The 31st running of the Laguna Phuket Triathlon delivered another unforgettable chapter in Thailand, with Georgia Taylor-Brown and Tayler Reid claiming the top spots in emphatic – yet very different – fashion.
Taylor-Brown Turns ‘Gap Year’ Into a Masterclass
Calling 2025 a ‘gap year’ for Georgia Taylor-Brown may be the understatement of the season. Wedged between major starts in Dubai, Bahrain, and the upcoming T100 Grand Final, the Brit added Phuket to her whirlwind schedule – and made the demanding 1.8km / 55km / 12km course look almost leisurely.
Taylor-Brown was briefly matched in the water by New Zealand’s Nicole van der Kaay, but once her feet hit the pedals, the race became a one-woman showcase. Riding solo from the opening kilometers of the bike leg, she continued to build time all afternoon and capped the performance with a polished run in oppressive tropical heat.
She broke the tape nearly eight minutes ahead of van der Kaay, with France’s Justine Guerard completing the women’s podium.
Reflecting on the hot, sticky conditions, Taylor-Brown admitted she almost wished for rain during the run: “It was brutally humid, but the energy out there was amazing. Racing alongside the age-groupers and sharing those moments is why I love this sport.”
Reid vs. Ferris: A Duel Worthy of the ‘Race of Legends’
While the women’s event became a runaway victory, the men’s race delivered the kind of drama Phuket is known for. Tayler Reid and Australian Josh Ferris were inseparable for almost the entire day, matching each other stroke for stroke in the swim before teaming up to push the pace through the bike leg.
Reid set the tempo early on the most technical portion of the ride, but Ferris refused to give an inch. The pair traded turns and entered T2 poised for a showdown. The run became a tactical chess match in sauna-like humidity, with Reid finally finding the decisive edge in the closing stretch. He surged clear to win by 14 seconds – tiny by Phuket standards, huge considering the attrition behind them.
Ukraine’s Rostyslav Pevtsov crossed the line more than six minutes later to secure third.
“That was one of the toughest days I’ve had here,” Reid said afterward. “Josh and I pushed each other from start to finish. I’m stoked to cap the season with a win – and to run a lot faster than I did last year.”