Piloting his CADEX Tri frameset equipped with the new CADEX Max Aero Disc rear wheel and CADEX Aero 4-Spoke 1K front wheel, Blummenfelt took the fourth Ironman distance win of his career. Rounding out the podium were Spaniard Antonio Benito and American Rudy Von Berg, both also CADEX athletes.
It was a return to the top step for the Norwegian, who struggled in 2024 to match his previous Olympic season, which saw him become the first triathlete to earn both an Ironman world title and an Olympic gold medal in the same year, in 2021.
Held April 27 in the heat of The Woodlands, Ironman Texas—billed as the North American Ironman Championship—was the fourth event of the 2025 Ironman Pro Series and the first full-distance event of the series to be held in North America.
A group of 25 men emerged from the 2.4-mile swim in Lake Woodlands separated by less than one minute. Australian Cameron Wurf rode into the race lead on the 112-mile bike leg, held on Hardy Toll Road, setting a new record Ironman bike split of 3:53:32.
Once on the run, Blummenfelt quickly bridged the gap, with only Benito joining the Norwegian. Benito, who races for the BMC Pro Triathlon team, managed Blummenfelt's pace for about five miles, however, before he surged clear for the remainder of the 26.2-mile run within The Woodlands.
Blummenfelt registered a 2:34:03 marathon, winning with a time of 7:24:20, shattering the Texas course record. Benito finished 8:03 off the winning time, with Von Berg in third place, 9:06 behind Blummenfelt, to make an all-CADEX podium celebration.
It was Blummenfelt’s first Ironman victory since his 2024 European championship in August. The win also served as vindication after Blummenfelt punctured at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside on April 5, finishing 15th despite a blistering 1:07:19 half marathon—another new course record.
“It felt super good, especially the first 25K—the last 7-8K it started getting really tough,” Blummenfelt said. “I was feeling stable even with the heat. I was pleased I was able to get through how I felt at the end of the bike, because I started cramping in the quads.
"If you look away from the puncture in Oceanside, I felt my shape was okay, but just a bummer to not take away the points. To be able to take 5,000 points today, I think that is more crucial because you can always do another 70.3, but to back it up with another Ironman is more challenging. I’m super happy with today’s win.”
