NewsIronman Lanzarote Preview
Over 1,300 athletes committed to start the 18th edition of Ironman Lanzarote
Published Friday, May 8, 2009
This year's Ironman Lanzarote event is sold out and includes an incredibly competitive field of 32 pro men and 16 pro women. Returning to defend their respective 2008 titles are Bert Jammaer and Bella Bayliss, who will take on former champions and podium finishers Ain Alar Juhanson, Teemu Toivanen, Heleen Bij de Vaate and Tara Norton.
The line-up of pro-athletes includes for the men, Olaf Sabatschus and Stephan Vuckovic from Germany as well as the ex-Telekom cyclist Kai Hundertmark, Dave Rost, Chris Brands and Bram Van den Bergh from The Netherlands, Stephen Bayliss and Scott Neyedli from Great Britain, Sergio Márques from Portugal and Xavier Lefloch from France.
The women's field includes: Hillary Biscay from the USA, Kristina Wiegand and Ulrike Schwalbe from Germany, Lanzarote winner 2006 Karin Thuerig as well as Beatrix Blattmann from Switzerland, Catherine Houseaux from France and Elena Maslova from the Russian Federation.
At 7 AM on May 23rd spectators, media and those who just love the rush of adrenaline will watch 1240 men and 100 women run from the beach of Puerto del Carmen into the waters of the Atlantic to swim 3.8 kms. At the completion of the two-lap swim course, the athletes will transition from wetsuits to cycle gear and their bikes to ride 180 kilometers around the island. The ride takes in notable climbs and descents of Los Valles, Haria and Mirador del Rio and the moonscape and lava fields of Timanfaya (Fire Mountains) that challenge the spirit of the most hardened athlete. As each athlete returns to Puerto del Carmen and transitions from cycling to running gear they will have completed the 180 kms and 2,551 m of climbing in what is titled the Toughest Ironman Triathlon in the World. But the race is just over half-way as they still have to run a marathon along the shoreline of the once historic fishing village that has been transformed into a destination for Ironmen and supporters. 42.2 long hot kilometers away waits the finish line, the time clock and the waiting handshake from race director Kenneth Gasque who greets each athlete and welcomes them to the "Lanzarote Ironman Finishers Family".
In the world of Ironman "Anything is Possible" and that is testified by the oldest female and male entrants. Edwina Brocklesby is a 66-year-old social worker from London and Richard Lake a 71-year-old fitness instructor from England. In addition there is Stéphane Rouyer, representing the physically challenged/wheel chair athletes, who truly does confirm that in the world of Ironman "Anything is Possible".
Press: Please register for your accreditation and access pass by 15 May and for more information on athletes, sponsors or the event please contact:
Isabelle Janssens de Varebeke
Depto Marketing
Club La Santa
Tel. +34 928 599 999
Mob. +34 618 74 29 10
isabelle@clublasanta.com
www.clublasanta.com
www.ironmanlanzarote.com
