IRONMAN 70.3 unwraps

DAVAO — Over a thousand participants, 46 countries, 55 World Championship slots, a world-class course and an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, the Alveo IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines’ return to Davao City will be a race like no other when it is fired off Sunday at Azuela Cove.

With the pros headlining the huge mix of runners of varying strengths but with the same mission in different age-group divisions, it will indeed be a unique race in terms of participation and collaboration, this being the only race that features professionals in a slew of races slated under The IRONMAN/Sunrise Events Inc. banner this year.

It offers $30,000 for winners in the highlight pro division with Portugal’s Filipe Azevedo, Tuan Chun Chang of Taiwan and Aussies Matthew Tonge and Nick Carling bannering the men’s cast and the seasoned Dimity-Lee Duke and fellow Aussie Sarah Crowley and United Arab Emirates’ Lottie Lucas of United Arab Emirates tipped to dispute the women’s tiara in the 1.9k swim-90k bike-21k run distance event.

“After the resounding success of the IRONMAN 70.3 series in Subic, Cebu and Palawan last year, we have pulled out all the stops to ensure that the IRONMAN’s return to Davao will not only be smooth and trouble-free but also a race to remember,” said Princess Galura, president/general manager of Sunrise Events Inc.

The event also serves as a qualifying race to the World Championship from 26 to 27 August in Lahti, Finland, with 30 age-group berths and 25 extra slots for women up for grabs.