Maastricht Madness + Elite 15 Implications

HYROX Returns Big This Weekend

HYROX returns in a big way with a three-date event in Maastricht, as well as the first-ever South American race in São Paulo, Brazil.

With only two weeks until the first Major of the season in Hamburg, HYROX has made a rare exception, times from Maastricht will still count toward Elite 15 qualification.

🚨 Hamburg Major Qualification Window

Races with Major implications are happening Friday and Saturday. Here’s the timeline:

  • Saturday evening: Invites for the Hamburg Major begin going out
  • Athletes have 24 hours to confirm attendance
  • Roll-down process follows until all 15 spots are filled for Individuals and Doubles

Due to the stacked field, HYROX has doubled the race director team in Maastricht to ensure fairness.

🔥 Men’s Individual Elite Field

To make Hamburg, men need a 2-time average of 56:21. Here are top 40 contenders racing this weekend and what they need:

  • Sean Noble – currently 9th
  • Hidde Weersma – currently 15th
  • Jannik Czapla – 56:23
  • Afan Humphries – 56:22
  • Richard Hynek – 57:05
  • Sebastian Ifversen – 56:12
  • Graham Halliday – 56:09
  • Alen Ploj – 57:00
  • Harry Thompson – 56:02
  • Paul Weindl – 55:41
  • Marc Dean – 56:07
  • Sadiq Elfitouri – 56:00
  • Danny Rae – 55:26
  • Ronan Lindsay – 55:30
  • Oli Fricker – 55:41
  • Aaron Travers – 56:15
  • Liam McCroary – 55:10
  • Jake Williamson – 55:38

💥 Women’s Elite Field

Women must hit a 2-time average of 1:02:25. Top 40 athletes racing in Maastricht:

  • Emilie Dahmen – currently 9th
  • Melanie Maurer – currently 11th
  • Ida Mathilde Steensgaard – 1:02:31
  • Lauren Griffith – 1:03:20
  • Tanja Stroschneider – 1:02:38
  • Manuela Garcia Caparros – 1:02:44
  • Jana Lebenstedt – 1:02:12
  • Camilla Massa – 1:02:51
  • Margot Vandenlindenloof – 1:03:13
  • Jezabel Kremer – 1:01:52

💡 Also keep your eye on a number of racers outside the current top 40 — this weekend could shake up the leaderboard in a big way.

💪 Doubles on the Line

Plenty of elite teams — both new and established — are battling for a Hamburg slot.

Men’s Doubles:

  • Tim Wenisch & Alexander Roncevic – most recent individual champions
  • Roberto Viciedo & Luis Garcia Rubio – 2nd at Worlds
  • Pieter Maes & Tom Franssens – 5th at Worlds
  • Liam McCroary & Danny Rae – currently 16th
  • Ciaran Parkinson & Tony Revell – just missed out last year
  • Jeremy McConnell & Aitor Lizarazu Hormilla
  • Jannik Czapla & Sebastian Ifversen

Women’s Doubles:

  • Caroline Lieb & Zeliha Puls
  • Melanie Maurer & Jennifer Nikolaus
  • Lena Putters & Emilie Dahmen
  • Camilla Massa & Seka Arning
  • Gabriella Moriarty & Zara Piergianni

🗓 Racing for all Pro Divisions spans Friday and Saturday, with final leaderboards dropping Sunday morning.

🔥 Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone: A Performance for the Ages

There are only a few days left in the World Athletics Championships — and Sydney McLaughlin‑Levrone just delivered one of the most jaw‑dropping performances in recent memory.

📚 In the Media: Where’s the Home of Hybrid?

While the Race Brain pod was on hiatus, stat master Jack Bauer dropped a banger:
“Where is the Home of Hybrid Racing in America?”
→ Check out the article

🎯 That’s All For This Week

Next week, we’ll begin full breakdowns of the fields heading into Hamburg — the first Major of the 2025/2026 HYROX season.

Stay tuned. Stay racing. Stay Race Brain.