PREVIEW: IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (PRO WOMEN)
This weekend all eyes turn to St George, Utah for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships. Action kicks off on Saturday 18th September, where athletes will take on the rather lumpy course in the blistering desert heat.
PRO WOMEN PREVIEW
The women’s start list is arguably the most star-studded triathlon championship race of the year. Naturally from the get-go, all eyes will be on the mermaid with battle braids that is Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR). Notorious for taking swim course records at races globally, it will be interested to see if anyone can go with her. Most likely suspects looking to jump on her feet will be Taylor Knibb (USA) and Pamella Oliveira (BRA) but in reality, Knibb could be the only one with the short course swim speed to match the pace of Charles-Barclay.
The chasers are likely to be strung out and headed up by 2019 IM 70.3 World Championships silver medalist, Holly Lawrence (GBR) and Ellie Salthouse (AUS), but keep an eye out for the Swiss 4-time IRONMAN World Champion, Daniella Ryf who seems to be swimming better than ever this year and could pose a threat sooner in the race than normal. Front loaded racers like Knibb will be looking to capitalise on that swim-bike combo to get out of sight and out of mind of the chasing pack.
The bike course takes on some of the most exposed desert roads in Utah. Racing and temperatures will start heating up as the athlete’s head through Snow Canyon in the second half of the bike. This I likely where we will see our big moves by many athletes, none more so than the typically bike-runners Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR) and Kat Matthews (GBR) as they work their way through the field as the race goes on. Will Knibb and Charles-Barclay be able to stay away on the bike or will it be a pack coming into T2, something not often seen so much in women’s 70.3 racing!
The run course is no less challenging than the bike with hills galore and the mercury hitting peak temperature for the day (+30ºc). We have seen some great battles on this run course already this year, but it will undeniably a war of attrition for most. Who’s looked after themselves in the hot conditions and who’s got the legs not just on the uphills but downhills as well. You don’t have to be fast for this course, just strong and this will be key to holding on to those podium positions. Once off the bike, it is anyone’s game. If we have Charles-Barclay, Ryf, Lawrence, Salthouse, Pallant-Browne, Knibb and Matthews all with in 2 mins coming off the bike, nobody can afford to have a rough patch.
Other athletes that could feature as the race progresses are 2021 IM Lake Placid Champion Lisa Norden (SWE), 2021 IM 70.3 Texas Champion Skye Moench (USA) and 2019 IM 70.3 World Championship bronze medallist Imogen Simmonds (SWI). Note, the late withdrawal of 2020 PTO Championships winner Paula Findlay (CAN) will be missed by the likes of Lawrence and Salthouse as they head on to the bike as powerhouse Paula knows how to get a gear turning!
TOP 5 Predictions
- Lucy Charles Barclay
- Daniella Ryf
- Emma Pallant-Browne
- Kat Matthews
- Taylor Knibb
Catch all the action from 14:10 UK / 15:10 CET in the IRONMAN NOW Facebook
