MEET THE QR PROS IN KONA: ONE BIG ISLAND. EIGHT ATHLETES. ONE BIG DREAM.
It’s time to get stoked! This year, Quintana Roo has more pro athletes than ever starting the Hawaii IRONMAN World Championships. From Norway to Colorado, Denmark to Australia, it’s no exaggeration to say the world's best athletes will join hundreds of age groupers on the world’s best triathlon bikes: Quintana Roo. Let’s check out Quintana Roo’s top guns, all ready to take on the toughest competition in the world on Saturday.
Jon Breivold, NOR
Jon is arguably one of the fastest cyclists in the sport, and his resume as a former pro road racer isn’t his only accolade. He was first off the bike at IRONMAN Austria earlier this year, a result that qualified him for Kona. This is his second IRONMAN World Championships showing (he finished 22nd at World Champs in Nice in 2025) and his first-ever Kona appearance. A chance to race on the legendary island has been his target for years.
As an aero optimizer, Jon spent some time with the folks at EZ Gains, testing the company’s rear hydration setups, as well as aero gloves, shin sleeves, position, helmets, and more. If there’s one place where a blazing bike has been the springboard for a killer run and a finish that can shock the world, Kona is the place. Want to put your money on an underdog? This Norwegian is the one to back, and he’s in line to deliver yet another surprise.
Marta Sánchez, ESP
You’ve seen her all year ripping her custom-painted giraffe V-PRi. Third at the IRONMAN North America Championships in Texas. Second at IRONMAN Lake Placid. Marta went after the same women she’ll face this weekend, and knows based on her proximity to the rest of the favorites that her chances are good. This all comes a year after a 2025 Kona DNF that was somewhat expected due to a running injury, but it created a hunger. She knows she is capable of bringing home a top performance.
After a racing 70.3 Worlds in Nice last month, and an altitude block of training in Flagstaff, Arizona, in the weeks before arriving on the Big Island, Marta’s raring to go, and make the giraffe run with grace up and down the Queen K Highway on Saturday. Will that place her inside the top 10? Top 5? Will it place her at the top of the podium? We all know the classic IRONMAN tagline: Anything is Possible.
Matt Hanson, USA
One of America’s top pros, much has been made about Matt’s run. (In fact, he’s often gotten “advice” from well-meaning age groupers on tip to improve his race-winning stride). But this year, Matt has lifted his game to a new level, making huge strides in his swim and bike. Matt’s no longer chasing from well back out of the water. He’s now in the mix, right out of the gate.
And that has brought results. This year has been another consistently solid year. Third at IRONMAN New Zealand. Third at IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga. A solid 11th at the insanely deep IRONMAN North American Championships in Texas. All enough to help him sit deservedly in the number one position on the IRONMAN Pro Series points list for several months.
After finishing 10th overall in Kona in 2024—his best ever Kona result—Hanson proudly stood on stage and earned a prized Hawaiian finisher’s bowl that is bestowed to those Top 10 pros. Can he make it back there or even further up the rankings? With his cool confidence, we wouldn’t bet against him.
Grace Thek, AUS
“Act like you’ve been there.”
While most Kona rookies are bewildered and often succumb to the pressure this race can create, Thek has been racing pro since 2018, and has done it all at the IRONMAN 70.3 distance. In 2025, she did Challenge Roth as her first full-distance event, finished second, and hasn’t looked back. This year in Kona, she’s rolling through the week relaxed like a Kona veteran. Which is a scary thing if you’re a competitor of her.
The 2026 season has been a validation that yep, that middle-distance speedster can carry it over the full IRONMAN distance. She was fifth at IRONMAN Texas and sixth at IRONMAN Lake Placid, while dotting her season with podiums at 70.3 Geelong and Happy Valley.
Kona is a special crucible. But while some crumble, we simply don’t see Grace getting flustered—and that could mean something special for a rookie. Surprise podiums in Kona? It’s happened before….
Katrine Christensen, DEN
Katrine has been a force of nature this season, holding down the Number One in the Pro Series for several months. There has been one “aberration” (if you can call it that), finishing sixth at 70.3 Pays d’Aix. Everything else? Second at IRONMAN Sweden. Third at IRONMAN Hamburg. Third at Challenge The Championship. And an overall win at Challenge Sir Bani Yas to kick off the year. It’s an insanely enviable ledger.
The year has been a study in advancement. With fellow Dane (and fellow Quintana Roo pro) Kristian Hogenhaug organizing her coaching, a ton of aero testing and support from the Danish sports federation, she’s gotten better year-over-year in all three disciplines. If Katrine is within a few minutes of the leaders out of Kailua Bay, watch out. She was 11th in Kona a year ago, which created a desire to get a result that reflects the work she’s put in this season.
Talking to her recently, we put it to her: does she dare dream of winning this race? “Yes, I do. I’ve put myself in that position, and I know it’s possible to have that great day I dream of.” If Katrine can come out of the water within five minutes of the main lead pack, watch out! Katrine could see her dream of a Kona victory come true.
Jordi Montraveta Moya, ESP
Quintana Roo’s newest Pro Team member qualified for Kona this year at one of his favorite races: IRONMAN Lanzarote. If there’s one race on the IRONMAN circuit that truly reflects the Kona course, with the heat, the climbing on the bike, and a generally flat run, Lanzarote is it.
While he may be a Kona debutante, he’s been riding the Queen K and running Ali’i, licking his chops. Oh, and the two athletes who finished ahead of him at Lanzarote are past IRONMAN World Champs: Sam Laidlow and Patrick Lange. And Jordi had a faster run than race winner Laidlow! There are very few who can claim that.
You want a wild card? Jordi’s your guy. We’re excited to see what he does Saturday.
Jana Uderstadt, GER
Quiet. Sweet. Unassuming. All smiles. Jana Uderstadt is one of our favorites. But on race day, she’s locked in.
Hailing from a nation packed with top pros, Jana is one of the most underrated German pros in the women’s field. Consider this: she made her Kona debut last year and finished a stunning 15th on debut. We watched her navigate the fast pace of the bike with a smart, steady run that saw her reel in woman after woman going into and out of the Energy Lab. For a rookie, she raced like a veteran.
Now, she comes in knowing the course, knowing the smart plays, and knowing that she’s capable of even more. Her numbers in 2026 reflect that. She’s ranked higher in all three disciplines, and has great results (eighth at IRONMAN North America Championships Texas, and seventh at IRONMAN Thun Switzerland) against tough fields. Her next goal: Top 10. Or perhaps even more…
Kristian Høgenhaug, DEN
Ah yes, the Great Dane. Last year Kristian made a huge splash, earning the fastest-ever IRONMAN bike split at IRONMAN Frankfurt. 2026? Things have been much quieter. (Maybe that’s got a bit to do with the fact that he recently became a dad, and diapers don’t change themselves).
But by no means does a lack of podiums mean he’s not totally focused on ripping this course Saturday. In fact, his family stayed home this year, which has given Kristian license to make his training days his priority this week and get a few good nights' sleep. (His wife has probably earned some special treatment and maybe some good ‘ol Danish sauna days when he’s home after the race!)
In fact, his season has been pretty well meted. On paper, 12th at IRONMAN Texas would seem a subpar result for him, but he was still fast, just 12 minutes off the winning time (and had the day’s fastest bike split on his V-PRi). It was just a day where everyone was fast. He went P8 at Challenge Roth, and P10 at Lake Placid. One (Roth) was for the experience, and one (Placid) was just to tick the Kona Qualification box. Now… he’s locked in for Kona.
And remember, this guy finished ninth here in Kona two years ago. It’s wild to consider a guy with the accolades he has is somewhat off radar. Which is just fine. Kristian knows what it takes to show up big on the biggest stage.
