Pro triathletes returned to the water during the HOKA ONE ONE IRONMAN VR15 Pro Challenge – with a 500m swim incorporated into the race for the first time.
The pro men and women pre-recorded their 500m time trial swim together at a facility in Boulder, Colorado. This was shown on the live IRONMAN VR Pro Challenge race broadcast.
Following the swim, the pros took on a 40km virtual ride on the newly offered 5150 Cairns on the ROUVY virtual cycling platform. Following the bike portion, the 3km run was pre-recorded at a location of the athlete’s choice, and was shared on the live IRONMAN VR Pro Challenge race broadcast.
Jeanni Seymour (ZAF) and Justin Metzler (USA) made it a family affair over the weekend – becoming the first husband and wife duo to take top honours in the professional women’s and men’s races, respectively winning the 15th edition of the HOKA ONE ONE IRONMAN VR Pro Challenge.
Age group racing
IRONMAN VR15 included the second race, in the second four-week instalment of the HOKA ONE ONE IRONMAN VR Championship Series. It offered up a 5150 Olympic distance simulation with a 3km run, 40km ride, and 10km run. There were just over 5,400 finishers across the race weekend.
IRONMAN VR15 opened on Friday, July 17 at 06:00 ET (10:00 BST). The 5150 Olympic distance simulation, required competitors to complete three segments – 3km run, 40km ride, and 10km run by race close at 19:59 ET (23:59 BST) on Sunday, July 19.
The HOKA ONE ONE IRONMAN VR Championship Series regulated age-group competition is made up of three 5150 branded Olympic distance virtual events (IRONMAN VR14, IRONMAN VR15 and IRONMAN VR17) and one IRONMAN 70.3 branded half-distance (IRONMAN VR16) race simulation.
There have now been over 150,000 finishes across all IRONMAN virtual races (VR1 to VR15).
From IRONMAN VR8 to VR9, athletes who wanted to compete in IRONMAN VR races with officially monitored times could sign up for the Challenger Division. Since VR10, the event organiser has introduced the Championship Series division. Here, activities must be completed outdoors or on the ROUVY indoor cycling platform to log an official result (results as at time of writing):
IRONMAN VR15
Championship – 851 finishers (1,684 registered); 5150 simulation
Challenger – 1,384 finishers (2,253 registered); 5150 simulation
Classic – 3,175 finishers (5,750 registered); 5150 simulation
IRONMAN VR14
Championship – 543 finishers (1,246 registered); 5150 simulation
Challenger – 1,867 finishers (3,229 registered); Sprint simulation
Classic – 4,466 finishers (7,421 registered); Sprint simulation
IRONMAN VR13
Championship – 1,450 finishers (2,915 registered); 5150 simulation
Classic – 4,485 finishers (7,819 registered); 5150 simulation
IRONMAN VR12
Championship – 1,144 finishers (1,932 registered); IM 70.3 simulation
Classic – 2,806 finishers (5,856 registered); IM 70.3 simulation
IRONMAN VR11
Championship – 1,511 finishers (3,154 registered); Sprint simulation
Classic – 7,975 finishers (12,668 registered); Sprint simulation
IRONMAN VR10
Championship – 2,055 finishers (3,639 registered); 5150 simulation
Classic – 7,312 finishers (12,538 registered); 5150 simulation
IRONMAN VR9
Challenger – 2,148 finishers (3,830 registered); IM 70.3 simulation
Classic – 3,574 finishers (7,275 registered); IM 70.3 simulation
IRONMAN VR8
Challenger – 3,560 finishers (6,113 registered); 5150 simulation
Classic – 7,909 finishers (13,635 registered); 5150 simulation
IRONMAN VR7 – 17,085 finishers (25,014 registered); Sprint simulation
IRONMAN VR6 – 12,744 finishers (21,238 registered); 5150 simulation
IRONMAN VR5 – 8,257 finishers (14,881 registered); IM 70.3 simulation
IRONMAN VR4 – 14,549 finishers (23,743 registered); 5150 simulation
IRONMAN VR3 – 20,264 finishers (33,203 registered); Sprint simulation
IRONMAN VR2 –16,375 finishers (22,983 registered); 5150 simulation
IRONMAN VR1 – 6,695 finishers (11,039 registered); IM 70.3 simulation
www.ironmanvirtualclub.com
www.ironman.com
