The first "split" IRONMAN season begins this weekend: kick-off in South Africa with Laura Philipp | Farewell to Cameron Brown in New Zealand
IRONMAN South Africa with Laura Philipp
Photo: Ironman
Traditionally an early race date for the high profile event in Port Elizabeth, South Africa - also hosting the African Championship. This means there is an increased number of qualifying slots for the split World Cup 2023: 75 slots for men for the World Cup in Nice on September 10th and 65 slots for women for the World Cup on October 14th in Hawaii. This attracts an international starting field to the dreamlike Nelson Mandela Bay.
From a German point of view, there are definitely chances of winning: Laura Philipp, fourth-placed at the 2022 Ironman World Championships, is in top form at the starting line. The toughest competitor is definitely the Brit Fenella Langridge , who placed sixth in Hawaii. Langridge, known as one of the strongest swimmers in the entire professional field, will try to control the race from the front and build up a sufficient lead on the pursuers by the second exchange.
Laura Philipp wins Ironman Hamburg 2022, photo: Ingo Kutsche
Laura Philipp is at least as strong on the bike, but even better when running. In addition to Laura Philipp, other German professional athletes have legitimate hopes of placing at the top: Laura Zimmermann, Carolin Lehrieder and Leonie Konczalla.
Favorite for men is Alistair Brownlee . After a mixed and injury-prone season in 2022, the Briton wants to prove again this year that he is still one of the world leaders in the Ironman circus. The strongest competitors are Frenchmen Leon Chevalier and Clement Mignon - both are 14th and 21st in the PTO ranking, ahead of Brownlee (35th place). The two South Africans Bradley Weiss and Matt Trautmann have home games - experienced pros with the best knowledge of the course.
Start of the race: Sunday, March 5 from 6:10 a.m. local time (= 5:10 a.m. German time)
IRONMAN New Zealand: Cameron Brown's final pro race
Attention left-hand traffic in New Zealand, photo: Ironman
A triathlon veteran is leaving the professional stage this weekend: at the age of 50, Cameron Brown is contesting his last race as a triathlon professional. The New Zealander is a serial winner at his home race: he has won the event 12 times, most recently in 2016 at the age of 43! At the beginning of the 2000s he was one of the absolute best in the world, fighting for the crown in Hawaii with Normann Stadler and Faris Al Sultan. Between 2001 and 2005 he had four podium finishes in Hawaii. Now it's enough for the old master. We wish Cam Brown a memorable race to finish. It is unlikely that it will be enough to win again.
Photo: David Sun
Start of the race: Saturday, March 4th from 7:50 a.m. local time (= Friday 7:50 p.m. German time)
