Once again one of the most anticipated appointments of the year arrives with the dispute of Ironman World Championship in Kona (Hawaii) this October 8, where this year we have the presence of Spanish 42 of which 4 will participate in professional category, Eneko Llanos competing for eleventh see in Kona, Ivan Raña, Gurutze Frades y Saleta Castro.
In our special Kona we tell you in another article How was the classification of the Spanish professionals for the Ironman World Cup?
In the men's event, as expected, the favorites poster is very broad. We quote below some of the favorites.
The ITU world champion in 2002 has had a year with very few competitions for what is usual in him.
Iván finished in 12th position last year and this year he participated in the Ironman 70.3 in Palmas in Brazil, Ironman in Lanzarote, and the Ironman 70.3 in Budapest.
Seventh last year, he faces his eleventh participation in Kona. In July he raced the Frankfurt Ironman where he achieved a fantastic 3 position.
Favorites
The German defends the title got last year and leaves as a favorite to revalidate it. Also this year he has achieved best "Ironman" brand in history in the Challenge Roth Last July.
World Champion in 2014 and eighth in 2015. This year winner of the Ironman in Frankfurt and we will surely see him fighting for victory.
The Canadian has achieved this year the third fastest mark in Ironman history in the Ironman Brazil with a time of 7: 46: 10
Lionel was 14 last year and this year he has managed to get off the 8 hours at the Ironman in Arizona.
Third last year, and it's a great runner, so we'll have to take him into account for the final fight.
2014 was second and this year will also compete in the XTERRA World Championship.
Fourth last year, he is one of the most veteran triathletes with 39 years.
World Champion in 2013, the Belgian is always among the triatelles to take into account.
The Spanish
The Spaniard has won the Iroman Vichy, the second place in the Ironman 70.3 of Turkey and the Ironman Malaysia. I finish its classification in the Iroman Brazil with a third place.
It is his first participation in Kona but he aspires to enter the final TOP10.
The Galician was the last to qualify. She was fifth in the Ironman Malaysia and was sixth in the Ironman of Frankfurt where she got her classification.
Saleta faces his first participation in Kona with great enthusiasm and try to do his best.
Winner last year, she has won the Challenge roth in 2016 with the fastest time in recent years with a mark of 8:22 and a week later she took the victory at the Ironman in Zurich. The Swiss comes with the strength to revalidate her title.
3 Ironman World Champion times is undoubtedly one of the great favorites
ITU long distance champion this year, she was fourth in 2014
She is one of the fastest runners, last year she climbed 9 positions in the race on foot finishing in the fifth final place
European Champion Ironman this year faces the test with desire to do well.
As for the old grups, in our special Kona, we tell you about the Spanish options to podium in Kona in GGEE
The test will begin at 06:25 local time, 18:25 Spanish time with the male professional start and at 18:30 with the female.
The test can be followed live through the live of our website, social networks or through the official website of the event: http://www.ironmanlive.com/
Photos: ironman..com