Overview

• The women's professional race features 58 starters alongside more than 1,600 age‑group athletes tackling a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike and a marathon.
• Former champions Chelsea Sodaro and Lucy Charles-Barclay line up with contenders Katrina Matthews and Taylor Knibb, while Anne Haug is out after retiring earlier this year.
• Heat, humidity and the notorious Mumuku crosswinds across the lava fields are expected to shape outcomes, particularly on the bike.
• Defending champion Laura Philipp arrived weeks early to acclimate to Kona conditions after a season that included a European Championship win in Hamburg.
• Human‑interest entrants include 80‑year‑old Natalie Grabow, who could become the oldest woman to finish the World Championship if she beats the 16‑hour cutoff.