The professional field for the 2023 edition of IRONMAN® 70.3® Kraichgau powered by KraichgauEnergie has been revealed and once again the German season opener is set to produce a spectacle of racing. The professional field will be competing to secure their slot for the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in Lahti, Finland as well as a piece of the $30,000 prize purse.
The professional field features defending champion, Laura Philipp (DEU), who kicked off her season being crowned 2023 IRONMAN African Champion. She will be full of confidence racing on home soil again after her memorable season last year which saw her produce an IRONMAN world best time of 8:18:20 in the 2022 IRONMAN European Championship in Hamburg, Germany.
Daniella Bleymehl (DEU) who came second in last year’s race will no doubt be looking to re-write history and earn herself a top podium slot. Bleymehl had a good 2022 season of racing after also being crowned the 2022 IRONMAN African Champion and taking the win at the Mainova IRONMAN European Championship Frankfurt, and coming second at IRONMAN Israel. 2021 IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion.
The professional women’s field will also feature Ellie Salthouse (AUS), who has already kicked off her 2023 season by winning IRONMAN 70.3 Tasmania, Svenja Thoes (DEU), Anne Reischmann (DEU), Heini Hartikainen (FIN), Laura Jansen (DEU), Els Visser (NLD) and Nikki Bartlett (GBR) who is also racing at IRONMAN 70.3 Marbella European TriClub Championship this weekend.
In the men’s field, the absence of defending champion Justus Nieschlag (DEU), means that a new champion will be crowned. Coming off an impressive performance last November by taking top honours at IRONMAN Israel, Patrick Lange (DEU), will be the one to beat in the men’s field. The two-time IRONMAN World Champion will fancy his chances of winning and making a statement ahead of a long season of racing. However, it won’t be a straightforward win with fellow Germans, Jan Stratmann (DEU) and Maurice Clavel (DEU), looking for an early season win to boost their morale. Stratmann will be looking to improve on last year’s 11th place finish at the VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and no doubt he has earmarked IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau powered by KraichgauEnergie as the first major hurdle towards preparing for that goal. Clavel did not have the season he had hoped for last year, his last victory coming in 2021 when he took the top podium spot at the IRONMAN African Championship in South Africa. He will be itching for another big performance having started this year with a DNF at IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote.
The professional men’s field will also feature Andrea Salvisberg (CHE), Henrik Goesch (FIN), Marc Eggeling (DEU), Jesse Hinrichs (DEU), Lukasz Wojt (DEU), Niklas Dellke (DEU), Vincent Van De Walle (BEL) and former IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion, Michael Raelert (DEU), who will be looking to upset the apple cart.
Known as the land of 1 000 hills, the Kraichgau region offers beautiful scenery, a challenging course, and a deep triathlon culture. Athletes will start the day with a 1.9km swim course that takes place near the Hardtsee leisure center. Followed by a one-loop 90 km bike course which will show why the region carries the nickname "land of a thousand hills". After conquering the tough bike course, athletes will complete a three-loop 21.1 km run course that will be packed with spectators.
FEMALE PRO:
1 Philipp Laura DEU
2 Bleymehl Daniela DEU
4 Salthouse Ellie AUS
5 Bartlett Nikki GBR
7 Reischmann Anne DEU
8 Visser Els NLD
9 Hartikainen Heini FIN
10 Jansen Laura DEU
11 Güber Henrike DEU
13 Krüger Katharina DEU
14 Arlom Hannah DEU
15 Jendryschik Jenny DEU
16 Bax Dieuwertje NLD
18 Meyer Carolin DEU
19 Ahrens Johanna DEU
20 Willoughby Friederike DEU
23 Halter Kathrin DEU
25 Vanhoutte Jonie BEL
26 Mathews Laura USA
27 Albert Jamie CHE
28 Leisner Shiva DNK
MALE PRO:
30 Lange Patrick DEU
31 Stratmann Jan DEU
32 Clavel Maurice DEU
33 Salvisberg Andrea CHE
34 Goesch Henrik FIN
35 Eggeling Marc DEU
36 Hinrichs Jesse DEU
37 Wojt Lukasz DEU
38 Raelert Michael DEU
39 Dellke Niklas DEU
40 Van De Walle Vincent BEL
41 Bolzer Matthieu FRA
42 Mariën Toon BEL
43 Dutli Fabian CHE
44 Hauwert Levi AUS
45 Shaffeld Timo DEU
46 Andersen Nicki DNK
47 Dias Lima Turtera Rafael BRA
48 Böttinger Samuel DEU
49 Breinglinger David DEU
50 Mattner Christoph DEU
51 Emde Nick DEU
52 Guhr Sebastian DEU
53 Schöfisch Lasse DEU
54 Besse Jean-claude CHE
55 Trunk Christian DEU
56 Fritzenschaft Julian DEU
57 Hoffmann Jonas DEU
58 Männer Magnus DEU
59 Westover Richard DEU
60 Neef Sebastian DEU
61 Elischer Renning DEU
62 Schreiner Gregor DEU
63 Peitersen Bastian DNK
64 Domnick Julius DEU
65 Huckschlag Nils DEU
66 Meyer Tim DEU
67 Wangel Per SWE
68 Turk Mathias DEU
69 Szuch Colin USA
70 Bogen Rico DEU
71 Drachler Tobias DEU
73 Bolbat Marcel DEU
74 Steinwandter Matthias ITA
75 Månsson Hampus SWE
76 Sievers Lennart DEU
78 Hoeing Jan DEU