With the IRONMAN Pro Series now well underway, each week brings a new sense of anticipation, as the organisation announce the professional start lists for the next race.
With IRONMAN 70.3 Alcudia-Mallorca this weekend, Europe will get its first tastes of the brand new Pro Series, before it heads back to the US for its fourth fixture Stateside, following races in Oceanside, Texas and St. George.
On Sunday May 19, several leading professionals will head down to Tennessee for IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga, where there will be cash, Pro Series points and spots to the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Taupo on the line.
EPB gunning for transcontinental double
Lining up in Mallorca this weekend, Pallant-Browne will then take a trip across the pond for a second consecutive weekend of racing, as the Brit leads the women’s field in Chattanooga.
Joining EPB on the start line is Aussie Grace Thek, always a formidable opponent, plus Pro Series leader Danielle Lewis and her fellow American Sarah True.
Former Commonwealth Games Champion Jodie Stimpson will also be making an appearance, in her first race of the season, after the long-time pro was forced to withdraw from the Miami T100 in March.
American trio Jackie Hering, Alice Alberts and Lisa Becharas will also look to feature, with Hering and Becharas racing off the back of top recent performances in St. George and St. Anthony’s respectively.
Laundry leads the way
Fresh off a fourth place finish at St. George, which follows on from his third successive podium at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside, Canadian Jackson Laundry will fancy his chances of picking up a first win of the season in Chattanooga.
Up against Frenchman Antony Costes, who beat him to third place in St. George, and Matthew Marquardt, whose fearless display in finishing fourth at IRONMAN Texas earned him many plaudits, the racing is bound to be fast and furious.
Other athletes on the star list include American rising star Trevor Foley, South African super swimmer Nicholas Quenet and Matt Hanson, who is a real veteran on the North American racing scene.
Justin Riele, who has featured prominently at both Oceanside and St. George so far this season, is another athlete to watch out for, with Cody Beals of Canada another pro worth keeping an eye on.