Braced for ‘one hell of an Ironman race’ in PE

It’s all systems go for the Isuzu Ironman 70.3 World Championships in Port Elizabeth this weekend, says Ironman SA race director Paul Wolff.

The race, which takes place at Kings Beach in Summerstrand, will see triathlon’s best coming together in Nelson Mandela Bay to compete in the World Championships on Saturday and Sunday.

Boasting one of the most competitive professional fields in the sport, the event will make history as it takes place in Africa for the first time.

“Preparations are going very well,” said Wolff.

“Obviously we started early because this is a much bigger race than the African Champs. We have to have two transitions because we have the women’s and the men’s. The women’s race is on Saturday and the men’s on Sunday.

“The biggest challenge will be that while the women are racing we need to move all their stuff to the second transition, so that the men can put their bicycles into the first transition, because they race the next day.

“Normally, for the African Champs, we have everything centralised to Hobie Beach but now there are two constructions at Hobie and Kings Beach. This will be a brand new experience for Nelson Mandela Bay.” In the women’s professional field, last year’s Ironman African Championship winner and current world champion, Daniela Ryf, of Switzerland, will be looking to add to her impressive career and retain her world championship title.

Wolff was not willing to predict who would win on both days saying competition would be tough.

“It’s going to be one hell of a race. In the men’s race there are three Olympians and guys who have won World Cup races everywhere. So it’s going to be quick. Even the age groupers. These guys have all qualified somewhere in the world, so it’s the best of the best racing here this weekend.

“In the women’s race there’s Daniela Ryf, who is the former African Champs winner and the world champ, but the field is so full of depth and the women and men are so quick.

“Now, at championship level... to point out winners is difficult,” he said.

“However, what is brilliant is that we have the women’s only race. It’s important to have the same limelight as the men. They do the same amount of training, same prize-money and same everything.”

Wolff said people could expect two days of live television coverage. The race will be broadcast on SuperSport 12 all day long.

The roads will be closed from 5am on Saturday.

“The race is not as long as the African champs. It’s half the time but because we have so many athletes we roll them into the water for longer. So it’s still a long day. It’s a proud moment for our company in SA to host the Ironman 70.3 but it’s a very proud moment for our city to be able to put this on and show the world that we can do it.

“I promise you we are the best kept secret in SA,” Wolff added.

It’s important we have the same limelight as men