Both winners from 2013 will be in Exmoor on Sunday to defend there titles. Ritchie Nicholls will try to be only the second male athlete to defend here after Fraser Cartmell (2007,2008) and Eimear Mullan will be going for the threepeat.
Challenging Nicholls this year will be two Brits on form Dan Halksworth and Will Clarke, Halksworth now being backed by Team Erdinger Alkoholfrei is brimming with confidence after a fourth place finish at 70.3 St. Polten Austria. Whilst Will Clarke now has team backing from Uplace-BMC he is on a roll this season with 2nd place finishes at 70.3 South Africa, Puerto Rico and Barcelona.
Flying under the radar some what is South African Stuart Marais, he is no stranger to the 70.3 circuit having won 70.3 Italy. Also take note of Spains Hector Guerra the ex pro cyclist had some stunning bike speed at both 70.3 Monterrey and California, the latter were he rode down Uber bikers Andrew Starykowicz and Sebastian Kienle so he should be strong on the bike but this could be down to his liking to the “Spanish Beef”
Eimear Mullan will be challenged by Vanessa Raw who is stepping up from an olympic background to middle distance for only the second time after her depute at Challenge Rimini were Mullen won, Raw was 6th place 11min 17sec in arrears. Amy Forshaw now in her second year as a pro will won’t to have a better showing here than last years 4th place finish.
After a poor result at 70.3 Mallorca Laura Bostock says “I am feeling fresher and ready to tackle what will be a very challenging course. Yearning for a flat course to show my power strength, throwing this race in before my A race Ironman UK 140.6 UK will gain strength both mentally and physically. Im Looking forward to racing again with Amy Forshaw and for the 1st time with Eilmear Mullan and Vanessa Raw, I feel I am ready for whatever the Exmoor will throw at me”
PRO MEN
Ackermann, Johann
Alonso-Mckernan, Clemente
Clarke, Will
Davey, Rhys
Deak, Zsombor
Guerra, Héctor
Halksworth, Daniel
Hawkins, Paul
Marais, Stuart
Nicholls, Ritchie
Russell, Danny
Simon, Oliver
Springall, Harry
Threlfall, Mark
Wilby, Pete
PRO WOMEN
Bostock, Laura
Forshaw, Amy
Mullan, Eimear
Raw, Vanessa