In just over two weeks, the European and South Africa race season officially kicks off, with ISUZU IRONMAN® South Africa African Championship and IRONMAN® 70.3® Valencia both taking place on Sunday 19 April. Over the other side of the pond the IRONMAN Pro Series™ will continue the same weekend at Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas North American Championship.
ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa – 19th April
ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa African Championship will be returning to Nelson Mandela Bay this April, with a selection of international pro athletes attending the start line. Professional athletes will be racing for a share of the $150,000 event prize purse, one of four slots per gender to the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship, and the title of IRONMAN African Champion.
In absence of last year’s champions (Magnus Ditlev of Denmark and Anne Resichmann of Germany), a new IRONMAN African Champion will be crowned.
Returning for the second year to his hometown race is local favourite and Olympian Jamie Riddle. In 2025, Riddle finished in an impressive fifth place in his debut IRONMAN race as he was spurred on by the incredible local support. Last season also saw Riddle secure topten finishes at both the IRONMAN World Championship, placing 10th, and the Precision Fuel & Hydration IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, where he finished seventh. With Olympic Games experience and a World Triathlon African Championship title already to his name, adding an IRONMAN victory would further underline the impressive start to his young career.
Coming straight off the back of racing Absa Cape Epic, Matthew Marquardt (USA) will be one of the favourites to rival Riddle’s attempt at glory. Marquardt has two IRONMAN victories to his name – Athletic Brewing IRONMAN Lake Placid and Cairns Airport IRONMAN Cairns – and provided his legs have recovered from 600km+ of cycling during the Absa Cape Epic, is expected to be a major force on the bike and a serious threat to the competition.
Another name to look out for is the 2024 IRONMAN African Champion Rasmus Svenningsson (SWE) who will be looking to repeat the feat from two years ago and spoil the South African party.
Other male contenders include Frederic Funk (DEU) who made his IRONMAN debut last year with a third place finish at IRONMAN Switzerland triathlon and Gregory Barnaby (ITA), the 2024 IRONMAN Pro Series Champion.
Wearing bib number one in the women’s professional field will be Katrine Christensen (DEN) who won IRONMAN Kalmar and IRONMAN 70.3 Krakow triathlons last year, whilst also taking a step on the podium at ISUZU IRONMAN South Africa African Championship.
The race will also feature a strong cohort of Germans with the likes of Merle Brunnée, Laura Jansen, Julia Skala, and Henrike Güber. Jansen who placed 4th in the 2025 IRONMAN Pro Series last year and has finished on the podium in multiple IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 triathlons, will be one to watch on race day.
Representing the UK will be Rebecca Anderbury, Daisy Davies and Claire Hann who will all be battling it out for a piece of the $150,000 prize purse.
Other names include Ann Pabinger (AUT) who took the crown at IRONMAN Chattanooga and Aussie Penny Slater who most recently came fourth at IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong.
IRONMAN 70.3 Valencia – 19th April
Also taking place on Sunday 19 April is IRONMAN 70.3 Valenica triathlon. In its third year, the race has consistently drawn huge professional fields, and this year is no different with a stacked field of over 100 athletes.
All eyes will be on 2023 IRONMAN World Champion, Sam Laidlow (FRA) as he makes his IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon debut. Laidlow’s dominant racing style will likely see him in the front pack of the swim, and then go on to blitz the bike course record of 2:01:11.
Reigning champion, Johannes Vogel (DEU), who took his maiden professional victory at the race last year, will no doubt have his work cut out for him as he prepares to defend his title. Joining Vogel and Laidlow will be last year’s runner-up Fabian Kraft (DEU) and other talent such as Lasse Nygaard Priester (DEU), Simon Viain (FRA) and many more.
In the women’s professional field, reigning champion Daniel Kleiser (DEU) will be ready to take back the crown after a strong 2025 season which also included two 4th place finishes and a podium finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea triathlon. French fan favourite, Marjolaine Pierre (FRA) will be among most people’s top picks. An impressive season last year, saw her take the win at IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence, clock a third place finish at IRONMAN Vitoria-Gastiez and finish in the top five at the Precision and Fuel IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
Other challengers come in the guise of 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 European Champion, Lena Meissner (DEU); Sif Benfix Madsen (DEN) and Imogen Simmonds (CHE).
Athletes will take on the iconic city of Valencia’s well-known for its rich culture and sport centric vision, with marathons, triathlons and motorsports all holding races in the city. Pro athletes will be racing for a piece of the $40,000 prize money and qualifying slot for the RIONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice.
