We take a look at the bikes ridden by the 10 fastest cyclists in the men’s pro race at the 2025 Ironman World Championships in Nice, France.
Triathlete magazine presents the fastest bikes at the men’s 2025 Ironman World Championships. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
Updated September 15, 2025 02:02PM
The Fastest Bikes at the Men’s 2025 Ironman World Championship
The 2025 Ironman World Championship in Nice, France, once again showcased just how decisive the bike leg can be on this hilly, technical, and breathtaking course. Frenchman Sam Laidlow thrilled the home crowd by setting the day’s fastest bike split in 4:29:29, while three Norwegians — Gustav Iden, Kristian Blummenfelt, and Casper Stornes — all landed inside the top five bike times.
Unlike Kona’s long, exposed highways, Nice rewards climbing efficiency, confident descending, and all-day aero comfort. That’s reflected in the equipment: a mix of 1x and 2x drivetrains, deep wheels paired with discs, and more custom cockpits than ever.
Course and conditions: Nice 2023 vs. 2025
The Nice course remains a contrast to Kona: punchy climbs, switchback descents, and technical handling demand. Compared to 2023, when Laidlow also topped the bike splits (4:31:28), this year’s times were even faster — Laidlow’s 4:29:29 trimmed nearly two minutes off.
The trends:
More 1x drivetrains at the sharp end (Thompson, Van Riel, Laidlow).
Deeper front wheels paired with discs were universal.
Custom cockpits and extensions (Sync, Speedbar, TFE Team) showed how position is being optimized for both aero and climbing comfort.
Nice once again rewarded bold descenders and riders willing to push big gears on the climbs.
Here’s a closer look at the top 10 fastest men’s bike splits in Nice 2025 and the gear that got them there.
The fastest bikes at the 2025 men’s Ironman World Championships Nice
#1 Bike Split (4:29:29): Sam Laidlow (FRA), 5th Overall
Bike: Canyon Speedmax CFR
Sam Laidlow had the fastest bike split at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Nice. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
Frenchman Laidlow lit up his home course with the fastest split of the day. His Canyon Speedmax CFR was equipped with Swiss Side Hadron deep front and disc rear wheels, a Digirit 58T 1x chainring, and SRAM Red 1x drivetrain with a 10-36 cassette. Canyon integrated cockpit and Continental GP5000 TT TR tires rounded out the setup. Laidlow showed once again why he’s one of the sport’s purest cyclists. Learn more about his setup here.
#2 Bike Split (4:30:17): Gustav Iden (NOR), 2nd Overall
Bike: Giant Trinity Advanced SL
Gustav Iden had the second-fastest bike split at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Nice. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
The 2022 Kona champion proved his versatility on Nice’s climbs. Iden’s Trinity ran Cadex Aero 4-Spoke front and Cadex Disc rear wheels with Continental GP5000 TT TR tires. He used a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 2x(58/44, 11–34) setup with 170 mm cranks, Sync Ergonomics grips, and a Cadex Aerobar Three cockpit with a Tririg BTA hydration system. Learn more about his setup here.
#3 Bike Split (4:30:40): Nick Thompson (AUS), 7th Overall
Bike: Cervélo P5
Nick Thompson had the third-fastest bike split at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Nice. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
Thompson confirmed his build details post-race: Cervélo P5 with a massive 1x 60T chainring, 11-30 cassette, and 165 mm Dura-Ace cranks. His wheel choice was Reserve 99 front paired with a Reserve Disc rear, shod with Pirelli P Zero TLR RS tires (30 mm front @ 65 psi, 28 mm rear @ 68 psi). A Dash Cycles integrated saddle/post completed one of the most aggressive aero packages in the field.
#4 Bike Split (4:31:20): Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR), 4th Overall
Bike: Giant Cadex Tri
Kristian Blummenfelt had the fourth-fastest bike split at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Nice. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
The Olympic champ and former Ironman World Champion rode the Cadex Tri. His setup included a Cadex Aero 4-Spoke front and Cadex Disc rear, Dura-Ace Di2 2x(58/44, 11–34), and a Cadex Aerobar Three cockpit with Sync extensions. Blummenfelt’s bike also featured clever internal hydration in the downtube — proof that Cadex is pushing innovation to match his racing style.
#5 Bike Split (4:31:26): Casper Stornes (NOR), 1st Overall
Bike: Pinarello Bolide TR+
Casper Stornes had the fifth-fastest bike split at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Nice. (Photo: Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Sport)
Stornes, another member of Norway’s “big four,” piloted his Pinarello Bolide TR+ fitted with Princeton CarbonWorks Mach TSV front and Blur Disc rear wheels. A Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 1x drivetrain and Pinarello’s stiff TorayCa T1100 1K carbon frame gave him the perfect balance for Nice’s climbs and descents en route to victory.
#6 Bike Split (4:31:48): Marten Van Riel (BEL), 4th Place Overall
Bike: Trek Speed Concept
Marten Van Riel had the sixth-fastest bike split at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Nice. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
Van Riel rode a Trek Speed Concept equipped with HED Vanquish Pro 84mm deep front and rear Vanquish Pro disc wheel, a SRAM Red AXS 1x drivetrain, and Speedbar extensions. His strong ride reinforced Trek’s presence among the sport’s fastest.
#7 Bike Split (4:37:21): Jamie Riddle (RSA), 10th Place Overall
Bike: Cervélo P5
Jamie Riddle had the seventh-fastest bike split at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Nice. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
South Africa’s Riddle cracked the Top 10 with a Cervélo P5 running Reserve wheels (deep front + disc rear) and Sync Ergonomics extensions. A SRAM Red 1x drivetrain powered his split, and his position work is clearly paying off.
#8 Bike Split (4:39:14): Cameron Wurf (AUS), 21st Place Overall
Bike: Pinarello Bolide
Cam Wurf had the seventh-fastest bike split at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Nice. (Photo: Brad Kaminski)
The INEOS Grenadiers pro and longtime Kona bike-split star stayed true to his Pinarello Bolide. His setup used Princeton CarbonWorks 7580 front and Blur disc rear wheels with a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 2x drivetrain. Wurf once again proved that even while balancing pro cycling and Ironman, he’s one of the sport’s strongest riders.
#9 Bike Split (4:39:39): Matthew Marquardt (USA), 8th Place Overall
Bike: Trek Speed Concept
Matthew Marquardt had the eighth-fastest bike split at the 2025 Ironman World Championship in Nice. (Photo: Brad Jan Hetfleisch/Getty Images)
The American medical student continued to impress, riding a Trek Speed Concept fitted with a Princeton CarbonWorks 7580 front and Blur 633 Disc rear. He paired it with SRAM Red AXS 2x 56/43, Continental GP5000 S TR tires (25F/28R), and a Sync Ergonomics cockpit. Despite a crash on the bike and cramping on the run, Marquardt still had a strong top-10 finish and was first American.
#10 Bike Split (4:39:51): Jon Sæverås Breivold (NOR), 10th Place Overall
Bike: Quintana Roo V-PR
Jon Sæverås Breivold had the 10th-fastest bike split at the men’s 2025 Ironman World Championships. (Photo: Timotheus Kredel, @_timotheus_)
The Norwegian winner of Norseman rounded out the top 10 aboard a Quintana Roo V-PR in white. His bike was built with Vision Metron 60 front wheel and rear Vision Metron TFW Disc, Shimano Ultegra Di22x 12-speed drivetrain, TFE Team extensions, and mismatched tires with a Vittoria Corsa Pro Speed 28mm front tire and rear Continental GP 5000 S TR both in 28mm. A breakout showing for QR at the sport’s highest level.