Canyon Dominates: A Deep Dive into the 2025 Ironman World Championship Bike Count
When 2,500 of the world's most dedicated age-group triathletes gather at the Ironman World Championship, their choice of gear speaks volumes about what they trust to carry them through the race of their lives. In 2025, the message is loud and clear: Canyon has taken the lead in the triathlon bike world.
The annual Ironman World Championship bike count offers a unique glimpse into the trends shaping triathlon equipment. Unlike professional athletes who often use sponsored gear, these age-group competitors invest their own money, making their choices a true reflection of what they believe enhances performance.
This analysis of the 2025 men's race in Nice, France, uncovers significant shifts in brand preferences, emerging trends, and what these choices mean for future equipment decisions. Based on detailed data from experts who meticulously counted every piece of equipment from 2,500 athletes at bike check-in, these insights are invaluable for any triathlete contemplating their next gear upgrade.
The Canyon Revolution: A New Era in Triathlon
Canyon's ascent to the top marks a significant shift in the triathlon landscape. With a 22.83% market share at the 2025 championship, Canyon has not only maintained its lead over the traditional frontrunner Cervelo (17.28%) but has widened the gap by over 5 percentage points—equivalent to about 120 more bikes in transition.
This wasn't always the case. Just a few years ago, Canyon was a distant fourth in the tri bike hierarchy. The transformation began in 2023 when Canyon first overtook Cervelo at the European championship, initially dismissed as a "Europe thing." However, Canyon's continued dominance at the 2024 Kona championship proved otherwise.
The 2025 results confirm this is not a fleeting trend but a fundamental shift in athlete preferences. As Chris Foster, Editorial Director of Outside Endurance, observed, "We saw the tide turning in 2023 and 2024, but the numbers from the 2025 Ironman World Championship bike count confirm that among top male age-group long-course triathletes, Canyon is now king."
This shift is even more remarkable considering its impact on the traditional hierarchy. Cervelo, once the undisputed leader, now finds itself closer to third-place Trek (15.78%) than to first place. The gap between Cervelo and Trek has shrunk to less than 2%—just 33 bikes—a scenario that was "literally unthinkable before the COVID pandemic," according to the race analysis.
Accelerating Changes in Equipment Categories
Saddles: The ISM Empire Faces Challenges
While ISM remains the leader with 26.63% of saddles counted, the brand is losing ground to aggressive competitors. Selle Italia (21.38%) and Fizik (15.80%) are closing in, suggesting a potential new saddle champion by 2026.
Saddle preferences show significant year-over-year variation, indicating that athletes are increasingly willing to experiment with brands, prioritizing comfort and performance over established leaders.
Hydration Systems: The Shift to Integration
Traditional hydration brands are losing ground to integrated and custom solutions, reflecting the sport's evolution toward more aerodynamic setups.
Profile Design leads front hydration systems at 25.66%, but this marks the first time the brand has fallen below 30% market share. Integrated hydration systems claim 22.95%, with "other" solutions accounting for another 25.16%.
The rear hydration story is even more dramatic. Xlab, while still leading at 30.24%, has dropped below 40% market share for the first time. Combined with integrated (12.29%) and "other" solutions (19.25%), alternative hydration approaches now represent nearly one-third of all rear hydration setups.
This shift reflects athletes' increasing sophistication in equipment choices and willingness to invest in custom solutions offering aerodynamic advantages over traditional systems. For athletes looking to upgrade their hydration setup, consider premium electrolyte supplements to optimize your race-day nutrition strategy.
Stability in Certain Categories
Drivetrain Dominance: Shimano's Stronghold
Shimano continues its commanding lead with 69.51% market share , though SRAM has made notable gains, climbing to 29.97%. This represents a stabilization of SRAM's growth after significant leaps in 2024, but the 30-percentage-point gap suggests Shimano's dominance remains secure.
Aerobar Consistency with Boutique Growth
Profile Design maintains its leadership in aerobars with 23.94% market share. However, the emergence of boutique brands like Aero Coach (2.85%) and 51 Speed Shop (2.59%) represents a growing trend toward bespoke setups, mirroring professional racing.
Geographic and Course-Specific Trends
The Nice course continues to show distinctly European preferences compared to Kona. Drop bar usage remains significant at 7.71%, though this is a decrease from 13% in 2024. In contrast, drop bar usage in Kona is "virtually nonexistent," highlighting how course characteristics influence equipment choices.
These geographic differences extend beyond handlebars. Speedplay pedals, for example, show dramatically different adoption rates between locations. While Speedplay claims only 8.67% market share in Nice, the brand sees "almost double the Speedplay users" in Kona, suggesting that course characteristics and regional preferences play significant roles in equipment selection.
The upcoming 2026 championship, unifying both men's and women's races in Kona, will test whether these geographic trends persist or are course-related phenomena.
Implications for Age-Group Athletes
Investment Strategy
The Canyon revolution shows that emerging brands can quickly challenge established leaders, suggesting athletes should consider newer options before major equipment investments. However, stability in categories like drivetrains shows some equipment choices remain more predictable over time.
For athletes considering a bike upgrade, explore our comprehensive review of the best triathlon bikes to make an informed decision.
Fit vs. Trend
The changes in saddle preferences highlight the importance of prioritizing individual fit over market trends. With ISM's dominance waning, this category demonstrates that personal comfort and biomechanics matter more than brand popularity.
Looking Ahead to 2026
The unified 2026 championship in Kona will provide unprecedented insight into whether current trends represent permanent shifts or location-specific preferences. Canyon's dominance, the growth of integrated hydration systems, and the emergence of boutique aerobar brands will face their ultimate test when both men and women race on the same course.
For athletes planning equipment upgrades, waiting for the 2026 results might provide valuable additional data points, especially for major investments like frame purchases. In the meantime, consider upgrading your training setup with quality indoor training equipment.
Key Takeaways for Equipment Selection
The 2025 Ironman World Championship bike count reveals several crucial insights for triathlon equipment selection:
- Brand Hierarchy is More Fluid Than Ever: Canyon's rise from fourth to first in just a few years proves that established hierarchies can change rapidly in response to innovation and athlete preferences.
- Integration is the Future: Across multiple categories—from hydration to aerobars—athletes are increasingly choosing integrated and custom solutions over traditional component approaches.
- Geographic Preferences Matter, But Aren't Everything: While Nice and Kona show different equipment trends, Canyon's dominance in both locations proves that superior products can transcend regional preferences.
- Fit Still Trumps Trends: Emerging brands and shifting favorite products reinforce the need to prioritize personal fit and performance.
What is the Ironman World Championship bike count?
The Ironman World Championship bike count is an annual event where members of the triathlon media and gear industry tally the types of bikes and components used by athletes as they enter the transition area before the race. This helps identify gear trends in triathlon.
Which bike brand was the most popular at the 2025 Men's Ironman World Championship?
Canyon was the most popular bike brand at the 2025 Men's Ironman World Championship, leading over Cervelo, who came in second place.
What are the most popular drivetrain brands used at the 2025 Ironman World Championship?
Shimano remained the most popular drivetrain brand at the 2025 Ironman World Championship, with SRAM also having a significant share.
Which aerobar brand was most popular among athletes at the 2025 Men's Ironman World Championship?
Profile Design was the most popular aerobar brand among athletes at the 2025 Men's Ironman World Championship.
What trend was observed with the wheel brands used at the 2025 Ironman World Championship?
In Europe, DT Swiss has overtaken Zipp as the most popular wheel brand among athletes, a trend continuing since 2023, while Zipp remains more popular in Kona.
Which pedal brand was most commonly used at the 2025 Men's Ironman World Championship?
Shimano pedals were the most commonly used at the 2025 Men's Ironman World Championship, followed by Look and Assioma.
What was the most popular saddle brand among age-group athletes in the 2025 Ironman World Championship?
ISM was the most popular saddle brand, though it's losing ground to Selle Italia and others.
Which front hydration system was favored in the 2025 Men's Ironman World Championship?
Profile Design remained the favored brand for front hydration systems, though its dominance is decreasing with the rise of integrated systems and other solutions.
