Kona 2025: The Bikes of the Fastest Pro Riders

Triathlon Forum
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Originally published at: Kona 2025: The Bikes of the Fastest Pro Riders - Slowtwitch News

Ventum and Canyon were the most popular frames of the fastest rides in Kona, as each brand featured three athletes in our top 15 count. Trek also had multiple athletes in our counts of the fastest splits. Felt, Cervelo, KU, Scott, Quintana Roo, Simplon, and Lapierre also had representatives in the count.

Again, you had to finish the race in order for the split to count. That means you won’t see Lucy Charles-Barclay’s Cube, or Taylor Knibb’s Trek Speed Concept here.

Some trends that we noticed from these splits:

SRAM is heavily represented in the women’s pro field. Compared to the age group ranks, SRAM probably over indexes in pro triathlon; almost half of the top fifteen splits rode SRAM drivetrains this year. That compares to the roughly third of the field that rides SRAM in the age group field. Perhaps surprisingly, most of the SRAM riders opted for 2X drivetrains.

Zipp has fallen. It was not long ago that most of the pro field, either sponsored or not, would be on Zipp products. That game has changed dramatically. Out of the top pro splits, HED, DT Swiss, and Princeton Carbonworks all had more riders in their various wheel sets than Zipp. Consider, by comparison, just seven years ago, Zipp had a third of the women’s pro field riding their wheels.

Continental is king. Nearly everyone below was riding the Continental Grand Prix 5000 series tires, in either the S or TT models. And then you had a couple of women riding the Continental Archetype, which is even racier than the 5000 series. India Lee had the unfortunate distinction of being the most notable flat tire in the race, roughly two-thirds of the way through the ride. She was on that Archetype tire. The lone exception: Laura Philipp, who rode a Schwalbe Pro One Aero prototype tire in 28mm width.

Everyone loves EZ Gains. The rear hydration mount has gone from none-existent to near-ubiquitous in short order. Most using the mounting system have paired it with the classic X-Lab Gorilla or Gorilla XT cage. Looks like we’ll need to put that one to the test soon ourselves.

And now, for your top 15 splits.

1.) Solveig Løvseth: 4:31:53

Frame: Felt IA 2.0 FRD
Wheels: Princeton Carbonworks Mach 7580 TSV2
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000TT TR: 25mm front, 28mm rear
Cockpit: Felt Dagger basebar, Drag2Zero pad risers & tilt kit, Drag2Zero aerobars
Drivetrain: SRAM Red AXS, 2X, 54/41 chainring, 10-33 cassette
Crank Length: 165mm
Pedals: Garmin Vector 3
Saddle: ISM PS1.0
Front Hydration: Drag2Zero mount, X-Lab Gorilla cage
Rear Hydration: EZ Gains mount, 2 X-Lab Gorilla cages

2.) Kat Matthews – 4:40:08

Frame: Canyon Speedmax CFR
Wheels: DT Swiss ARC 1100 DICUT DB 85mm
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000TT TR: 25mm front, 28mm rear
Cockpit: Canyon basebar (400mm wide, 75mm length), Canyon extensions with Ergo grips
Drivetrain: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, 58/44 chainrings, 11-30T cassette
Crank Length: 160mm
Pedals: Favero Assioma Pro RS
Saddle: PRO Aerofuel Carbon
Front Hydration: Internal hydration, plus rail system with two bottles
Rear Hydration: CFR Seatmast Mount, XLab Chimp cage

3.) Laura Philipp – 4:40:26

Frame: Canyon Speedmax CFR
Wheels: Swiss Side HADRON³ Ultimate 850 – Laura Philipp Signature Edition
Tires: Schwalbe Pro One Aero Prototype 28mm
Cockpit: Canyon bars, mounts, and extensions
Drivetrain: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, CarbonTi X-Carbon with SRM crank, 58/44 chainring, 11-34 cassette
Crank Length: 170mm
Pedals: Wahoo Speedplay Aero
Saddle: Ergon SR Tri Women Mid
Front Hydration: Internal bladder, plus Canyon aero bottle (lower), X-Lab Gorilla (upper)
Rear Hydration: Topeak TriCage

4.) Jocelyn McCauley – 4:40:27

Frame: Ventum Tempus
Wheels: HED Vanquish V84 (front), Jet 180 (rear)
Tires: Continental Aero 111 – 28 mm (front); Continental Grand Prix 5000 S TR – 25 mm (rear)
Cockpit: Profile Design basebar, Fast TT extensions
Drivetrain: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, Rotor Aldhu INspider power crank with 56/44 chainrings, 11-32 cassette
Crank Length: 155mm
Pedals: Wahoo Speedplay Aero
Saddle: jCob Type 5
Front Hydration: TriRig riser, 2x TriRig cages
Rear Hydration: single bottle mount, X-Lab Gorilla XT cage

5.) Lisa Perterer – 4:40:50

Frame: Lapierre Aerostorm DRS 2025
Wheels: DT Swiss ARC 1100 DiCut DB 62mm (front), 80mm (rear)
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000S TR 28mm
Cockpit: Lapierre basebar, Fast TT extensions
Drivetrain: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2, 54/40 chainring, 11-32 cassette
Crank Length: 170mm
Pedals: Look Keo Carbon Blade
Saddle: geBiomized Stride
Front Hydration: X-Lab Torpedo bottle
Rear Hydration: Profile Design RMP

6.) Hannah Berry – 4:44:37

Frame: Cervelo P5
Wheels: HED Vanquish V62 Pro (front), HED Jet 180 (rear)
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000TT TR
Cockpit: Profile Design Wing Pro basebar, First Wheel extensions
Drivetrain: Praxis / Quarq crank, SRAM Red AXS eTap
Crank Length: 160mm
Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace
Saddle: geBiomized Stride
Front Hydration: Tower with 2x Profile Design Kage
Rear Hydration: Profile Design

7.) Regan Hollioake – 4:45:19

Frame: Trek Speed Concept 9 Project One
Wheels: CADEX Aero 4-Spoke
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000TT TR 28mm
Cockpit: Sync Ergonomics Aerobar 3
Drivetrain: Shimano Dura-Ace crank, Ultegra Di2 shifting, 58/44 chainrings, 11-28 cassette
Crank Length: 165mm
Pedals: Favero Assioma
Saddle: ISM PS1.0
Front Hydration: 2x X-Lab Gorilla cages
Rear Hydration: X-Lab Delta 425 carrier with Gorilla cage

8.) Leonie Konczalla – 4:45:57

Frame: Canyon Speedmax CFR
Wheels: Zipp 404 (front), Zipp 808 (rear)
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000TT TR, 28mm
Cockpit: Canyon
Drivetrain: SRAM Red AXS eTap
Crank Length: 165mm
Pedals: Wahoo Speedplay
Saddle: Selle Italia
Front Hydration: X-Lab Torpedo bottle in Gorilla XT cage
Rear Hydration: EX Gains Hydro, X-Lab Gorilla cage

9.) Marlene De Boer – 4:46:40

Frame: KU Cycle TF1
Wheels: KU Cycle 35mm (front), 80mm (rear)
Tires: Continental Aero 111 (front), Grand Prix 5000 TT TR (rear)
Cockpit: Fast TT 2.0 Triathlon Aero Bar
Drivetrain: SRAM Red AXS 1X eTap, 54T chainring, 10-33 cassette
Crank Length: 165mm
Pedals: Wahoo Speedplay
Saddle: ISM PN3.1
Front Hydration: Profile Design Vise Cage
Rear Hydration: Profile Design RMP

10.) Diede Diederiks – 4:47:20

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPhZohygWpq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MWY5OTZoZjViZ3Yydg==

Frame: Scott Plasma RC Ultimate
Wheels: Scope Cycling Artech 6 (front), Scope Cycling Artech 8.T (rear)
Tires: Continental Aero 111 (front), Continental Archetype (rear)
Cockpit: Speedbar
Drivetrain: SRAM Red 1X AXS eTap, 54T chainring, 10-33 cassette
Crank Length: 165mm
Pedals: Look Keo Blade Carbon
Saddle: Specialized S-Works Power EVO
Front Hydration: Internal Hydration Bladder, plus X-Lab Torpedo bottle in Gorilla cage
Rear Hydration: EZ Gains Hydro 2 bottle mount + X-Lab Gorilla cages

11.) Holly Lawrence – 4:47:46

Frame: Trek Speed Concept 9 Project One
Wheels: Bontrager Aeolus
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000S TR
Cockpit: Bontrager basebar, Speedbar extensions
Drivetrain: SRAM Red 1X AXS eTap
Crank Length: 165mm
Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace
Saddle: Wove V8
Front Hydration: TriRig Mount, 2x TriRig cages
Rear Hydration: EZ Gains Hydro, TriRig cage

12.) India Lee – 4:48:23

Frame: Ventum Tempus
Wheels: HED Vanquish 62 (front), HED Jet 180 (rear)
Tires: Continental Archetype
Cockpit: Profile Design basebar, Wattshop Anemoi extensions / pads / risers
Drivetrain: SRAM Red AXS eTap, 54/42 chainrings, 10-36 cassette
Crank Length: 165mm
Pedals: Wahoo Speedplay Aero
Saddle: geBiomized Stride
Front Hydration: TriRig mount and cage
Rear Hydration: EZ Gains Hydro, TriRig cage

13.) Alice Alberts – 4:48:36

Frame: Quintana Roo V-PRi
Wheels: HED Vanquish Pro V84
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000TT TR
Cockpit: Profile Design basebar, ASC Pro extensions
Drivetrain: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
Crank Length: 165mm
Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace
Saddle: ISM PS1.0
Front Hydration: Internal Hydration Bladder + 2x X-Lab Gorilla cages
Rear Hydration: X-Lab Delta 425 carrier, Gorilla cage, Aero Pouch 300

14.) Stephanie Clutterbuck – 4:49:32

Frame: Ventum Tempus
Wheels: Princeton Carbonworks Wake 6560 Evolution (front), Princeton Carbonworks Mach 7580 Evolution TSV2 (rear)
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000 TT TR 28mm
Cockpit: Profile Design basebar, Aerogrip pads and extensions
Drivetrain: SRAM Red AXS eTap, 56/43 chainrings, 10-30 cassette
Crank Length: 165mm
Pedals: Look Keo 2 Carbon
Saddle: Selle Italia Watt
Front Hydration: TriRig rail mount with X-Lab Gorilla cage, Fidlock aero bottle
Rear Hydration: EZ Gains Hydro with 2 X-Lab Gorilla cages

15.) Laura Jansen – 4:49:48

Frame: Simplon Pride Tri
Wheels: DT Swiss ARC 1400 DiCut DB 65mm (front), 85mm (rear)
Tires: Continental Grand Prix 5000TT TR
Cockpit: Profile Design
Drivetrain: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2
Crank Length: 165mm
Pedals: Garmin Vector 3
Saddle: Ergon SR Tri Women Front
Front Hydration: 2x standard bottles in cages
Rear Hydration: Topeak TriCage

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The market has spoken, maybe now they will give up on the stupid hookless rubbish. If they can’t even get pros to use them that’s saying something..

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Eh, I mean, CADEX is all-in on hookless, too, and we don’t see their share going down.

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Was there ever a time Cadex were the gold standard of the pro field? How much have Giant/Cadex wheels grown/fallen?

Something is definitely off with Zipp, if it isn’t hookless then what is it…

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Price, sponsorship, just general good options from other brands are all reasonable considerations beyond the hookless conversation.

I think it’d be tough to isolate to just one item there. I don’t doubt that it plays a part somewhere, but it could just be that DT Swiss is giving out more product to non-sponsored athletes, or better pricing programs for those athletes, or offering better sponsorship for athletes.

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Or….. It could just be people don’t want hookless :joy:

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I’m surprised more women are not on shorter cranks. Alot of 165mm here but that was a common length in the men’s pro field also if I remember correctly.

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mc cauley road a 28 mm in the front and 25 mm tryre at the back ?!

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they don’t make an aero 111 28mm.

That is probably a 26, which measures almost identically to a TT 25. Otherwise it’s a 29.

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Couple of things to keep in mind: first being availability of smaller cranks. SRAM and Shimano jump down from 165 to 160 and that’s it. And then generally speaking, there’s still the “longer lever for the big chainring” mindset. (FWIW, my best bike splits all came when I pushed a 175mm crank with 55/42 on it.)

@pk – that’s the sizing she gave us during our pre-race photo shoot. Obviously, Aero111 comes in 26 or 29 which starts throwing this thing off. But that Jet180 has a narrower rim bed than the Vanquish series – wouldn’t surprise me if it were faster with the narrower tire in the back.

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Interesting to see how the bike positions changed this year. Last year longer was the “in” thing. Now you see a lot of the same people now have brought there arms back in so less reach? I’m sure a pro bike fitter can comment on the theory/reasoning behind it.

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I am sure we’ll have a Mat Steinmetz article coming on this. :slight_smile:

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2 things in my opinion.

First, no doubt that hookless as probably taken a hit thanks to the lack of understanding and people that simply hate it. But I dont think that is what we are seeing in the pro field here even though some people will just ignore this and consider it the case. Pro’s are for the most part at this level sponsored and by so what we really see when it comes to bikes and what are on bikes have a lot to do with that..

Now of course we have some exceptions in categories every single year. and those seem to rotate.

#1 SRAM really doesn’t care about triathlon like they used too ( even though triathlon and TT bikes LOVE SRAM) and ZIPP has seen a lot of changes over the last year when it comes to brand and sponsorship. They truly used to sponsor WAY more people at the top end. With companies like DT Swiss that are really throwing money at top athletes and HED has done an amazing job at simply supporting athletes that simply couldnt get sponsorships

The one thing that seems to be 90% athlete driven is this year is tires ( and EX Ga Gains ) Most of the athletes are paying for CONTI 5000’s as alot of these athletes simply don’t have tire sponsorships and they are choosing those tires.

It’s a lot of what we are seeing in the running shoe. Im going to say a good amount of the top 15 wont be sponsored by a running shoe company so it will be interesting to see what they honestly choose.

But to say that these pro’s are simply not on Zipp’s becuase of hookless in my opinion is not the case.

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Looks like Holly was the only one on 1x.

Can someone explain why you’d want to go 2x on this course?

My understanding is that a lot of the men went 1x + 10-36 for Nice so it’s confusing that the women are going 2x on a course that is flatter.

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Marlene was also on 1X.

A lot of it comes down to preference. Some people like more gears, especially when the wind kicks up.

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It speaking to a lot of pro’s they are stating to learn that the so called “Aero benefits” of the 1x really aren’t that important and they just want the gear options.

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It speaking to a lot of pro’s they are stating to learn that the so called “Aero benefits” of the 1x really aren’t that important and they just want the gear options.

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I can recall at least a few times in very big races in the past few months where a rider is off the side of the road putting their chain back on the big ring. Pretty sure whatever the benefit is from a 1x, it was negated many times over right there. There is also just a peace of mind to factor in too..Peace that you will not be that person, and peace that if conditions deteriorate quickly, you will be prepared for that eventuality. And in Kona that used to be a real thing, not sure anymore, race day seems to have a bubble around it for some reason..

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People were saying the same thing about SRAM 2x though and how its constantly dropping the front chain. (Supposedly they fixed this)

Isn’t 1x just inherently more reliable in that regard because its much harder to drop it (particularly with the chain catcher)? This is why we see it on gravel bikes frequently now.

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Remember that most 1X for gravel also uses a clutch in the RD that will eat some efficiency.

But, again, it’s most likely a preference / what the athlete is accustomed to discussion.