The first IRONMAN African Championship features a stellar men's field. The deepest and strongest IRONMAN professional field ever assembled in Africa is set for a fierce battle at the Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship on Sunday March 29. The men’s field at the inaugural Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship features continental and world championship winners, together with some of South Africa’s most promising talents.
The championship status of the event has raised the stakes in terms of professional participation as the winner not only claims the coveted title of IRONMAN African Champion, but will also automatically qualify for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, which takes place on October 10th.
Headlining the men’s field will be 2013 world champion, Frederik Van Lierde. The stone-faced Belgian is one of the most accomplished athletes in the field and, although he only requires a finish to validate his Kona entry, he is coming to win. Coming to race in Port Elizabeth for the first time, Van Lierde spent two weeks in the city in January to train on the course and to familiarise himself with the conditions.
There are also three of last year’s top 10 Kona finishers in the field, with Cyril Viennot (FRA), who finished fifth in Kona, the highest of the lot. Viennot is no stranger to racing in South Africa, having reached the podium in 2013. Viennot knows the conditions, but will be slightly new to the course as he has not raced in Port Elizabeth since the bike course was changed in 2014.
The reigning men’s IRONMAN North American champion, TJ Tollakson, makes his first appearance in South Africa, adding yet another high profile name to the start list. Another Belgian, Bart Aernouts, will also be making a first appearance in Port Elizabeth after an impressive 2014. The reigning IRONMAN 70.3 European champion capped off 2014 with a top-10 finish at the IRONMAN World Championship, and recently placed third at the Standard Bank IRONMAN 70.3 South Africa in January. Aernouts has spent some time training in Stellenbosch as preparation for the race.
The South African contingent is the probably the strongest it has ever been as James Cunnama, Kyle Buckingham and Matt Trautman could each be contention for a podium. Cunnama needs little introduction, as the highest African finisher at the world championship and also the first African athlete to go under eight hours over the iron distance. Injury saw him withdraw from the Standard Bank IRONMAN 70.3 South Africa in January. Buckingham, who has since moved back to his hometown of Port Elizabeth, will be keenly watched as it was here that he achieved a professional debut second place finish last year, and says he has improved over all three disciplines. Matt Trautman presents something of a dark horse as his improvement over 2014 was notable, placing fourth in South Africa before winning IRONMAN Wales. He comes off the back of an impressive win at the Standard Bank IRONMAN 70.3 South Africa in January. He tends to thrive over tougher courses.
Spanish duo, Eneko Llanos and Ivan Rana, will also be fighting for podium places. Llanos, who took the European and Asia-Pacific IRONMAN championships in 2013, knows what it takes to win. Rana won IRONMAN Austria in 2014, recording the third fastest IRONMAN time ever in the process.
For the first time ever the title of IRONMAN African champion is up for grabs, and along with that a shot at Kona.