Bayliss and Comerford are challenging the title defenders Vanhoenacker and Niederfriniger
Next to the last year’s winners Marino Vanhoenacker and Edith Niederfriniger now the winners of the IRONMAN South Africa - Stephen Bayliss und Bella Comerford - have announced their participation at the IRONMAN Austria as well. Not easy for Niederfriniger, who was beaten by Comerford by 5 seconds in South Africa.
On July 13th, 2.200 Athleten will throw themselves into the floods of the Lake Wörthersee and this year the favourite’s field is promising an exciting race: Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL), two times winner of the race, has announced to do the hat-trick this year. „The course is just right for me and I’ll already be here in the middle of June in order to prepare myself systematically for the race. So I’m serious about winning it for the third time in a row.“
This year the winner of the IRONMAN South Africa, Stephen Bayliss, has announced his participation as well. “My goal for IRONMAN Austria is to do the very best that I can and to try my best to win the race.” Whether the course is also right for the Brit remains to be seen.
The rest of the PRO-field doesn’t lack in strength either. Alex Taubert (GER) finished in 2007 at the IRONMAN Austria on 6th rank and Hans Mühlbauer (GER) was 6th at the IRONMAN Louisville 2007. In addition the Frenchman Charly Loisel is going to start and will give Vanhoenacker a hard time on the bike.
From an Austrian point of view the field is very strong as well. Norbert Langbrandtner and Werner Leitner, both have been among the top 3 at IRONMAN Austria already, are leading the Austrian PRO-field. Together with Alex Frühwirth and Andreas Di Bernardo they are members of the IRONMAN Austria Team and are amongst the strongest Austrian athletes. The former PRO-cyclist Hannes Hempel is aiming at the victory and Peter Schoissengeier wants to continue his success of South Africa (3rd rank).
Stephen Bayliss is going to bring his fiancée Bella Comerford to the IRONMAN Austria, who – like him – won the IRONMAN South Africa and right after that the IRONMAN Lanzarote and the UK IRONMAN 70.3 as well. Now she’s going to compete in Klagenfurt and challenges last year’s winner Edith Niederfriniger. Both are at the start together for the second time. Comerford won at the last competition in South Africa - with a lead of just 5 seconds - against Niederfriniger. "I cant wait to come race IRONMAN Austria!”, says Comerford. ”It will be a great challenge and I can’t wait to see how strongly I can perform on this course which is new to me."
Apart from Comerford, Lucie Zelenkova, 3rd in South Africa, is going to fight for the victory as well. The top 3 from Port Elizabeth will compete against each other once more at the IRONMAN Austria, which is promising to make it a thrilling race for the women.
Veronika Hauke from Vienna, who finished 2nd last year wants to be a factor front and center as well and will fight for a top 3 ranking.
The race is celebrating its 10th anniversary on July 13th and since 2006 it is counted amongst the largest IRONMAN races worldwide. The start takes place at 7.00 a.m at the Strandbad (Lido) Klagenfurt.
For more information visit IronmanAustria.com.
Edith Niederfriniger wins IRONMAN Austria 2007
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Marino Vanhoenacker wins IRONMAN Austria 2007
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Photo Credit: © Gernot Gleiss
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