IRONMAN Leeds continues Yorkshire city’s love affair with triathlon

Leeds, a city with an incredible triathlon legacy, has just been announced as the newest full-distance IRONMAN host city in the UK.

The IRONMAN Leeds triathlon will take place on 27 July 2025, with priority registration opening on 24 September.

Leeds is already synonymous with the sport – it’s the birthplace and training base of brothers Alistair and Jonny Brownlee who between them have won three Olympic gold medals, a silver and a bronze. It boasts state-of-the-art training facilities which include The Brownlee Centre, the UK’s first purpose-built triathlon training centre.

It has also been the UK representative on the World Triathlon calendar on six occasions, the latest in 2022.

And it’s no stranger to the highest-profile sporting events, famously hosting the Tour de France’s Grand Depart in spectacular fashion in 2014 – with many of those roads now set to be used for the cycling leg at IRONMAN Leeds.

Roundhay Park the race HQ

Leeds will become only the fourth English host destination of an IRONMAN triathlon after Sherborne (2005-2008), Bolton (2009 to 2019, then 2021-2023) and Weymouth (2016).

And it’s not just the Brownlees who have put triathlon on the map in the UK – Alex Yee emulated Alistair Brownlee by striking Olympic gold in Paris in July this year while Lucy Charles-Barclay is the reigning IRONMAN World Champion and Chrissie Wellington is a Hall of Famer after winning that event no fewer than four times.

It is yet to be confirmed whether IRONMAN Leeds will also feature pro races, that will be established when IRONMAN have finished working through their full schedule of professional races for 2025.

But from a participation point of view, the appetite for racing amongst UK athletes is higher than ever with a record number racing IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 races across Europe in 2024 – second only to the United States globally.

The full course maps will be released soon but it has already been confirmed that athletes will begin the race in Roundhay Park, a 700-acre urban park, just three miles away from Leeds city centre.

They will take on a 2.4-mile (3.8km) lake swim in the same venue used for the World Triathlon Championship Series Leeds.

They will then embark on a 112-mile (180km) bike course up into the stunning Yorkshire Dales National Park. Athletes will cycle the same roads as the famous 2014 Tour de France Grand Depart route, with approximately 2,500 metres of climbing.

Finally, athletes will take on a 26.2-mile (42.2km) run on a multi-lap course around Roundhay Park and scenic surrounding areas, before reaching the finish line.

‘Strong track record’

Sam Brawn, Regional Director of UK, Ireland & Africa for The IRONMAN Group, commented: “We have long had our eyes on the city of Leeds as a host of an IRONMAN UK race thanks to its passion for triathlon, great course potential, and easy travel links for both local and international athletes. Thank you to Leeds City Council and North Yorkshire Council for helping us make it happen.

“Our UK event calendar is now fully baked. We’ll kick off with the IRONMAN 70.3 Bolton triathlon on 8 June 2025, the perfect preparation race for the IRONMAN Leeds event.

“The IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea triathlon will follow on 13 July 2025, with the inaugural IRONMAN Leeds triathlon taking place two weeks after on 27 July.

“The IRONMAN 70.3 Weymouth triathlon is taking place on 14 September, with the IRONMAN Wales race scheduled for 21 September. It’s going to be another epic year of IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 triathlon racing in the UK.”

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “We’re delighted to have been confirmed as IRONMAN UK’s latest host location, and proud that the council has been able to play its part in bringing this great event to Leeds.

As a city, we are hugely passionate about sport of all kinds, from top-class professional action to grassroots health and fitness activities.

“We also have a strong track record of staging major sporting events that benefit from our first-rate venues, our stunning scenery and our inclusive and welcoming outlook on life.

“IRONMAN Leeds will be a perfect opportunity to bring all this together and once again showcase our city to the watching world. Roll on next July!”