Cobra Ironman 70.3 offers record purse

The premier triathlon race to hit local shores – the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship presented by Ford – blasts off Aug. 7 in Cebu, offering the biggest prize money ever put up in the country.

A total of $75,000 will be at stake in the hotly anticipated race with a whopping $14,000 going to the champions in the professional category. Big prizes also await the rest of the Top 10 pro finishers.

The runner-up will get $7,000 while the next eight placers will receive $4,500, $3,000, $2,500, $2,000, $1,500, $1,250, $1,000 and $750, respectively.

Prizes will also be handed out to the Top 3 finishers in the Filipino Elite division of the event backed by Cobra Energy Drink as title sponsor, and Ford as presenting sponsor, and organized by Sunrise Events, Inc. The winner gets P50,000 and the second and third placers will receive P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.

Close to 3,000 participants from 43 countries, led by a crack roster of pros, will answer the starting gun in the centerpiece 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run race set to start and end at Shangrila-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

“This will be the biggest triathlon in the history of the Philippines,” said Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, founder of event producer SEI.

Uytengsu and SEI’s partners and sponsors are leaving no stone unturned to make the event, held outside Australia and New Zealand for the first time, a resounding success.

“We’re truly privileged and also pressured because this is the chance for the Philippines to shine and show what we can do, together with our Aussie and Kiwi friends and show how we do it in the Philippines. We’ll show them why triathlon is more fun in the Philippines,” said Uytengsu.

Other sponsors are Alaska, David’s Salon, Intercare, Gu gel, Kenneth Cobonpue, Megaworld Mactan Newtown, Sun Life Financial, TYR, media partners The Philippine Star , ABSCBN Sports+Action, TriLife Magazine, AsiaTri, FinisherPix, technology partner Xurpas, official hotels Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa, Be Resorts Mactan, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan, Waterfront Hotel and Casino Mactan, Movenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu and official registration partner Active Network.