He's the favourite: Pete Jacobs.
The world elite of long-distance specialists are counting the days. On October 12th it's that time again and the world is turning to Kailua-Kona. Pete Jacobs' successor is then sought in Hawaii. Will the Australian win again this year? At least he has shown fine form lately. Andreas Raelert also wants to have a say again this year. He is already on the island to acclimatize and prepare for the race.
A total of 91 professionals, including 54 men and 37 women, qualified for the Ironman World Championship. However, not all athletes will be there. Among others, Andreas Böcherer and two-time Hawaii winner Chris McCormack will not be able to compete due to injuries. Camilla Pedersen also has to do without. The reigning Ironman European Champion and winner of the Ironman Frankfurt fell during training and sustained serious head injuries. She has since woken up from the coma the doctors put her in. [Link]
So who will win the race? We have compiled the list of qualified professionals for you.
German hopes rest on 37-year-old Andreas Raelert.
Is he tipping the scales? Dirk Bockel from Luxembourg easily won the Challenge Roth this year.
//Men
Bart Aernouts (Belgium)
Marco Albert (Estonia)
Craig Alexander (Australia)
Faris Al-Sultan (Germany)
Paul Amey (USA)
Igor Amorelli (Brazil)
Luke Bell (USA)
Dominik Berger (Austria)
Per Bittner (Germany)
Dirk Bockel (Luxembourg)
Andy Boecherer (Germany)
Timo Bracht (Germany)
Tyler Butterfield (Bermuda)
Ben Cotter (Canada)
Balazs Csoke (USA)
James Cunnama (South Africa)
David Dellow (Australia)
Bas Diederen (Netherlands)
Bevan Docherty (US)
Clayton Fettell (Australia)
Thomas Gerlach (USA)
Pedro Gomes (Portugal)
Daniel Halksworth (Great Britain)
Ben Hoffman (USA)
Pete Jacobs (Australia)
Bert Jammaer (Belgium)
Jimmy Johnsen (Denmark)
Sebastian Kienle (Germany)
Maxim Kriat (US)
Chris Legh (Australia)
Eneko Llanos (Spain)
Brandon Marsh (USA)
Chris McCormack (Australia)
Luke McKenzie (Australia)
Ian Mikelson (USA)
Tim O'Donnell (USA)
David Plese (Slovenia)
Andy Potts (USA)
Andreas Raelert (Germany)
Ivan Rana (Spain)
Jan Raphael (Germany)
Jordan Rapp (USA)
Horst Reichel (Germany)
Christian Ritter (Germany)
Matthew Russell (USA)
Mike Schifferle (Switzerland)
Ronnie Schildknecht (Switzerland)
Stefan Schmid (Germany)
Andrew Starykowicz (USA)
TJ Tollakson (USA)
Petr Vabrousek (Czech Republic)
Frederik Van Lierde (Belgium)
Cyril Viennot (France)
Axel Zeebroek (Belgium)
The 46-year-old Swiss Natascha Badmann has experience in winning in Hawaii, as here in 2005.
Will she ignite her turbo in the final marathon? Yvonne Van Vlerken is hot for the title.
//Women
Natascha Badmann (Switzerland)
Anja Beranek (Germany)
Liz Blatchford (UK)
Mirinda Carfrae (USA)
Leanda Cave (USA)
Haley Chura (USA)
Ashley Clifford (US)
Linsey Corbin (USA)
Gina Crawford (New Zealand)
Erika Csomor (Hungary)
Jessie Donavan (USA)
Mary Beth Ellis (USA)
Sophie Goos (Belgium)
Sara Gross (Canada)
Jennie Hansen (USA)
Rebecca Hoschke (Australia)
Mareen Hufe (Germany)
Rachel Joyce (USA)
Rebekah Keat (USA)
Meredith Kessler (USA)
Liz Lyles (USA)
Amy Marsh (USA)
Britta Martin (New Zealand)
Kristin Moller (Germany)
Eva Nystrom (Sweden)
Camilla Pedersen (Denmark)
Anna Ross (New Zealand)
Kim Schwabenbauer (USA)
Caitlin Snow (USA)
Caroline Steffen (Switzerland)
Amanda Stevens (USA)
Jodie Swallow (UK)
Sonja Tajsich (Germany)
Yvonne Van Vlerken (Netherlands / Austria)
Michelle Vesterby (Denmark)
Mirjam Weerd (Netherlands)
Heather Wurtele (Canada)