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Competitive men's and women's races set for the Promenade des Anglais
Published Thursday, March 26, 2009
Marcel Zamora (ESP) and Martina Dogana (ITA) will be on the starting line on June 28 to defend their titles at Ironman Nice this summer. Both will face strong fields that include a number of Ironman champions.
The three-time winner of IRONMAN Brazil and runner-up at the 2007 Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3, Oscar Galindez (ARG), should also contend for the men's title. Francois Chabaud (FRA) finished second at the ITU Long Course Championship. Olivier Marceau (FRA / SWI), a former World Champion over the Olympic distance, will make his Ironman debut in South Africa in April and hopes to follow that up with a competitiver race in Nice. Rounding out the professional favorites is Simon Billeau (FRA), who finished fifth at Ironman Western Australia last December in 8:20.
After the participation of cycling star Laurent Jalabert in 2008, another former pro cyclist, Jean Patrick Nazon (FRA) will race Ironman France.
The women's race also promises to be very competitive. Martina Dogana (ITA), the course record holder, will take on 2007 winner, Alexandra Louison (FRA).
The two champions will have to face an awesome rising star, Gina Ferguson (NZ), who has won her last three Ironman or Ironman distance events. After winning Ironman Western Australia last December, Ferguson won the Wanaka Challenge in January and followed that with a win at Ironman New Zealand in March.
