The Men’s Elite race at HYROX Phoenix delivered another relentless and exciting battle between a selection of the biggest names in the division. This time there would be no fun battle between Tim and Hunter, but the field was packed with exceptional athletes regardless.
Despite the desert heat, Roncevic claimed his second major win of the season by crossing the line in 00:53:16. Only one second shy of breaking his own world record.
Louis Osselaer from Belgium made his Elite 15 debut in Phoenix, a talented athlete with a CrossFit background. Luke Greer, Josh Van Zeeland and Charlie Botterill were all representing England.
New Dad Rich Ryan had been struggling with his calf. Sean Noble has also bee struggling with injuries this season. Dylan Scott went into the race one of the favorites. 40 year old Jonathon Wynn was representing for the older athletes, going into the race he stated “I’ve still got some fight in me”. Let’s see how everything panned out.
Race Recap
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Fast Start, Fierce Early Battles
The athletes sprinted straight out of the gate with Roncevic immediately taking control at the front. Luke Greer looked sharp round the first lap and was the first athlete onto the SkiErg.
Roncevic wasted no time asserting himself once again. His SkiErg pacing was clinical and he was the first athlete to complete the station.
By the middle of the second run, his pace was already starting to widen the gaps between the the entire field. The rising desert temperatures looked like they could become as a key factor, but Roncevic appeared unfazed.
The Sleds Shake Up the Field
Roncevic reached the sled push first with Greer right on his heels. While Roncevic maintained control, the sled push produced one of the biggest movers of the day. Slovenian Alen Ploj surged an incredible nine places thanks to his brutally fast sled time.
Race Tip: Make sure to control your breathing on the sleds, especially the sled push. It takes a great deal of force to push a sled from a stationary position, so if you can achieve longer sections without stopping, that is preferable to short intense bursts of stopping and starting.
On the third run Luke Greer momentarily surged into the lead, but the advantage was short-lived. Roncevic’s efficient sled pull technique allowed him to reclaim first place, exit the station first, and reassert dominance.
Burpees, Cards, and Crucial Errors
The race tightened once again as the athletes headed into the burpee broad jumps. Roncevic and Greer arrived at the workout station neck and neck. Cole Learn was shown a yellow card. Moments later Luke Greer was called back to complete an extra burpee, a costly mistake that would ultimately prove to derail his podium ambitions.
Roncevic powered through the burpees with textbook efficiency, leaving the station in first place once again and Czech athlete Tomas Tvrdik briefly slotted into second.
Mid-Race Pressure and Farmer’s Carry
By the time the athletes reached the rowing station, Roncevic was still dictating the tempo. He reached the farmer’s carry ahead of a tightly packed chase group, from which Sean Noble decided to make his move.
Noble attacked the farmer’s carry aggressively, overtaking Roncevic almost immediately and posting a sensational time of 1:09 on the station. This was the fastest of the entire race. He sprinted back onto the track for the next run in first position.
Lunges Decide the Podium
The lunges proved to be one of the most pivotal workout station at HYROX Phoenix. Noble entered first, but Rich Ryan overtook him, briefly holding the overall lead. Roncevic responded exactly as champions do, with poise, confident and focused determination. He finished the lunges first with Ryan right behind, setting up a dramatic final showdown for the next lap and the wall balls.
James Kelly, meanwhile, produced one of the strongest finishes of the day, crushing the lunges in 2:38 and putting himself firmly into podium contention.
Wall Balls and a Near World Record
Roncevic reached the wall balls first and never looked back. With the clock ticking toward the world record mark, the Austrian pushed relentlessly through the final reps.
He bowled over the line first in Phoenix to secure victory with a time of 53:16. Roncevic missed the world record by a single second but it was a stunning performance nonetheless. Behind him, James Kelly’s late surge earned him second place, while Rich Ryan edged out Sean Noble in a tight battle for third.
Final Results – Men’s Elite HYROX Phoenix
| 1 | Alexander Roncevic | AUT | 53:16 |
| 13 | Charlie Botterill | ENG | 58:54 |
Phoenix Sets the Tone
Phoenix delivered a statement race early in the season. Roncevic’s dominance, Kelly’s finishing speed, Ryan’s consistency, and Noble’s fearless racing all set the stage for a fiercely competitive HYROX year ahead. Stay tuned to BOXROX for all the coverage.
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