Tight racing and last second victories have highlighted Super Saturday at the 2025 Garmin Noosa Triathlon.
Saturday’s action-packed schedule of racing included the ASICS Noosa Bolt, GWM Australian Open Criterium and the ever popular Celebrity Triathlon in front of thousands of spectators who lined Noosa Parade.
Jude Thomas claimed back-to-back ASICS Noosa Bolt men’s titles, edging out Callum Davies by just one second, with Matthew Buckell just behind in third after the 5km run.
“It was a windy day out there so I didn’t want to hit the front until it was absolutely necessary. I went to the front on the last bend with about five, 600 metres ago and I definitely went too hard,” said Thomas. “I probably decided to slow down after I came down the bridge but I was able to get it done today.
“It’s pretty special, I love this race I’ve been doing it for a few years now, I’m in Brisbane so it’s nice to do one in my own state, it’s great to win. I’ll be back next year trying to defend it again,” he said.
In the women’s ASICS Noosa Bolt Maudie Skrying claimed the title in 16:05, just a second ahead of Georgie Grgec and defending champion Leanna Pompeani.
“I feel like that’s one of my first big road race wins, so I’m really excited with that. It means a lot, I have just come off the back of a pretty good track season and had a break and then just a bit of a preseason training build. So, this was sort of just to get back into training, turn the legs over a bit before heading into a big training block up in Falls Creek,” said Skyring. “It’s good to know that I’m in good shape this early on in the season and can really just build on that throughout the rest of the year and going into next year.
“The plan going into that race was to just try and stay composed and stay with the front leaders. I knew it was windy, so I just wanted to try and sit in as much as I could and I knew a majority of the girls in that race were more longer distance girls,” she said. “They’ve been running 10Ks on the roads, half marathons on the roads, and they’re in a bit more race shape than me, but I knew I had the fastest 5K time in the field. I thought back your speed and just try and stay with them, don’t let any gaps open up and if you’re there in the last 500 just bring it home fast, and that was what I was able to do today so I was really happy with that.”
The GWM Australian Open Criterium men’s race was won by Blake Quick, who took victory in the final metres ahead of Thomas Cornis and Declan Trezise.
“I’m stoked, I wanted to win this race for a very long time since I was a boy, so it was very nice to come here and win. It’s a really good feeling, to be honest, it’s not the biggest title, but IRONMAN puts on such an amazing event here and I’m super grateful to come every year. It’s really nice to win in front of the home crowd, in front of my friends and family who really never get to watch me race,” said Quick. “I had to be pretty active quite early, I was out there alone, I didn’t have a teammate, so I had to react to a lot of other teams. We got caught by a crash in the last corner, so we were really out of it, it’s really hard to come back, I wasn’t sure I was going to get there and I just locked in and focussed on chasing Tom all the way into the line and thankfully I got it done the end.”
Amelie Sanders won the GWM Australian Open Criterium women’s title, standing on the top step of the podium following a three-way sprint with Emily Herfoss and Rachael Wales.
“I’m really, really happy to have taken that one out, I came here last year and I got third with my team, so to be able to just come back and get first, it’s really exciting. It was really fast at the beginning and obviously everyone was really excited to race, so everyone was just going, going, but we were all stuck together, which was quite nice for me, but then, Emily went first and I knew how strong she was, so I knew I had to go as well, and then the three of us got away so that was perfect,” said Wales
The race to the line went right down to the wire, with the top three swapping positions a number of times on their run to the finish.
“It was a bit of cat and mouse looking over the shoulder, looking at the front, looking back at the shoulder, but I knew that I had to kick early just because of the corners it would be a bit harder for them to pass, so I knew I had to go early,” said Sanders. “I think this is one of the best experiences that anyone can have because it’s just so packed. Everyone’s there to support you, so much cheering and obviously the coverage is really good as well, so it’s a really great experience.”
Super Saturday also included the popular Celebrity Triathlon, featuring a host of well known names from the sporting world, including Olympic gold medallists, World Champions and football stars.
The fast and furious, though light-hearted, triathlon was won by Touk Miller, Ken Wallace and Pete Jacobs.
Sunday will see the 42nd running of the Garmin Noosa Triathlon, with thousands of athletes taking on a 1.5km swim, 40km ride and 10km run.
Noosa Triathlon is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland.
For more information on the Noosa Triathlon visit noosatri.com.au/
ASICS Noosa Bolt – Men’s
Jude Thomas – 13:51
Callum Davies – 13:52
Matthew Buckell – 13:57
ASICS Noosa Bolt – Women’s
Maudie Skyring – 16:05
Georgie Grgec – 16:06
Leanne Pompeani – 16:06
GWM Australian Open Criterium – Men’s
Blake Quick
Thomas Cornish
Declan Trezise
GWM Australian Open Criterium – Women’s
Amelie Sanders
Emily Herfoss
Rachael Wales
