Daniela Ryf is the reigning Queen of Kona. A four-time consecutive winner of triathlon’s most prestigious race, the Swiss superstar has enjoyed yet another dominant racing season this year as she’s built towards winning a historic fifth Kona world championship. Why would her fifth win be historic? A few athletes have won more titles, sure, but no woman has ever won five in a row—only the great Mark Allen has ever scored five Kona titles in a row.
Last year’s Kona was one for the ages, and one that will forever hold a special place in the pantheon of epic race days. While treading water a few minutes before the start of the swim in Kailua Bay, Daniela Ryf was stung by a jellyfish. Despite the pain of the venom coursing through her veins, Ryf put in a valiant swim, yet emerged from the water far later than race pundits would have expected. She mounted her brand-new Felt IA Disc, a race bike making its worldwide debut at this very event, and proceeded to chase down every single competitor in front of her en route to a new bike course record. Ryf finished the day with a stellar run, crossing the finish line with a new overall course record, as well. It was Ryf’s fourth consecutive win, each of them coming aboard the Felt IA platform.
So how could Daniela Ryf possibly top last year’s superlative performance? She’s back in 2019 to make history by winning a fifth straight Kona title, something that no woman (and only one other athlete) has ever accomplished. This is the bike on which she aims to do it, the same model that has brought her so much success in the past.
Pro cyclist Travis McCabe has had some incredible success in road racing. Now that he's venturing into the realm of gravel racing, he's put together an incredibly unique race bike, complete with a custom paint job and a finely curated selection of parts. Don't miss this look at one of the most unique gravel bikes around.
We're thrilled whenever we have the opportunity to partner up with some like-minded organizations who are dedicated to experimentation and advancing technology, and who refuse to be constrained by all that's come before. The SMART Tire Company is one such organization.
Pro triathlete Braden Currie took his biggest win of the racing season, putting in a sub-8-hour performance at Ironman New Zealand. The event took place in Currie's home nation, making the win all the more special. The grueling test in triathlon's toughest distance bodes well for Braden as he eyes more success in 2021.