alongside a blue mountainside lake — It’s a toss-up between the incredible views or the intense physical challenge as to what will take your breath away first at Challenge Wanaka. Competitors seen here take to the eye-wateringly beautiful 21.1km run course, on 21 February. (Credit: Challenge Wanaka / Lennon Bright)

Chafing dreams at Ironman New Zealand

Supporter holding banners at roadside of triathlon race — Local fans cheer on as pro Tim Van Berkel (AUS) flies past on the marathon at Ironman New Zealand on 1 March. Berkel would finish fifth with a 7:56 flat, while the podium was topped by three-time winner Mike Phillips (NZL), Joe Skipper (GBR) in second and Jack Moody (NZL) in third. For the women, Aussie Regan Hollioake (AUS) would stop the clock in 8:51:30 for her third Ironman victory. (Credit: Graeme Murray / Ironman)

Cool runnings at the 2025 World Winter Duathlon Championships

Men run over snowy race course — France’s Marin Gautier leads the men out on the first run at the 2025 Winter Duathlon Champs in Cogne, Italy, on 21 February. The event is made up of a 2km run, 4km ski, 2km run, 4km ski. 2023 champion Jørgen Baklid of Norway (bib no.9 in the image) would reclaim his title this year with a winning time of 36:57. (Credit Petko Beier / World Triathlon)

Skis instead of swimsuits at the 2025 World Winter Triathlon Championships

Woman skier crosses finish line of race — A day after the Winter Duathlon Champs it was the turn of the ‘triathletes’, whose wintry challenge involved a 2km run, 4km bike, 4km ski… and then repeat. Russia’s Daria Rogozina (competing under the AIN neutral flag), who had taken the women’s elite duathlon title just 24hrs earlier, was victorious in a time of 1:05:58. (Credit Petko Beier / World Triathlon)

A podium debut for Mercer

Triathletes leave water after swim leg — Australian pro Brayden Mercer out of the 750m swim at the World Triathlon Cup Napier, New Zealand, on 23 February. Mercer, who trains with Matt Hauser, would eventually finish a close second behind Spain’s David Castro Fajardo for his first World Cup Podium. (Credit: World Triathlon)

Under the bridge at WTCS Abu Dhabi

Two male triathletes cycle beneath bridge — Aussie Matt Hauser and Portugal’s Vasco Vilaça go wheel to wheel in the sprint-distance WTCS men’s race in Abu Dhabi on 15 February. Both would try to stay in contact with Kiwi Hayden Wilde onto the 5km run, but Vilaça was first to drop off on the bell lap before Wilde was able to outsprint Hauser for the win by just 2secs. (Credit Tommy Zaferes / World Triathlon)

Front of the pack to DNF

Male triathletes run out of the sea — GB’s Max Stapley exits the water in first place on the second leg of the mixed relay event at WTCS Abu Dhabi on 16 February. But while working with a five-strong lead group on lap one of the bike leg, Stapley crashed after the lead rider, Swiss Simon Westermann, went down ahead of him. The spill meant a DNF for GB, Switzerland and Portugal, as Team Germany took the win. (Credit: Anos Schmidt / World Triathlon)

Brungraber takes silver in the Para Cup

Man rides recumbent bicycle besides sea — The Para Cup kick-started 2025’s pro world series on the new Al Hudayriyat Island course in Abu Dhabi on 15 February. Austria’s Florian Brungraber, seen here, would take silver in the PTWC category, while the only GBR representation came from Ryan Taylor, who took the PTS3 victory. (Credit Tommy Zaferes / World Triathlon)

Better returns for Waugh in Abu Dhabi

Inspired by these pictures? Read our guide to the best triathlons in the world to find a race in one of these locations.

About

Jack is an NCTJ-trained freelance sports journalist. He's worked for the Kyiv Post, SWNS press agency and BikeRadar. A runner turned cyclist, Jack loves a challenge on the bike, whether that's a 300km audax or steep hill climb race.