Search
shop

Triathlon superstar Lucy Charles-Barclay reveals her race strategy after stunning IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman win

She left Chelsea Sodaro trailing in her wake on brutal course with a "much harder bike ride" than she anticipated
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Britain’s Lucy Charles-Barclay says she felt like she had a target on her back as she blew the rest of the field away to claim a big victory at IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman in Maryland on Sunday.

But the 31-year-old would not have it any other way as she bids for more glory this year.

Charles-Barclay, the 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion and 2023 IRONMAN World Champion, led from the start and held off the fast-finishing 2022 IRONMAN World Champion Chelsea Sodaro (USA) on the closing half-marathon to win in a new course record time.

LCB all the way

She said: “It’s pretty tough. It’s definitely my style of racing, going from the gun but you always feel like you’ve got the target on your back. I wasn’t really sure of the gaps behind.

“I was just trying to put my head down and push and focus on keeping the power going, because it’s so fast and flat. You just can’t let up the power or you just feel like you’re going to go backwards.”

Lucy Charles-Barclay IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman 2025 Finish Line
Britain’s Lucy Charles-Barclay wins IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman 2025 in a new course record time (Photo – Getty Images for IRONMAN).

It was Charles-Barclay’s second victory of the season after her victory at IRONMAN Lanzarote in May – but she admits Maryland provided a much tougher challenge.

No respite in Maryland

She said: “It couldn’t have been more different to my last race in Lanzarote, the IRONMAN. It’s so hilly. You work the climbs and you can have a little rest on the downhill.

“But here there’s no respite it’s just constantly trying to push that power. It’s pretty windy out there and the road surface in places is pretty tough. It was a much harder bike ride than I anticipated.”

Alice Alberts IRONMAN Lake Placid Results 2023
Alice Alberts wins IRONMAN Lake Placid 2023 (Patrick McDermott, Getty Images for IRONMAN).

Given her margin of victory and finishing time of 3:58:10 it has to be said she made it look easy as she laid down a marker at Eagleman, which is an IRONMAN Pro Series event.

The biggest mover in the Series standings after Maryland was the USA’s Alice Alberts, who climbed nine spots into sixth place after her sixth-place finish.

Charles-Barclay is still down in 31st in those standings, but this was her first Series event of the year, while those ahead of her have completed in multiple events, with Eagleman the ninth on the calendar.

Paul Brown
Written by
Paul Brown
Discover more
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Hayden Wilde bike supertri Boston 2024 photo credit supertri
Premium10 ways to make your road bike faster and more aero for triathlons
Kristian Blummenfelt photo credit: PTO Canadian Open
PremiumIs your gut health impacting your performance? The untapped potential of good gut health for triathletes
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
PremiumHas triathlon reached peak performance? Tri experts and legends on how much faster triathletes could get
latest News
challenge roth race ranger
Challenge Roth publish RaceRanger anti-drafting data from both pro races in a first for triathlon
Alistair Brownlee bike penalty T100 Ibiza 2024 Photo credit PTO
What’s the most aero way to carry water on your triathlon bike?
Sam Laidlow celebrates Challenge Roth win 2025
IRONMAN Leeds 2025: Date, start time and how to follow live
Anne Haug wins Challenge Roth 2024 [Photo credit: Simon Fischer | Challenge Roth]
Triathlon legend and current world record holder Anne Haug announces her retirement
Lovseth Perterer Sanchez IRONMAN Lake Placid 2025
Rising Norwegian star underlines Kona claims and says that’s now the big goal
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...