FELT BICYCLES ATHLETES STORM THE PODIUM AT ST. GEORGE IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

7 May 2022

St. George, UTAH | USA

After a two-year hiatus, today marked the return to racing at the Ironman World Championships. A unique version of the race, today’s championship was to retroactively crown the “2021 World Champ."  The iconic Kona, HI World Championship event returns to its typical October time slot later this year.

This special “2021 edition," held on a challenging, desert-backed course, was the first time the World Championship event has ever taken place outside of Kona. Despite its unique nature, the racing at St. George provided the excitement and drama that fuels the iconic moments the sport of triathlon so often delivers. FELT athletes put on a master class and scorching performances.

THE SWIM & BIKE

Riding the newly-launched FELT IA 2.0 triathlon race bike, Braden Currie of New Zealand (Instagram @bradencurrie) and Daniela Ryf of Switzerland (Instagram @danielaryf) both chased and then led throughout the bike leg after putting in solid swims.

Braden, a tenacious competitor with multiple titles including NZ & Asia Pacific XTERRA Champion and NZ Olympic distance, long-distance, and Ultra-distance Triathlon Champion, chased to the front following the swim and then traded the lead throughout the 112-mile (180km) to finish with all of the men’s leaders on the bike. Currie finished the bike leg in fifth within mere seconds of 1st place.

Ryf, who has dominated the Ironman World Championship with wins across Ironman 70.3 (2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018) and Ironman (2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018) put in a solid swim and then settled into her well-known bike form to chase down the initial leaders and propel herself into first by the halfway point on the bike. Ryf finished the bike leg in 1st with a lead of more than 7 minutes over her closest competitor.

THE MARATHON & FINISH

Heading into the final marathon leg, the two FELT racers settled into their pace, each leading their respective categories.  The heat and punchy course profile challenged the athletes with Braden Currie doggedly trying to hold off the hard-charging Olympic Triathlon gold medalist, Kristian Blummenfelt, who ultimately took the lead with just miles remaining. As the race took its toll, Currie entered the finish straight and was finally passed near the line by Canadian Lionel Sanders, who turned on the afterburners to take 2nd. Currie's 3rd place, and first World Championship podium, is a breakthrough performance and promises much for this dedicated racer.

Daniela Ryf dominated the women's race, returning to her untouchable form as she delivered a stellar performance in the run en route to an amazing 5th Ironman World Championship win! Daniela overcame a challenging couple of years to re-establish her position as the Queen of Ironman.

FINAL RESULTS

Men

1. Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) — 7:49:16
2. Lionel Sanders (CAN) — 7:54:03
3. Braden Currie (NZL + Felt Bicycles) — 7:54:19

Women

1. Daniela Ryf (SUI + Felt Bicycles) — 8:34:59
2. Kat Matthews (GBR) — 8:43:49
3. Anne Haug (GER) — 8:47:03

THE NEW DEFINITION OF FAST

"We just launched our latest triathlon bike, the IA 2.0, last week. Taking it to its first Ironman and seeing it race at the front of both men's and women's events is the reward for the hard work to develop such a quick bike", says Eric Sakalowsky, Head of Global Marketing for Felt.  "We are inspired by these amazing athletes and couldn't be more proud of our part in making them so fast."

BE CRAZY FAST

It's the fastest bike we've ever created. Learn more about the all-new IA 2.0 triathlon race machine—and sign up to pre-order yours.

ABOUT FELT BICYCLES

Since its founding in 1991 in Southern California, Felt Bicycles has strived to create the fastest bicycles in the world, its mission to empower all cyclists and triathletes to become the fastest versions of themselves. Through obsessions with aerodynamic innovation, materials science, and rider optimization, Felt Bicycles has helped the world’s greatest athletes capture innumerable world championships, grand tour stage victories, and gold medals. Fast, competitive, accomplished, and instinctive—that’s Felt Bicycles, and its riders, too. #FeltIsFast