STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.
Reigning IRONMAN World Champion Laura Philipp will kick off her 2025 season this weekend when she attempts to win 70.3 Kraichgau for a sixth time in her last six visits.
The German superstar heads the field on home turf in what is also a warm-up for her first IRONMAN of the season the following weekend in Hamburg when she will lock horns again with Kat Matthews, the woman she beat to the IMWC title after that memorable battle in Nice.
But while Matthews has already raced – and won – IRONMAN Texas this year, Philipp is beginning her campaign later than ever before as a pro, bar the years affected by the global Covid pandemic.
Five-star show
There could be no better start point though – her first Kraichgau successes came in 2017 and 2018 but she didn’t return until 2022, since when she’s won it every year.
Most of those have been clear-cut successes – and last year came in a best time so far of 4:13:12 – but Lucy Charles-Barclay pushed her all the way in 2023 before going on to win that year’s IRONMAN World Championship herself for the first time.
“I am excited to run into the first race week of the year at IM 70.3 Kraichgau on Sunday,” wrote Philipp on Instagram. “Can’t wait to race against a strong field in the land of the 1000 hills.”
Home advantage
Up against Philipp on Sunday are three fellow Germans.
Caroline Pohle notched four straight wins last year to move up to 11th in the world, including victories at IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship Tallinn and IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun.
Last year’s third Laura Jansen and Lena Meißner, third at IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence last weekend, also line up.
Other names to note include Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS) and Laura Addie (GBR).
Not surprisingly there’s also a strong German presence in the men’s race, looking to dethrone defending champion Niek Heldoorn of the Netherlands.
That includes 2024 IRONMAN Barcelona champion Jan Stratmann and last year’s third place finisher at Kraichgau, Jonas Hoffman.
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.
Discover more
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
Quadruple multi-sport world champion “smiled through the suffering” at his ‘last dance’
Kristian Blummenfelt eyes IRONMAN World Championship 1-2-3 for Norwegians
IRONMAN Hamburg pro women’s start list: Laura Philipp vs Kat Matthews in World Championship rematch
Triathlon superstar Lionel Sanders says he went to a “dark place” to fuel his latest IRONMAN win
PTO reveal ambitions of matching Roth and Kona as French Riviera T100 triathlon course details unveiled
