Squadron Racing lined up at the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France — with Bryan Chacon and Anzae Alexander II racing side by side on the sport’s toughest stage.
For a small, athlete-owned brand, this was bigger than just racing. It was proof of the mission: training hard, racing together, and inspiring more athletes to take on the challenge.
The Road to France
Both Bryan Chacon and Anzae Alexander II punched their tickets to the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship at IRONMAN Texas, each achieving 8th place in their age groups — delivering performances that proved they belonged on the world stage.
The summer that followed was all about preparation: long swims at sunrise, century rides in 100º+ heat, and endless miles on the run. Training in Austin became the ultimate test, and many of the hardest sessions were done side by side.
Race Day in Nice
The Swim – Into the Mediterranean
Race day began at 7:15 AM, with Bryan and Anzae in the first age-group wave right after the pros. It was a true mass start — athletes walked into the water, swam out to the buoy line, and waited shoulder to shoulder as the countdown began.
The waves pushed everyone together, making it tough to stay afloat. As the announcer called 5…4…3, the athletes started chanting. At 3…2…1, the athletes began yelling and splashing. When the countdown hit zero, the pack surged forward — arms slamming into the water, turning the Mediterranean into a blur of white as everyone fought for space and a clear line.
The water was beautiful: bright blue near shore, darkening as the course stretched further out. Contact never stopped — shoulders bumping, hands smacking, feet kicking. The buoy turns became sprint sections as athletes fought to avoid slowdowns. Overhead, helicopters circled, their blades cutting loudly through the air, while in the distance the sunrise lit up the Riviera and the mountains waiting for the bike.
Both Bryan and Anzae had breakthrough swims, hitting personal bests as they found strong lines and rhythm. They exited the water just seconds apart, moving quickly into transition to take on the bike.
The Bike – 112 Miles Through the Alps
The Nice bike course is one of the toughest in the IRONMAN series — nearly 8,000 feet of climbing into the French Alps, packed with switchbacks, long grinds, and sharp, technical descents.
Both Bryan and Anzae came out of transition flying, pushing a fast pace along the beach to warm up their legs before the climbing began.
Bryan hit the first climb hard but felt early fatigue. Anzae, meanwhile, found his rhythm right away — powering into a strong cadence and setting the tone for the hours ahead. From there, it was nearly three hours of climbing, rolling past mountain villages where crowds cheered, swapping bottles at roadside stations, and soaking in views that shifted from forests to waterfalls to bare rock as elevation climbed.
At one valley, the climb gave way to a stretch of flat road, but a heavy headwind cut through, forcing athletes to put their heads down and grind. Relief finally came at the summit, where the course turned rolling — a chance to settle into the aero position and regain speed. By mile 50, Bryan’s legs caught a second wind, and a mid-course hairpin brought him and Anzae face to face, lifting morale as both pressed on through the mountains.
But before the descent back to Nice, one last punishing climb squeezed out the remaining energy. Athletes loaded up at the final aid station, taking in electrolytes and gels, knowing full focus was required for the dangerous ride down.
The descent was as thrilling as it was risky. Crashes appeared along the roadside — a harsh reminder that mistakes here were costly. Every turn demanded precision: shifting body weight, apexing corners, and holding lines while surrounded by other riders. The risk was high, but so was the reward — every extra mile per hour downhill meant minutes regained from the climb.
Finally, the coastline came into view. The roar of the crowds and the sound of the announcers returned as Bryan and Anzae hit the beach once again. The Alps were behind them, the bike leg survived — and the marathon now ahead.
The Run – The Promenade Battle
Transition 2 was quick and clean for both athletes. There’s a saying that “nothing good happens in T2,” so Bryan and Anzae wasted no time — shoes on, helmets off, and out onto the run course.
The start of the marathon felt incredible. Paces in the high 6’s and low 7’s per mile, morale soaring, and the miles stacking up fast. The four-loop course along the Promenade des Anglais looked promising, and for a moment it even felt like a marathon PR might be possible — after that brutal bike ride. By the end of the first loop, 8 miles were in the bank.
But the body doesn’t forget. Water drained quickly, sodium nosedived, and fatigue crept in. Gels and electrolytes no longer brought relief. Miles 10–12 were the last “flying” miles before reality set in. By mile 13, the course gave its reminder: this was the World Championship. It was meant to be brutal. Everyone out there was fighting not just for time, but for pride and ranking.
From there, the run became a mental war. Each mile was won one at a time. Mile 15. Mile 16. Mile 17. The loops played tricks — from one end of the course you could see the other, a stretch near the airport that looked impossibly far away, only to know you had to run there and back again.
By mile 20, it was the homestretch. Every step hurt. Aches and cramps crept in, but there was no quitting. Both athletes gave everything left, driving heart rates and legs to the edge. Finally, at mile 26, they entered the finish line grandstands, running over the red IRONMAN carpet, the crowd roaring, the Riviera at their backs.
It was a finish filled with emotion, exhaustion, and relief — the kind only the IRONMAN World Championship can deliver.
What Comes Next
Coming home, the season felt complete — but not finished. Crossing the line in Nice wasn’t an ending; it was a milestone. From Austin heat to the Alps of France, the journey proved what’s possible when athletes train together, push each other, and refuse to back down.
For Bryan and Anzae, the IRONMAN World Championship was more than just a race. It was the reward for months of sacrifice, early mornings, long weekends, and countless miles. But it was also a reminder: there’s always another challenge ahead.
For Squadron Racing, the mission continues. To build a culture of athletes who support each other. To chase finish lines together. And to inspire more people to step into the arena and Go Race.
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