PREVIEW: IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (PRO MEN)
On Saturday 18th September the only IRONMAN Championship race of 2021 kicks off with the IM 70.3 World Championships at St George, Utah. Will there be a Scandinavian storm to take a podium sweep, or will the Scandi-Sweep be spoiled by the stacked international competition?
PRO MEN PREVIEW
The strength and depth of the men’s start list is staggering to say the least and arguably the race is more open than that of their female counterparts. Sam Appleton (AUS) and Ben Kanute (USA) are likely to be at the head of affairs in the water. Kanute going well off the back of his 4th win at Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. These two particularly strong swim-bikers will be keen to make some waves and put time into the chasing pack out the swim and on to the bike.
For at least the first half of the race, time gaps aren’t likely to be big. Throwing in the Norwegian short course duo; 2019 IM 70.3 World Champion and 2020 PTO Championship winner Gustav Iden and Tokyo Olympic Champion and World Triathlon Champion Kristian Blummenfelt will not be far back out the water and in prime position to attack the challenging bike course. These two are the personification of aerodynamics and out n out power and won’t be in the chase for long. Fellow Scandinavians Daniel Bækkegård and Magnus Ditlev, both of Denmark will be likely to be on the charging train of athlete’s once they reach dry land.
The climbs on the bike course and beating sun will be sure to sort out those faking it till they make it and those really making it. A long line of super bikers won’t an unfamiliar sight as we head through Snow Canyon in the final 30 minutes of the bike. Will this section of the course prove timely for the typically strongest bike-runners in the field, George Goodwin (GBR) and Sam Long (USA) or will the final fast descent to T2 blunt any inroads they would be looking to make.
The chances of a good group of guys coming off the bike together is to be expected. Iden seems to be in ever improving form since the Tokyo Olympics where he was suggested to be a little overcooked. Rumour has it, he’s going better than he was at the Collins Cup, where he posted the 2nd fastest time of the day behind Jan Frodeno. Iden would be my pick for the podium if not the win. Strong competition could come in the form of many in the mens field but Sam Long knows how to take this course on successfully, finishing 2nd at IM 70.3 St George back in May this year and is likely to have pocket rocket Goodwin in his shadow.
Athletes not already mentioned but could feature are IM 70.3 Ecuador Champion Jackson Laundry (CAN), 2021 Challenge Championship winner Florian Angert (GER) and 3rd placed Challenge Championships podium finisher Frederic Funk (GER).
TOP 5 PREDICTIONS
- Gustav Iden
- George Goodwin
- Kristian Blummenfelt
- Sam Long
- Daniel Bækkegård
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