HYROX divisions explained with athletes competing in Open, Pro, Doubles and Relay race formats inside an indoor arena

HYROX Divisions Explained : Open vs Pro vs Doubles vs Relay

Beginner

February 10, 2026

4 min read

This article provides HYROX divisions explained in a practical, race-day context, so you can choose the right format without guesswork.

Choosing the wrong HYROX division is one of the most common reasons athletes fail to finish strong. The workload, pacing demands, and fatigue profile change drastically depending on the format you pick.

This guide provides HYROX divisions explained clearly, with practical race-day context: loads, transitions, fatigue accumulation, and who each division is actually designed for.

If you’re unsure whether to race Open, Pro, Doubles, or Relay, this article will remove the guesswork.

HYROX Divisions Explained: How the Race Formats Work

HYROX divisions define how the race is performed, not the structure of the race itself.

Every division follows the same core format :

8 x 1 km runs
8 functional workout stations
Fixed order of stations

What changes between divisions :

Workout loads and volumes
Whether work is solo or shared
Pacing strategy and fatigue management
Skill and strength requirements

For official formats and standards, refer to the official HYROX website.

HYROX Open Division

The Open division is considered the standard HYROX race format and represents the most common category worldwide.

You complete :

All runs alone
All stations alone
With moderate, standardized loads

This division rewards balanced athletes—those who can run efficiently while maintaining controlled strength output. Poor pacing on early runs often leads to major slowdowns during sleds, wall balls, and lunges.

Most first-time athletes should start here. It allows you to learn transitions, judge your fueling, and experience full-body fatigue without extreme strength demands.

👉 For pacing mistakes commonly seen in this format, see https://hyroxinsider.com/hyrox-lose-time/

HYROX Pro Division

The Pro division typically attracts a more elite field and directly impacts competitive leaderboards.

Compared to Open, Pro requires :

Stronger sled push and pull capacity
More upper-body endurance (especially carries and wall balls)
Better fatigue tolerance late in the race

The biggest mistake athletes make is entering Pro based on gym strength alone. Running inefficiency combined with heavier stations often causes catastrophic pacing collapse after station 4 or 5.

This division is best suited for experienced HYROX athletes or competitive CrossFit-style competitors with strong engines.

HYROX Doubles Division

HYROX Doubles athletes coordinating during a transition zone and sharing the workout effort

In HYROX Doubles, two athletes race together and share the workload at each station.

Key characteristics :

Runs are done together
Workouts are split between partners
Strategy matters more than raw fitness

Doubles rewards smart transitions and intelligent work distribution. A stronger athlete can absorb more reps while the partner recovers, but poor coordination often wastes time in the Roxzone.

This format is ideal if you want your first HYROX experience without full solo load, you and your partner have complementary strengths or you can communicate clearly under fatigue.

👉 Learn how station strategy changes in shared formats in https://hyroxinsider.com/hyrox-training-plan-beginners

HYROX Relay Division

The HYROX Relay division is a team-based format, typically involving four athletes.

Each athlete completes 2 runs and 2 workout stations.

Relay drastically reduces continuous fatigue, making it accessible to a wide range of fitness levels. However, speed and execution become critical—fast handoffs and clean transitions often decide placements.

This format is common in corporate teams, gyms, and first-time competitors testing HYROX race flow.