Special Kona 2018: Tribute to Eneko Llanos

Eneko Llanos is the best Spanish triathlete in the Ironman of Hawaii, having competed uninterrupted the last twelve seasons 

For all triathlon fans, the edition of the Ironman de Hawaii 2018 will be different, since this year will not be Eneko Plains The Basque triathlete has not been able to qualify after having been doing the last 12 years, being the Spanish triathlete (with a lot of difference) that more times has achieved it.

Today we start our "Special Kona 2018" en Triathlon news and we could not start without referring to one of the best Spanish triathletes in history and undoubtedly the best of all in the Hawaii World Cup, Eneko Llanos. Eneko has raced in “Mecca” consecutively from 2006 to 2017.

The November 27 of 2005 Eneko Llanos he managed to be finisher of his first Ironman, after having to abandon in his first two, and he did it in a big way, being second in the IM of Western Australia the 27 of November, days before reaching the 29 years. The result of Eneko He was also the best of a Spanish triathlete (man) in an Ironman event. With that result Eneko also achieved its classification for the Hawaii World Cup of 2006.

In 2006 he played the IM of Austria where he was third and later made his debut in "Mecca". In his first World Cup in Hawaii Eneko finished in the 5ª position, being to date the best debut of a Spanish in Kona. Later in 2007 Eneko achieved the 7ª square.

The following year in 2008 Eneko he managed to be second, leading the competition for many kilometers and making Spanish triathlon dream with the first triumph in Kona ... but a great Craing Alexander the win was carried forward to Eneko in the marathon. Eneko's time in goal was of 8:20:50, being the current "best brand" of a Spanish in Kona.

In 2009, Eneko Llanos it could only be 14º but the following year in 2010 he returned to the positions of honor achieving the 7ª position. Little by little new rivals were joining and more triathletes were trying to qualify for Hawaii ...

Eneko Llanos He was always there, competing with the best. 2011 and 2012 were difficult years for Eneko in Kona. In spite of to have obtained important results in great continental championships of Ironman (1º Texas 2011 and 4º in Melbournne 2012) in these two years it had to leave in the championship of the world. In 2013, Eneko was making the best season of his life, with triumph in Melbourne and Frankfurt, and reached Kona as one of the top favorites to win but could not be fighting with the first and "only" could be 11. One year later at 2014 Eneko had to leave Hawaii's IM for the third time in her sports career.

After the abandonment of Kona in 2014 weeks later Eneko returned to the competition being second in the IM of Fortaleza, and achieving his first podium in South America. Two good results in 2015 (5º in South Africa and 8º in Frankfurt) classified Eneko for its 10º Kona in 2015, year where it shone again with the best, achieving a magnificent 7ª position. Finally in 2016 and 2017 Eneko "only" could be 27º and 24º.

Finally in this 2018 Eneko fought to be in Kona for the thirteenth consecutive time, competing for the IM of South Africa and Nice, but could not achieve the classification. In the face of 2019 only he knows his plans and we wish him the best in the objectives that he proposes.

Photo credits (in order of appearance): Facebook Eneko Plains / Trimax / MundoTri / James Mitchell / Facebook Eneko Plains / Ironman / BH Bikes