Press release from Magnus Ditlev - November 9 2025

On an intense and action-packed day at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Danish triathlete Magnus Ditlev fought his way to a strong 6th place finish over the 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike, and 21.1 km run – the final race of the IRONMAN Pro Series 2025.

Belgium’s Jelle Geens once again proved he is the best in the world over the half-distance, retaining his world title in a thrilling sprint finish with 2022 champion Kristian Blummenfelt of Norway. Just three seconds separated the two. Newly crowned IRONMAN World Champion Casper Stornes completed the podium, ahead of Germany’s Jonas Schomburg, 2023 World Champion Rico Bogen, and Magnus Ditlev in 6th.

With this result, Ditlev ends a challenging 2025 season on a high. After winning IRONMAN South Africa in dominant fashion back in March, the Danish powerhouse faced a series of setbacks including mechanical issues, officiating controversy, and illness – all peaking with a mid-marathon withdrawal at the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice just seven weeks ago due to a severe pneumonia.

“Probably my best bike performance ever on a 70.3 course”

“It was a really solid performance today – probably my best ride ever over the half distance, which is not my specialty, and with so many short-course guys here, I’m happy with 6th, although I was a bit frustrated not to catch Rico for 5th in the final stretch,” said Ditlev.

“With such a big field and only a 12-meter draft rule, it’s hard to really make a difference on the bike. But I pushed good watts, and being a larger athlete, the elevation gain is always going to be a disadvantage. My swim was great, my transitions were not, and my run was strong even with a hard ride in the legs. It’s been a mentally tough season, so I’m glad to finish it on a positive note.”

A season full of challenges

Back in May, Ditlev suffered two punctures while in the lead trio at IRONMAN 70.3 St. George and finished 12th. At the IRONMAN European Championship in Frankfurt, he was disqualified in the early part of the marathon while in 2nd place for alleged littering, only to have the penalty reversed nearly an hour later - by which time he had faded from the front and finished 8th.

At the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, illness struck race week. Despite starting the race, Ditlev was forced to pull out of a race for the first time in his IRONMAN career midway through the marathon.

How the 70.3 World Championship unfolded

Nearly 60 of the world’s best lined up in Marbella, including the past five IRONMAN 70.3 World Champions. Ditlev exited the water in 24th place, just under a minute behind the leader. By the 20 km mark of the bike leg, he had ridden to the front of the race despite a hilly course with over 1,600 meters of climbing - conditions typically favoring lighter riders.

As the bike progressed, the front group shrunk to nine athletes, with Ditlev regularly at or near the front. Multiple surges failed to break the group, and all nine (Riddle, Ditlev, Bogen, Geens, Blummenfelt, Margirier, Schomburg, Stornes, and Westerman) arrived at T2 together.

Blummenfelt, Schomburg, and Geens quickly took the lead on the run, with Geens and Blummenfelt going head-to-head in a thrilling 21,1 km duel, shoulder to shoulder until the final kilometer. Geens edged ahead in the closing corners to take the title.

Behind them, Ditlev ran well and battled Rico Bogen for 5th place in the final 5 km. He closed the gap to within 10 seconds but couldn’t quite catch the German, finishing 6th just a few seconds back.