THE stage is set for the Ironman 70.3 Lapu-Lapu as 1,400 triathletes from 49 countries test their mettle in the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90K bike, and 21K run this Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025 in Lapu-Lapu City.
Princess Galura, president of Sunrise Events Inc. and Ironman Philippines, confirmed the participant count during Friday’s official press conference at Belmont Hotel Mactan.
First held in 2012, the Ironman 70.3 Cebu has earned the moniker “Crown Jewel” of Asia’s triathlon circuit, having hosted thousands of athletes and the Asia-Pacific Championships in past editions.
“This event in Cebu involves significant coordination among various local authorities as it attracts 1,400 participants from 49 countries, including nearly 600 young athletes,” said Galura, joined at the presser by representatives from Lapu-Lapu City, the Cebu Provincial Government, 2GO and the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).
This year’s race will feature the 8.9-kilometer CCLEX, the country’s longest bridge, as part of the route.
“The athletes you see today are not the same ones from 2012, 2018, or 2019,” Galura noted. “Every year we have fresh faces — athletes who have heard about the cheering, the food, the experience of crossing CCLEX, and the atmosphere in Mactan Newtown. They don’t need a ‘new’ experience because for them, it’s already something new.”
Fifteen professional triathletes are eyeing podium finishes, including returning contenders Sam Osborne of New Zealand (2nd in 2024), Caleb Noble of Australia (4th in 2024) and 2017 women’s pro champion
Amelia Watkinson.
The weekend will also feature the Sunrise Sprint for mostly Filipino participants, while the Ironkids race on Saturday will gather 600 young athletes from 10 countries. / RSC