The stage has been set and the 5th edition of the Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa on Sunday, 5th April 2009 is tipped to be one of the most watched Ironman races of the year. Four big names in the triathlon world, Raynard Tissink (RSA), Stephen Bayliss (UK), Gerrit Schellens (BEL) and Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) have all signed up with the sole aim of claiming the title for themselves.
Tissink, Bayliss and Schellens are all previous Spec-Savers Ironman SA winners and this will be the first time in the SA race history that three champions have lined up along side each other. Throw Vanhoenacker into the mix and you have the makings of a gigantic battle for the title. Vanhoenacker is an impressive athlete and has laid claim to the Ironman Austria title for the past three years. He also coaches Schellens and this will be the first time that the two athletes have met head to head, each preferring not to sign up for the same event.
Bayliss, who recently married Bella Comerford (UK) -- the 2008 ladies Spec-Savers Ironman SA champion, had an impressive 2008 chalking up wins at both Ironman SA and UK. Along side this he placed second at Ironman 70.3 UK and Ironman Austria. He is in excellent form and looking forward to repeating this 2008 win in South Africa.
Tissink, whose moral was boosted after his significant win at the Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 SA in January, has made no bones about the fact that second place is not where he wants to be. He ran an extremely tactically race at the 70.3 – proving that he is a force to be reckoned with in both the water and the run. Tissink is known for his power on the bike and it was exciting to watch him take control of the race on the run. This will make for interesting racing at the full Ironman in April.
Schellens was quick to point out after Bayliss 2008 win that he felt he could still have been the victor. He was forced to withdraw from the 2008 race due to an injury and had to settle for being a spectator. The gloves will be off but it isn’t just Bayliss that he has to contend with.
On the ladies side Bella Comerford (UK) will be back as will Lucie Zelenkova (CZE). Zelenkova raced to victory at the Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 SA after a decisive day of racing. She is known for her quick swim start and strong biking and was eager to show that she could also hold onto the lead on the run. Comerford, like Bayliss, has tasted victory more than once in 2008 with wins at Ironman SA, Florida, UK and Lazarote. She has gone from strength to strength as an athlete and will not be easily beaten.
Normal entries have closed but late entries are open until 2 March 2009 -- entries forms can be downloaded on www.ironmansouthafrica.com.
PHOTO CREDIT: MARATHON PHOTOS Clockwise from left : Stephen Bayliss (UK), Gerrit Schellens (BEL), Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) and Raynard Tissink (RSA)
Spec –Savers Ironman South Africa
5th April 2009
3.8km SWIM | 180km CYCLE | 42.2km RUN
30 qualifying slots for the 2009 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii
www.ironmansouthafrica.com
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