The race for Kona qualification has resulted in a seriously strong field of athletes signing up to compete at IRONMAN Lanzarote later this month.
While not part of the Pro Series, the race does offer six professional slots for the world championships – three each for the men’s and women’s fields – ensuring a host of big names have announced their intentions to race on the Spanish island.
With only seven qualifying events remaining before the showdown on the Big Island, there are just 23 places available per gender, and there are some big names seemingly leaving it late to secure their places.
LCB looking for immediate success
Among them are three former champions at long distance, two of whom – Sam Laidlow (FRA) and Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) – are still looking to validate their places, while Patrick Lange (GER) knows he must battle for one of the three men’s slots available in this race or see if he can enter another qualifier later in the summer.
For last year’s 70.3 World Champion, Charles-Barclay, Lanzarote represents her first full IRONMAN this year, having undergone surgery on a tendon issue which ruled her out of the opening couple of months.
She will be more eager than most to secure her Kona spot, having come so agonisingly close to winning last year when the punishing heat and humidity of Hawaii caused her to bow out on the run just when it seemed she would go on and take the tape.
Her recovery from injury has clearly not been easy, and she posted on her Instagram page this week how there was even a time when she doubted whether race day would ever come around again.
Clutterbuck makes welcome return
However, she returned for the long-standing Volcano Triathlon at Club La Santa, also on Lanzarote, and promptly won the Olympic-distance event, ahead of the now-retired Anne Haug (GER).
Clearly, this full-distance race will be a step up in her recovery process, but having trained and made a base for herself on the island, she will at least feel very much at home once the race gets underway.
While there are only 13 athletes in the women’s field, LCB will still face stiff competition, with the likes of Nina Derron (SUI), Nikita Paskiewicz (FRA), and the British duo of Steph Clutterbuck and Rebecca Anderbury all extremely aware of what a great opportunity this is.
Clutterbuck, who suffers from the condition postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), has endured a stop-start season since making her 2026 bow at IRONMAN New Zealand and then moving on to the 70.3 in Geelong.
POTS is a chronic autonomic nervous system disorder characterised by a rapid heart rate increase upon standing, causing dizziness, fainting, and fatigue. While no cure exists, management involves lifestyle changes and medications, often associated with increased fluid and salt intake.
She struggled in both New Zealand and Australia – describing the swim section as if she were in a washing machine and needing to stop on the bike due to severe dizziness – and has only now felt confident enough to join a start list again.
Having sought expert advice and changing up her training routine, Clutterbuck wrote on her Instagram page this week: “I said I’d be back in a start line when I felt confident I’d done EVERYTHING to manage POTS and be able to race my little heart out.
“It’s been seven weeks of feeling more like ‘me’ than I have in over a year. I. Am. So. Ready.”
Another athlete who announced his intention to compete on Lanzarote via social media was former champion Sam Laidlow (FRA), who will be taking on his first full-distance race of the season after competing at the Barcelona Marathon and winning the Valencia 70.3.
‘This race humbled me properly’
Back in 2023, he recorded a DNF in this race, and he is now looking forward to righting the wrongs of that day and securing his place in the world championships.
“Two more weeks until hopefully validating my slot for Kona in Lanzarote, 🌋” he said. “Three years ago, this race humbled me properly. I left the island with a DNF and a lot of respect for the place.
“Looking forward to going back, putting that to bed, and enjoying a big day out on the small island. 👊”
Lange, who has three world championship titles to his name, is also looking forward to racing in what he accepts is one of the toughest races on the circuit. Once again, however, the goal is simple. He was forced to DNF at IRONMAN Texas due to back issues and is hoping for better in Spain.
‘I’m excited to be back’
Because he won his world title in 2024, he does not benefit from the five-year exemption, and instead of simply validating his slot, he must earn one by finishing in one of the top places at a qualifying event.
“Heading back to Lanzarote! 🌋” he wrote. “I’ve been on countless camps on this windy island over the years, but I’ve never actually raced there.
“It’s going to be a tough day out there, but that’s exactly what makes this race so legendary. I’m excited to be back. The main goal is to secure my Kona qualification, which is anything but guaranteed. I’ll give it everything I’ve got. 💪”
Other names in the list include Germany’s Julian Becker, France’s Leon Chevalier, and Spain’s Jordi Montraveta Moya.
The race takes place on Saturday, May 23. You can read more at the official website, HERE.
