IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta 2025 results: Findlay and West power to wins in Georgia

Paula Findlay and Jason West ran out the clear-cut winners at IRONMAN 70.3 Augusta on Sunday.

Multiple Canadian time trial champion Findlay had nearly a minute and a half to make up after the swim but her bike prowess quickly took her to the front of the race and she was in control on the run as she saw off Georgia local Grace Alexander.

West meanwhile used his famed run speed to wipe out a deficit from the bike and win by just over two minutes from fellow American Ari Klau.

It was a welcome return of the event following the cancellation of the 2024 edition due to the effects of Hurricane Helene. Here’s how it played out…

Pro Women – Findlay defends title

The downriver swim in the Savannah River was led out by Margarita Ryan (USA), with Amelie Kretz (CAN) and Alexander not far behind and Findlay at +1:23.

But onto the bike and it took less than 20km for Findlay to move into contention alongside Alexander and Kretz.

That front group of three stayed together for pretty much the rest of the bike leg, putting time into Lisa Becharas (USA) and the rest.

So much so that by T2 the front trio were more than four minutes clear and every chance of filling the podium.

Findlay wasted little time in moving clear and by halfway she was 1:15 ahead of Alexander, with a similar margin back to Kretz in third.

And the pattern continued right the way to the line, with Findlay stopping the clock in 4:04:43 to follow up her victory the last time the race was held in 2023, with Alexander 2:49 back in second and Lydia Russell (USA) moving up to take the last spot on the podium.

Pro Men – West puts power down on run

The big news in the build up to the men’s race was that Lionel Sanders, who was allocated bib #1, decided the race would come far too soon as he works his way back to race fitness after injury.

But there were still plenty of big names taking part and one of those was Ben Kanute (USA) who led out the swim in 18:44, just ahead of Magnus Manner (GER).

Kanute had a 30-seconds advantage 40km into the bike but things would change after that and it was Louis Woodgate (GRC) who came to the head of affairs and reached T2 just a minute ahead of a siezable group.

That included West and it took him all of 3km to run his way to the front – and it was one-way traffic after that.

He was a minute ahead after 7km and two minutes approaching the last 3km which he held to the line, taking the tape in 3:35:05 after a 1:09:43 half marathon on the North Augusta Greenway. It was his second title here after his 2022 victory.

Klau claimed the first podium position of his pro career in second at +2:15, with Kevin McDowell (USA) in third.