British triathlon superstar Lucy Charles-Barclay returns to where it all began at IRONMAN Lanzarote

The Canary Islands are one of the prominent training grounds for the world’s finest triathletes, boasting clear blue oceans, undulating mountains roads and an all-year round warm climate.

They also host some of the most iconic swim, bike, run races on the planet, and back in May 2016, British triathlon legend Lucy Charles-Barclay debuted over the full distance, securing a third-place finish at IRONMAN Lanzarote.

Since then, she has pretty much achieved all the highest accolades available in endurance triathlon: a nine-time middle-distance race victor – including the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 Championship and three Challenge ‘The Championship’ wins, as well as claiming six full-distance crowns – the highlights being the 2023 IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii and a Challenge Roth success in 2019.

LCB back where it began

The 31-year-old returns to the venue of her debut podium where she finished behind Denmark’s Tine Holst and Belgium’s Alexandra Tondeur – she had led that race after the swim by almost 10 minutes, but fell away on the bike and run to finish in a time of 10:10:13.

A year later, competing in here second Ironman-distance event, Charles-Barclay recorded another first, her maiden 140.6-mile victory in a time of 9:35:39. Once again she dominated on the swim, taking a seven-minute lead into the bike.

She further extended her advantage by recording the fastest bike split before holding off the field with a strong marathon performance. She led compatriots Corrine Abraham and Lucy Gossage across the finish line. That year she went on to finish second at the IRONMAN World Championship at Kona – her first of four runner-up placings on the Big Island.

Ahead of the race, Lucy posted on Instagram: “My pro career kicked off on this island, so IRONMAN Lanzarote will always have a very special place in my heart”

“Definitely one of the most epic and challenging courses you will find on the IRONMAN circuit. I am so buzzing to get out there and see what I can do this weekend.”

IRONMAN Lanzarote challengers

LCB will be challenged by Denmark’s Maja Stage Nielsen who recorded a career best full-distance finish with second at IRONMAN Hamburg last season. She has already raced twice in 2025, finishing fifth at IRONMAN South Africa and sixth at IRONMAN 70.3 Jesolo.

LCB meanwhile finished third at Singapore T100 in April despite being under the weather, and has won her last two full-distance races: the 2023 World Championship and IRONMAN Nice in June 2024.