This Saturday marks the 24th edition of the prestigious IRONMAN Lanzarote, held in the Canary Islands and is famous for being one of the toughest courses on the global IRONMAN circuit. The race is known for its Kona likeness: heat, strong winds, and climbing. It seems to be Hawaii’s little sister of Europe. The bike course is especially tough including more than 2500 meters of climbing and some technical downhill sections, and athletes return year after year for the breathtaking views.
Decisions in the pro race will be made not only on the bike course but on the run in Puerto del Carmen as well. The first lap (of three) is about 21 kilometers, before the field enters a two-loop-course to finish the race at the oceanfront of Puerto del Carmen. Germany’s Timo Bracht nailed down the course record in 2011, an outstanding time of 8:30:35 while Rachel Joyce (GBR) set the women’s best time in history that same year (9:28:12).
Highlights of the men's field
While defending champions Lucy Gossage (GBR) and Frenchman Romain Guillaume are missing this year, there are several pro athletes going for the win. In the men’s race two Germans are on the favorites list: Christian Kramer and Konstantin Bachor. Bachor was runner-up in 2011, ranked third at IRONMAN Barcelona and fourth at IRONMAN Wisconsin last year. Kramer is looking for the victory after a fourth-place-finish at the IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship Melbourne in March. He also won silver at last year’s IRONMAN Austria in 7:54:31. Miquel Blanquart Tinto from Spain wants to win after being runner-up two consecutive times here. He took silver as well at 2014’s IRONMAN Barcelona with a personal best of 8:04:38. Belgian Bert Jammaer won here in 2008 and 2009 and wants to make history by being the first athlete to win this race for the third time. Alessandro Degasperi from Italy and British Will Clarke are two more to watch for. Clarke won IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote and wants to win his first IRONMAN here.
Women to watch
Eimear Mullan is one of the favorites in women’s competition. She won IRONMAN Mallorca last September and took IRONMAN UK in 2012. The victory would be a great gift for the Irishwoman two days after her 33rd birthday. To reach this goal will require strength over her opponents, Australian Kate Bevilaqua, who has three IRONMAN victories under her belt, Amy Forshaw (GBR), who won last year’s IRONMAN Wales, and Mette Pettersen Moe from Norway, who ranked fourth at IRONMAN Mallorca in 2014.
Professionals compete for P-2000 KPR points and $25, 000 prize purse
Male Pro:
1 Miquel Blanchart Tintó ESP (Spain)
2 Bert Jammaer BEL (Belgium)
3 Konstantin Bachor GER (Germany)
4 Christian Kramer GER (Germany)
9 Will Clarke GBR (Great Britain)
10 Stephen Bayliss GBR (Great Britain)
11 Alessandro Degasperi TA (Italy)
12 Joe Skipper GBR (Great Britain)
13 Sergio Marques POR (Portugal)
15 Guy Crawford NZL (New Zealand)
16 Marc Duelsen GER (Germany)
17 Gilian Oriet SUI (Switzerland)
18 Dominik Berger AUT (Austria)
20 Marcus Hultgren SWE (Sweden)
23 Daniel Herlbauer AUT (Austria)
31 Mark Oude Bennink NED (Netherlands)
32 Henrik Oftedal NOR (Norway)
33 Remmert Wielinga NED (Netherlands)
34 Hervé Banti MON (Monaco)
35 Cedric Lassonde FRA (France)
36 Mauro Baertsch SUI (Switzerland)
37 Roman Deisenhofer GER (Germany)
38 Rayco Marrero Avero ESP (Spain)
39 Guillaume Jeannin FRA (France)
40 Fred Schaffner FRA (France)
41 Craig Twigg GBR (Great Britain)
42 Tom Angerer AUT (Austria)
43 Christoph Schlagbauer AUT (Austria)
44 Owen Cummins IRL (Ireland)
45 James Brown GBR (Great Britain)
46 Hendrik-Jan Verhaegen BEL (Belgium)
47 Antonio Cardona García ESP (Spain)
48 Swen Sundberg GER (Germany)
49 Miguel Platero ESP (Spain)
female Pro:
5 Saleta Castro ESP (Spain)
6 Eimear Mullan IRL (Ireland)
7 Amy Forshaw GBR (Great Britain)
8 Shiao-Yu Li TPE (Taiwan)
14 Kate Bevilaqua AUS (Australia)
19 Lisa Roberts USA (United States)
21 Diana Riesler GER (Germany)
22 Michi Herlbauer AUT (Austria)
24 Mette Pettersen Moe NOR (Norway)
25 Alena Stevens SVK (Slovakia)
26 Verena Walter GER (Germany)
27 Nicole Woysch GER (Germany)
28 Evi Neuscheler GER (Germany)
29 Caroline Livesey GBR (Great Britain)
30 Anne Jensen DEN (Denmark)
51 Corina Hengartner SUI (Switzerland)