IRONMAN Leeds: Brutal Climbs, World-Class Racing and a Big Weekend for EZ Hydro Gains

IRONMAN Leeds lived up to its reputation this past weekend, delivering a stunning yet punishing course that’s already being talked about as one of the hardest IRONMAN races in the world.

With a brutal combination of relentless elevation and some of the roughest road surfaces in the IRONMAN calendar, this course pushed both professionals and age-groupers to their absolute limits.

Compared by many to the hilly terrain of Ironman Wales, Leeds may just take the crown in difficulty due to the road conditions alone. Between constant undulation, steep climbs, and the added resistance of uneven tarmac, this was no smooth Sunday ride, this was true grit racing in Yorkshire.

A Beautiful Setting for a Brutal Race

Despite the difficulty, the event was nothing short of spectacular. The town of Leeds and the surrounding countryside provided a beautiful, challenging backdrop for one of triathlon’s most iconic formats. Athletes, spectators, and volunteers brought an incredible energy to the weekend, making it one of the most memorable IRONMAN events of the year so far.

Triathlon Dan took on the course at Leeds and shared: "The course was savage but the community and spectator support were next level." He completed the race in just under 12 hours.

Top Finishers Using EZ Hydro Gains

Three of the top four finishers in the men’s race were rocking our EZ Hydro Gains rear hydration system, a testament to the product’s growing reputation at the very highest levels of the sport.

Sam Laidlow, the 2023 IRONMAN World Champion, took first place

Harry Palmer, another top-tier British pro, followed in third

Kieran Lindars rounded out the elite pack in fourth

That’s not all. We also spotted several other pro athletes choosing EZ Gains gear to optimise their setup for one of the toughest races on the circuit.

And perhaps just as importantly, hundreds of age-group athletes were riding with our products, a reminder of where we started, and who helped us grow.

Designed for Everyone — Backed by Pros

While it’s exciting to see more and more professionals using EZ Hydro Gains, our roots will always lie with the amateur triathlon community. It’s the age-groupers, the early adopters, the gear tinkerers, the weekend warriors, who helped build EZ Gains from the ground up.

And now, as our science-backed, wind-tunnel-tested hydration system gains traction at the highest levels of IRONMAN, we’re proud to still offer the same value, innovation, and performance to every athlete, whether you're chasing a Kona slot or your first finish line.

Why EZ Hydro Gains?

Up to 12 watts saved vs. standard setups

Secure bottle retention with elastic pull strap

Easy fit with interchangeable mounts

Wind tunnel tested at Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub

IRONMAN & World Triathlon legal

IRONMAN Leeds showcased everything we love about triathlon: beautiful landscapes, brutal effort, incredible athletes, and a shared commitment to pushing limits.

Whether you're racing pro or AG, our mission stays the same: help you go faster with less effort.

See why athletes are making the switch to EZ Hydro Gains:

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