Watch world-class athletes go head to head on a brand-new course at the first regional IRONMAN championship of the year.
This Sunday's Standard Bank IRONMAN African Championship brings up the first continental championship of the year with an exceptional field set to go for the title on a new course. The race, race staged in Nelson Mandela Bay and the surrounding city of Port Elizabeth, will be a fast one indeed. Defending champion Jodie Swallow (GBR) and men’s 2013 winner Ronnie Schildknecht from Switzerland lead a strong field onto the brand-new course.
Firstly, course changes were made for this year's edition of this iconic IRONMAN event. The biggest and most significant modification is on the bike course. Due to some major road work in the center of Port Elizabeth, these changes were necessary. The course still has two laps of 90.1 kilometers, but the bike leg is now almost completely coastal. Athletes will discover a fascinating and spectacular ride including a lot of breathtaking views. Once on the run, the new four-lap course will bring athletes even closer to their fans.
Schildknecht returns to Port Elizabeth
"There are ten athletes in the mix for the victory," says Boris Stein, a pro from Germany. With a look at the start list there is no question that the race will be a scramble right from the get-go. In the men’s race there are some very strong swimmers ready to open up an early gap. Marko Albert from Estonia and Germany’s Christian Kramer are the fastest swimmer in the field, and the rest of the men will be really watching out for their feet. 2014 IRONMAN World Championship runner-up American Ben Hoffman and his compatriot Benjamin Collins are on the list, as well as the strong IRONMAN rookie Ruedi Wild from Switzerland, Australian Tim van Berkel, the tough Dutch fighter Bas Diederen, and the two South Africans—James Cunnama and Kyle Buckingham. Each one will be trying to put some time on superb cyclists and runners like IRONMAN 70.3 European champion Boris Stein (GER), Schildknecht, Matt Trautmann (RSA) and David Plese (SLO).
The three South Africans, Matt Trautman (who placed fourth last year), James Cunnama and Kyle Buckingham will provide excitement for the locals, as each is good enough to become the first South African since Raynard Tissink in 2011 to win in Port Elizabeth. Trautman in particular has been in good form and has improved each year finishing fifth and fourth in the last two years respectively while Cunnama has started to show some of the form of which many know he is capable.
Swallow to defend her title
It will get tough in the women’s race as well, with Jodie Swallow defending her amazing race here a year ago. She was in the lead from start to finish, thanks to a brilliantly consistent performance. This year, the situation could be different due to the presence of Australia’s Annabel Luxford, who might follow "the Swallow"—and not only in the water. After the swim, Katja Konschak from Germany and Dede Griesbauer (USA) could be in comfortable positions as well.
Behind those four, there are other strong women ready to put the pedal to the medal once on the bike. The British duo of Lucy Gossage and Susie Cheetham especially will be looking forward to the race after ranking second and third last year. Two strong runners from the North of Europe could round it up in Port Elizabeth: Kaisa Lehtonen (FIN) and Asa Lundstrom (SWE).
Professionals compete for P-4000 KPR points and $150,000 prize purse
Male Pro:
2 Schildknecht Ronnie CHE
3 Stein Boris DEU
4 Trautman Matt ZAF
5 Del Corral Morales Victor ESP
6 Hoffman Ben USA
7 van Berkel Tim AUS
8 Diederen Bas NLD
9 Aigroz Mike CHE
10 Albert Marko EST
11 Baldwin Nick SYC
12 Bayliss Stephen GBR
13 Brierley Simon SYC
14 Buckingham Kyle ZAF
15 Ciotti Emanuele ITA
16 Close Gregory USA
17 Collins Benjamin USA
19 Cunnama James ZAF
20 Davidson Michael ZAF
21 de Bruin Gerhard ZAF
22 Degasperi Alessandro ITA
23 De Schutter Thomas BEL
24 Elliot Lewis USA
25 Garcia Frederic FRA
26 Godart Olivier LUX
27 Kramer Christian DEU
28 Lampret Freddy ZAF
29 Lassonde Cedric FRA
30 Limousin Frederic FRA
31 Manente Felipe BRA
32 Mika Thomas CZE
33 Nemcik Marek SVK
34 Niedrig Andreas DEU
35 Oude Bennink Mark NLD
37 Peterson‐Bach Jens DNK
38 Plese David SVN
39 Risti Ivan ITA
41 Simon Oliver GBR
42 Thomas Darby FIN
43 Thomschke Markus DEU
44 van Berkel Jan CHE
45 Vistica Andrej HRV
46 Watson Eric BHR
47 Wild Ruedi CHE
Female Pro:
48 Swallow Jodie GBR
49 Gossage Lucy GBR
50 Cheetham Susie GBR
52 Abraham Corinne GBR
53 Luxford Annabell AUS
54 Bellinga Rahel NLD
55 Borges De Andrade Mariana BRA
56 Finger Annett DEU
57 Griesbauer Dede USA
58 Grohmann Katharina DEU
59 Horner Claire ZAF
60 Konschak Katja DEU
61 Lehtonen Kaisa FIN
62 Lundstrom Asa SWE
64 Riesler Diana DEU
65 Roberts Darbi USA
66 Saemmler Daniela DEU
67 Schink Lina‐Kristin DEU
68 Streurer Bianca AUT
69 Stevens Amanda USA
70 Walter Verena DEU
71 Watkinson Annah ZAF