IRONMAN Texas will still have a stellar start list for its 2025 edition, but there will be no Lionel Sanders.
The hugely popular 37-year-old Canadian produced a quite brilliant display last weekend to storm through the deepest field in recent memory at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside. It was his fourth victory at the iconic California race.
After that win Sanders was scheduled to again meet up with Kristian Blummenfelt, Gustav Iden, Patrick Lange et al at The Woodlands on April 26. He spoke about the eagerly-anticipated rematch in his post-race debrief after Oceanside.
When IRONMAN released the pro start lists for Texas late on Thursday though, there was no sign of Sanders. When contacted on Friday, an IRONMAN spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Lionel has withdrawn from the upcoming Memorial Hermann IRONMAN Texas.”
As yet we do not have the reason for Sanders deciding not to take up this engagement, but there will still be a terrific field lining up in the Lone Star State in a little over a fortnight.
Who is racing at IRONMAN Texas?
It is of course headed by Norwegian superstars Blummenfelt and Iden, along with reigning and three-time IRONMAN World Champion Lange. Blummenfelt’s Oceanside bid was ruined by a flat tyre on the bike, while Iden proved he is on the way back to top form by coming home third. Lange meanwhile was never a factor.
The home contingent will be headed by Rudy Von Berg, who claimed an excellent second place behind Sanders at Oceanside. Matthew Marquardt – fourth in the Pro Series standings in 2024 – will also toe the line.
France’s Leon Chevalier, fourth in the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona last October, will make his first trip to Texas while Denmark’s Denmark’s Kristian Høgenhaug – third in the Pro Series standings last year – returns to The Woodlands for the first time since 2018.
Other big names on the start list include Daniel Bækkegård (DNK), Robert Kallin (SWE), Matt Hanson (USA), Ben Kanute (USA), Trevor Foley (USA), Cam Wurf (AUS) and Matt Burton (AUS).
IRONMAN Texas 2025 Start List – Pro Men
| Bib Number | Name | Country |
| M1 | Patrick Lange | DEU |
| M2 | Rudy Von Berg | USA |
| M3 | Gustav Iden | NOR |
| M4 | Kristian Blummenfelt | NOR |
| M5 | Leon Chevalier | FRA |
| M6 | Matthew Marquardt | USA |
| M7 | Kristian Hogenhaug | DNK |
| M8 | Trevor Foley | USA |
| M9 | Matt Hanson | USA |
| M10 | Robert Kallin | SWE |
| M11 | Chris Leiferman | USA |
| M12 | Antonio Benito | ESP |
| M13 | Ben Kanute | USA |
| M14 | Daniel Baekkegard | DNK |
| M15 | Cameron Wurf | AUS |
| M16 | Matt Burton | AUS |
| M17 | Robert Wilkowiecki | POL |
| M18 | Paul Schuster | DEU |
| M19 | Casper Stornes | NOR |
| M20 | Andrea Salvisberg | CHE |
| M21 | Kieran Lindars | GBR |
| M22 | Kacper Stepniak | POL |
| M23 | Wilhelm Hirsch | DEU |
| M24 | Ben Hamilton | NZL |
| M25 | Nick Thompson | AUS |
| M26 | Jarrod Osborne | AUS |
| M27 | Thomas Davis | GBR |
| M28 | Finn Große-freese | DEU |
| M29 | Dominik Sowieja | DEU |
| M30 | Marc Eggeling | DEU |
| M31 | Jason Pohl | CAN |
| M32 | Pamphiel Pareyn | BEL |
| M33 | Adam Feigh | USA |
| M34 | Connor Weaver | USA |
| M36 | Andrew Horsfall-Turner | GBR |
| M37 | David Plese | SVN |
| M38 | Tristan Olij | NLD |
| M39 | Michael Arishita | USA |
| M40 | Patrick Brady | USA |
| M41 | Luke Mathews | ARE |
| M42 | William Mennesson | FRA |
| M43 | Flavio Morandini | ARG |
| M44 | Garrick Loewen | CAN |
| M45 | Matt Kerr | NZL |
| M46 | Branden Scheel | USA |
| M47 | Nick Cosman | CAN |
| M48 | Mikael Staer Nathan | CAN |
| M49 | Levente Lukacs | HUN |
| M50 | Daniel Bluff | GBR |
| M51 | Simon Shi | USA |
| M52 | Joshua Monda | USA |
| M53 | Taylor Days-Merrill | USA |
| M54 | Tomasz Brembor | POL |
| M55 | Fraser Walsh | AUS |
| M56 | Joaquin Pereda | MEX |
| M57 | Robert Swan | USA |
| M58 | Elliot Bach | USA |
| M59 | Marcel Bischof | DEU |
| M60 | Trevor Delsaut | FRA |
| M61 | Chris Beckmans | AUS |
| M62 | Thomas Gordon | USA |
| M63 | Nik Reinert | USA |
| M64 | Matt Jackson | USA |
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