Darya powering through the Kona bike course on her LIOS Exactor aero road bike.
On the lava fields of Kona, Hawaii, the Ironman World Championship 2025 lived up to its brutal reputation. Among thousands of elite athletes, LIOS Ambassador Darya Topic took on the ultimate endurance test – 3.8 km of open-water swimming, 180 km of cycling and a full marathon in unforgiving heat and humidity.
Riding her LIOS Exactor aero road bike, fitted and dialled in through a Retül 3D Motion Analysis bike fit, Darya pushed through physical limits and mental barriers to reach the finish line in 12 hours 28 minutes and 45 seconds – a feat defined as much by resilience as performance.
“It wasn’t about the distance anymore”
“I left my soul out there today. I honestly can’t believe I crossed that finish line – it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Darya reflected afterwards.
The conditions were punishing even by Kona standards. Waves crashed through the swim start, humidity wrapped the island in a haze and relentless headwinds turned the bike leg into a battle of attrition.
“It wasn’t even about the heat or the elevation. When the Pacific waves tried to swallow me and the headwind kept blowing me backwards, I knew this day might end very differently.”
But it didn’t. Despite severe nausea that forced her to throw up repeatedly during the ride and run, she kept going. “Stopping felt worse than keep on going. So we kept going.”
Her words capture the essence of Kona – an event that tests not just athletes’ strength, but their mindset, their ability to endure and their willingness to face the unknown.
The LIOS Exactor: engineered for endurance and speed
The LIOS Exactor’s aerodynamic form built for precision and endurance.
Every LIOS Exactor is hand built in the UK and tailored to the rider through an in-depth Retül 3D motion analysis bike fit. This level of precision allows riders to deliver maximum power and comfort over long distances – crucial in the heat and elevation of Kona’s Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
Darya’s Exactor was equipped with a SRAM AXS groupset and LIOS CD45/60 carbon wheelset, blending aerodynamic performance with reliability over 180 kilometres of relentless terrain.
“I literally learned how to use the new carbon clip-on tri bars properly during the race and I wouldn’t have even had a fancy bike if it wasn’t for the incredible LIOS Bikes team,” she wrote.
Her honesty reflects the reality of Kona. Not every competitor arrives as a seasoned pro, but every rider who finishes earns respect. The Exactor’s stability and efficiency helped Darya stay composed even when her body was fighting to shut down.
Kona: the ultimate test
The Ironman World Championship is more than a race. It’s an invitation to meet yourself in the toughest conditions imaginable. For Darya, it was a journey of doubt, courage and discovery.
“I had the fitness but not the experience. Half the internet was telling me I don’t have what it takes as I trained differently to what is ‘expected,’ so I started to question if I was maybe just lucky on my first Ironman.”
Unlike many events, Kona brings together the best triathletes in the world – from first-time qualifiers to veterans racing it for the fifth time. “There was the girl who was standing next to me at the swim start with a temperature wanting to give it a go, and the grandma who was racing for the fifth+ time reassuring me with a cheeky smile that I’d be okay as she also often ends up at the medical tent!”
That spirit of camaraderie defines Kona. Beneath the suffering there’s a deep respect for every athlete who dares to show up.
Determination in motion – Darya mid-marathon on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
Resilience, Reflection and Reward
At the finish line Darya’s body gave in but her spirit did not. Like many competitors she ended up on an IV drip, recovering from dehydration and exhaustion. Yet her words after the race spoke only of gratitude.
“Today I gained a whole new level of self-love and respect for myself. What a privilege it is to be able to do hard things.”
This mindset – grit balanced with humility – sits at the heart of the LIOS ethos. Precision engineering meets human determination. Each LIOS frame is designed not just for performance but for riders who embody courage, determination, unselfishness and cheerfulness – the Commando Spirit that inspired LIOS’s founding values.
Relief and emotion at the finish line.
A Partnership Built on Purpose
At LIOS every bike begins with a conversation and a full fit session using Retül 3D motion capture technology. The goal is simple – create a machine that feels like an extension of the rider.
For Darya that partnership meant confidence when the race turned chaotic. Her Exactor didn’t just carry her through; it became part of her fight to the finish.
A moment of reflection – Darya celebrates completing the toughest race of her life.
Explore the LIOS Exactor
Darya’s performance at the Ironman World Championship 2025 stands as a reminder of what’s possible when precision meets perseverance.
The LIOS Exactor isn’t just built for speed. It’s built for endurance, for confidence and for athletes who believe in doing hard things.
Explore the Exactor and start your own journey.
