Harry Palmer defended his IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea title in brilliant fashion in front of home crowds.
The status of the race was up a notch this season as it’s now part of the IRONMAN Pro Series and although that was reflected in a stronger field, the result was just the same.
Palmer had 45 seconds to make up after the swim but he then bridged up to the front group on the bike and bided his time before making his move early on the run.
He stopped the clock in 3:51:18, 49 seconds in front of training partner Leon Chevalier (FRA), with Kieran Lindars (GBR) rounding out the podium in third.
Swim – Surprising start
Conditions were perfect for what was a non-wetsuit swim at the SA1 Waterside, with a flat and calm body of water.
But it was a real battle and the big surprise was that uber swimmer Andrew Horsfall-Turner (GBR), who led solo 12 months previously, wasn’t part of it.
Instead it was Jannik Schaufler (GER), Lindars, Sam Dickinson, Ollie Turner (JEY), Lachlan Haycock (NZL) and Josh Lewis (GBR) who led the way in the Prince of Wales Dock.
They were 14 seconds ahead of a chase pack of seven which included Horsfall-Turner and Kristian Høgenhaug (DEN), just two weeks on from his superb second place at IRONMAN Frankfurt.
Palmer meanwhile at this point was 45 seconds down in 16th.
Bike – Chaos just before T2
It’s a long run to T1 at Swansea and it was short-course specialist Dickinson who took advantage as he worked his way to the front.
The one big name who had a lot to make up after the swim was Chevalier who was two minutes and 12 seconds back.
But the British-based Frenchman wasted little time in eating into that deficit and he was only 19 seconds behind at 40km and maintained that momentum as he swept into the lead.
Just after halfway on the lumpy bike course Chevalier now led a group of nine – Palmer, Dickinson, Kurt McDonald (AUS), Høgenhaug, Lewis, Schaufler, Horsfall-Turner and Lindars were the others.
Horsfall-Turner would drop off the back of that group but the other eight remained together heading into T2 – at which point confusion reigned.
Not for Dickinson, who again picked up valuable seconds, but at least three of those behind him momentarily stopped when they seemed to take a wrong turn.
They were soon back on track but the upshot was that heading out of transition Dickinson suddenly had a 22-second advantage.
Run – Palmer paces it perfectly
When things started to settle down on the run Dickinson was joined by Palmer after 6km.
At that point Chevalier was +22s, Lindars +47s, McDonald +48s, Hogenhaug +52s and then a bit of a gap to Schaufler and Lewis.
Palmer and Dickinson ran together for a couple of kilometres but before the halfway mark it was the defending champion who eased clear.
He looked super comfortable at that point and continued to do so and was never threatened.
But in behind Chevalier came through into second and Lindars also overhauled Dickinson to take third.
IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea 2025 Results
Sunday 13 July 2025 – 1.9km / 90km / 21.1km
PRO Men
- 1. Harry Palmer (GBR) – 3:51:18 [23:25 / 2:11:30 / 1:11:22]
- 2. Leon Chevalier (FRA) – 3:52:07 [24:53 / 2:09:46 / 1:12:15]
- 3. Kieran Lindars (GBR) – 3:52:29 [22:43 / 2:12:24 / 1:12:30]
- 4. Sam Dickinson (GBR) – 3:53:10 [22:42 / 2:12:10 / 1:13:50]
- 5. Kristian Høgenhaug (DEN) – 3:53:40 [23:10 / 2:11:35 / 1:13:40]
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