Showdown in Frankfurt

Kevin Mackinnon previews Sunday's Frankfurter Sparkasse Ironman European Championship

It's probably not too much of a stretch to say that after the Ford Ironman World Championship, the next most prestigious title an athlete can claim is the Frankfurter Sparkasse Ironman European Championship. Which is why, as has become the norm, we're anticipating one of the most hotly contested Ironman races of the year on Sunday.

While the pro race is, in a word, stacked, there are many aspects to the race here in Frankfurt that set it apart from other races in the world and draw an immense age group field, too. There is the finish line at the Romerberg, the site where German kings were once crowned. There are crowds that line the bike and run course (and, for that matter, line the lake in which the swim takes place) that make athletes feel like they're competing in the Tour de France rather than a triathlon.

There's also a crazy-fast field that helps bring an aura to the event that provides lots of pre-race hype. This year is no exception. In the women’s race we’re looking forward to a rematch between Germany’s Sandra Wallenhorst and the Netherlands’ Yvonne Van Vlerken. Van Vlerken had been the runner-up to Chrissie Wellington in Kona in 2008, with Wallenhorst behind her in third. Last year’s highly anticipated duel between the two saw Wallenhorst take the title, but you can be sure that van Vlerken will be determined to turn the tables this year.


While the focus will be on those two in the women’s race, there are a host of other women who can’t be forgotten. Seven-time Ironman New Zealand champion Joanna Lawn has found her form again after struggling last year. She dominated again in New Zealand earlier this year and arrives in Frankfurt with “no pressure,” which will allow her to mix things up on Sunday without few worries. Nicole Leder won here in 2007 and has almost always had a top showing in this event, which is practically her home town race. Andrea Steinbecher (formerly Brede) won here in 2006 and lost in a sprint to Leder in 2007- she’s another German for whom this race is extremely important. Rounding out the list of contenders is another German, Meike Krebs who was fourth here two years ago.



The men’s race promises to be a full-out battle on Sunday. Defending men’s champion, Timo Bracht, is back and promises to once again unleash that devastating final 10 km burst in the marathon that’s seen him take two titles here in Frankfurt – 2007 and 2009. 2007 Kona champ Chris McCormack won here in 2008 and finished third here last year. He appears fit and relaxed right now – a scary combination for the man who has won so many big events in his career. Cameron Brown is fresh off a ninth win in New Zealand earlier this year. He won here in 2006 and would dearly love to claim another Ironman title outside New Zealand. If the race comes down to the marathon, look for the Kiwi to be in the mix. Andreas Raelert burst onto the Ironman scene with a second place finish at the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3 before taking the Ironman Arizona title in 2008. He was fourth here last year and third in Kona – he’s a man many are picking as one to watch on Sunday. Finally the man we’re all looking forward to see in the mix on Sunday is New Caledonia’s Patrick Vernay who has four Ironman Australia titles to his credit along with a sixth place finish in Kona from 2008. We don’t see Vernay in this sort of a field very often – it’ll be fun to see how he makes out.

Suffice it to say we’re looking forward to some fast racing here in Frankfurt. We’ll have live coverage of the event, including text updates, photos, athlete tracking and video coverage right here on Ironman.com

Kevin Mackinnon can be reached at kevin@ironman.com