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Trevor Woods Claims World Championship Medal in Pontevedra
Trevor Woods, a seasoned sports and exercise physiologist from University College Cork (UCC), delivered a gutsy performance to claim the silver medal in the highly competitive 55–59 Open Age Group at the 2025 World Triathlon Cross Triathlon Championships.
The picturesque Galician city of Pontevedra played host to the grueling event, which saw competitors battle across a 1 km lake swim, a brutal 30 km mountain bike course featuring 1100 meters of ascent over two laps, and a punishing 8 km hill run climbing 300 meters. With wetsuits forbidden due to the warm 25.6°C water temperature, athletes had to rely on raw strength and endurance from the outset.
Trevor took command early, emerging first from the swim (in his age category) with an impressive time of 16:43. He maintained the lead on the mountain bike, navigating technical descents and steep climbs with confidence—until a dramatic crash on a fast downhill corner about 5 km into the ride tested his resilience. “My shoulder, knee, and helmet took the brunt of it,” Woods recounted, “but I got back up to speed soon enough, thankfully.”
Despite the setback, Woods continued to push the pace until he was overtaken just before halfway on the bike course by Spain’s Jose Julian Baron Yuste—whom Woods later discovered to be a former professional mountain bike racer. “He left me standing on the technical descents!” Woods admitted with admiration.
Still, Trevor’s determination never wavered. He powered through the remainder of the bike section and completed the demanding run in a swift 33:38, crossing the finish line in a total time of 2:26:10—good enough for a well-earned second place among a field of 30 international competitors.
“I’m absolutely delighted with a world champs silver medal,” said Woods after the race. “It’s been an amazing experience racing against such strong athletes in such a stunning—and challenging—environment.”
Woods’s performance is not only a testament to his athletic prowess but also an inspiring reminder of perseverance, especially given the physical toll of the crash and the demanding terrain. For someone who spends his professional life studying human performance, Trevor Woods has once again proven he can live it just as impressively.
Final Podium – 55-59 Open AG (Pontevedra 2025)
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Jose Julian Baron Yuste (ESP) – 2:21:31
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Trevor Woods (IRL) – 2:26:10
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Carlos Mateos López (ESP) – 2:36:38
