Guidicelli wants to test mettle in 70.3 Ironman
Actor Matteo Guidicelli will be showcasing his skills on a different stage when the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia- Pacific Championship featuring some of the world’s top triathletes unfolds on Aug. 7 in Cebu.
“This is one triathlon that I don’t have to do but look forward to doing,” said Guidicelli, who will be literally rubbing shoulders with triathlon’s elite in the continental showcase being held in the Philippines for the first time and powered by the country’s leading energy drink.
Sponsored by Cobra, the 2016 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific competition has drawn a banner field of 2,900 entries, led by Australian defending men’s champion Tim Reed and Australia- based Caroline Steffen, the reigning women’s champ and considered the “Xena” of triathlon, of Switzerland.
Expected to share the spotlight in the grueling one-day competition are Aussie Tim Van Berkel, who went toe-to-toe with Reed last year before placing second in a thrilling downthe- wire finish, and veteran Craig Alexander, a three- time Ironman world champion.
Providing Steffen stiff challenge in the women’s pro division is New Zealander Kathryn Marie Haesner, who placed fourth in the 2015 edition and has three straight top five triathlon finishes earlier this year in a build-up to the Cebu event offering a total of $75,000 (over P3 million) in cash prizes.
Carrying the colors for the Philippines in the pro division is Manila-based Dan Brown, a trainercoach and married to Ani de Leon- Brown, the first Filipina to compete in the taxing Ironman world championship in Kona, Hawaii.
A total of 50 slots will also be up for grabs in the blue-ribbon event in the various age group categories to next year’s World Ironman 70.3 championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
“We have been a partner of the Ironman 70.3 the past eight years,” said Hubert Tan, Asia Brewery senior vice president – commercial division.