THROUGH THE LENS: TOP BIKE IMAGES FROM THE WOMEN’S 2023 VINFAST IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN KAILUA-KONA, HAWAI`I
KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i (Oct. 14, 2023) – Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i provided the stage for an historic day as it welcomed over 2,000 registered athletes to participate in the first-ever female-only race at the VinFast IRONMAN® World Championship triathlon. After a swim in Kailua Bay, athletes embarked on a scenic and thrilling 112-mile (180.2km) FulGaz® Bike Course from Kailua-Kona to the Hawi turnaround. Returning back to Kona along the iconic Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway, athletes experienced exposed terrain and crosswinds. Along with captivating views of lava fields, coastline, and ocean, the course also featured challenging climbs with an elevation gain of up to 5,814 ft. (1772 meters).
SETTING THE PACE: Lucy Charles-Barclay leads the pack onto the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway portion of the FulGaz Bike Course at the 2023 Women’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon – (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Taylor Knibb (USA) holding onto second position while chasing the race leader Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) on the 112-mile (180km) FUlGaz Bike Course. Knibb, whose mother is also competing in this year’s event as an age-grouper, is making her full-distance IRONMAN debut at the 2023 Women’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship (Photo credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
THE VETERAN AND THE ROOKIE: Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) a veteran of the IRONMAN World Championship and a four-time second place finisher, was the first out of the water during Saturday’s female-only VinFast IRONMAN World Championship. Posting the fastest swim and bike time (4:32:29), Charles-Barclay is looking to break through for her first IRONMAN World Championship victory. On the other end, Taylor Knibb (USA) who came off the bike in second place is taking on her first full-distance IRONMAN triathlon having never run a marathon previously, as she aims to add to her already impressive resume. (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen / Getty Images for IRONMAN
MID-FLIGHT: An athlete soars down the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway while on the 112-mile (180km) FulGaz Bike Course at Saturday’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon – (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
FLOWER POWER: The Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway provides stunning Hawaiian scenery for the over 2,000 amazing women cycling the 112-mile (180km) FulGaz Bike Course at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
FLOWER POWER: The Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway provides stunning Hawaiian scenery for the over 2,000 amazing women cycling the 112-mile (180km) FulGaz Bike Course at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
QUEENS ON THE QUEEN K: Age-groupers embark on the iconic Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway, which takes them from Kailua-Kona to the Hawi turnaround and back. Athletes battle against the strong crosswinds and humidity, but are rewarded with the captivating views of lava fields, coastlines and the ocean – (Photo Credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
LAVA FLOWIN’: The Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway surrounded by lava fields provides a stunning backdrop of thousands of women undertaking the 112-mile (180km) FulGaz Bike Course while competing the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon (Photo Credit: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
GOOD VIBES: Cathy Casey from Austin, Texas flashes a shaka sign to the camera. A shaka sign is signaling she is in good spirits as she cruises down the Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway while on the 112-mile (180km) FulGaz Bike Course at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon (Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images for IRONMAN)