IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea: Emma Pallant-Browne leads British hopes

This is a preview of the race – click here to read how Emma Pallant-Browne and Antonio Benito López ran away from their rivals to take the honours.

Middle-distance racing returns to Wales this weekend as the seaside city of Swansea hosts IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea for the second year after a fantastic debut in 2022.

A number of the best British professionals will race across the men and women’s fields and will be joined by some top competition from further afield, with big names such as Justus Nieschlag and Sif Bendix Madsen set to start.

With defending champions Kat Matthews and Alistair Brownlee not racing, there will be a new king and queen in town this weekend. Find out everything you need to know about the race in our preview below.

Start time and how to follow live

The race takes place on Sunday July 16, 2023, starting with a 1.9km swim in the Prince of Wales Dock.

The Pro race will start with the men at 0700 local time (0800 CET, 0200 EST), while the women get started a minute later at 0700 local time.

With no broadcast / livestream scheduled, the ever reliable IRONMAN Tracker app will be your best source of up-to-date information about what is happening out on the course.

Pro Women

Emma Pallant-Browne is the star of the field and will be one to watch as she chases her 10th consecutive podium in IRONMAN 70.3 races. Third at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship last year, Swansea might be her last tune-up race before going for gold in Finland next month.

Another British favourite Nikki Bartlett will be a leading contender for the podium, coming in off the back of one of the best races of her career – fourth at IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau a month and a half ago. Ever the fan favourite, the 36-year-old will have plenty of people cheering her on in Swansea.

Finally, the only international athlete in the field Madsen will relish the chance to test herself against some quality opposition after a mixed start to the season. Following a great second place at Clash Miami, the young Dane didn’t finish at the PTO European Open and will be seeking redemption in Wales.

Pro Men

In the men’s race, there will be no Joe Skipper, with the British star instead heading over the pond this week to race at IRONMAN Lake Placid next weekend. In his absence, Nieschlag likely will start a warm favourite

Having transitioned to middle distance at the start of the year, Nieschlag won IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote in March and then spent some time on the sidelines. But, having overcome the Achilles injury which kept him out of the PTO Tour European Open, look out for him this weekend.

Travelling the furthest to race this weekend is undoubtedly Kiwi Jack Moody, who will race for the first time since winning the Challenge Wanaka Half ahead of Mike Phillips and Sebastian Kienle at the start of the season. Dangerous over this distance, Swansea will be the first time he has raced on European soil.

Finally, PTO World #38 Antonio Benito Lopez of Spain is another athlete with the quality to win this race, and after finishing second at the World Long Course Championships in May will be chasing another podium in Wales.

Prize Money: What’s on the line?

The prize purse on offer this weekend is $30,000 – with each of the winners collecting a $4,000 share of that total.

In addition to money, there will be a total of four qualifying slots (two MPRO / two FPRO) for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Finland next month.

The total funds will be paid eight-deep, as follows:

1. $4,000
2. $2,750
3. $2,000
4. $1,750
5. $1,500
6. $1,250
7. $1,000
8. $750