Posted: July 12, 2005

Triathlon: 2005 Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid to start early for women's pro race

LAKE PLACID, N.Y.—The 2005 Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid will begin at 6:25 a.m. on July 24 for the women’s professional field, while the remainder of the athletes registered to compete will start the race at the regularly scheduled time of 7:00 a.m.

Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid is setting a new standard for Ironman racing in the Women’s Professional division. Lake Placid will serve as the 2005 Women's Championship event in the United States, and this new format is set up to showcase the top women in triathlon by giving them the opportunity for a level playing field.

“The women will be starting in their own wave a full 35 minutes ahead of the rest of the 2000 plus competitors,” said Ironman North America pro liaison and eight time Ironman World Champion Paula Newby-Fraser. “This will allow them a clear swim course and, most importantly, a one-on-one battle out on the bike leg, without the impact of the age-group field. The influence on biking conditions due to similar speeds of many top age-group men will not be a factor, and most importantly, the event is set-up to try and ensure the top woman is the first to break the tape.”

One unique change at Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid is that it will serve as a women’s only professional race in 2005.

A $50,000 women’s pro prize purse will be awarded at the 2005 Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid triathlon. A $50,000 pro prize purse for professional men was given at the third annual Ford Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene in June of this year.

More than 2,000 triathletes from around the world are expected to compete at the 2005 Ford Ironman USA Lake Placid. Athletes will be competing for 80 qualifying spots to the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, as well as a $50,000 women’s pro prize purse.