The Monaco Ironman 70.3 will take place on Sunday 7 September 2008. This long distances triathlon consisted of 1.9km of swimming, 90km of cycling and 21.1km of running. More than 1100 triathletes will participate in this international competition, among which 3% are pros. About forty professional triathletes will depart first at 7h00 on the Plage du Larvotto among them Marcel Zamora Perez, double winner of this competition, and Christel Robin, French Long Distance Champion 2008 and 3rd at the 2007 Monaco Ironman 70.3.
For this fourth edition of Monaco Ironman 70.3, the group of Pros athletes who have already registered is enriched well, both by its number and by its quality. Two world champion Ironmen will be on the starting line: Chris McCormack (Hawaii in 2007) and Thomas Hellriegel (Hawaii in 1997). At their side, Marcel Zamora Perez will come to defend his double-title acquired in 2006 and 2007 at the Monaco Ironman 70.3: "I believe that I can again win because it's a race which I know well and which suits my style as a triathlete. The fact of having won Nice this year and both previous editions has given me a lot of confidence. I feel in very good shape and I hope I can demonstrate it. The race at Monaco is a very special triathlon - the cycle is very hard and different from the other races. Competing in a half-marathon on the circuit of Formula 1 is very special."
Athletes coming from the triathlon short distance will attempt the Ironman 70.3 4th edition. As is the case of Mike Aigroz who has already finished in a strong 6th place at Ironman France 2008 in June - he had been in the lead up to the half marathon point. Included in the line up is Ruedi Wild, 2005 European Champion at the age of 23, and Andreas Raelert, World Champion 2007 in the Olympic distance. Stéphane Poulard and Nicolas Lebrun will keep the French hopes alive. Finally, to finish with male athletes, two triathletes from Monaco should shine thanks to their excellent knowledge of the race: Hervé Banti (6th and 7th in 2006 and 2007) and Cédric Amand (first participation in Monaco Ironman 70.3).
"I have come to Monaco to complete a beautiful race and apply all that I worked so hard for this year. It was my first Ironman 70.3 last year. I shall thus arrive in September with a bigger experience and a better knowledge of the distance. I think about the podium, and especially a first place, it's definite!”, declares Christel Robin who became a French Champion of Triathlon long distance some months ago. She been preparing specifically for Monaco Ironman 70.3 since July. "It is the race which I would like to win at the moment, for the beauty and the hardness of this triathlon. I am not a Monaco athlete, but I am all the same a little bit at home. There is a magic atmosphere at the races which is why we choose it – it’s for the sensations which they leave with us." Christel is not the only contender for the title because she will be joined by Kathrin Paetzold, 2nd in Ironman France 2008 and Virginia Berasategui who has already won several Ironman.
The suspense will come to an end in 27 days, when we will know the winners of the 4th edition of Monaco Ironman 70.3!
Official website of Christel Robin: www.christelrobin.com.
Competitors list signed up in Monaco Ironman 70.3: www.monaco-ironman.com>Athletes>List.
Monaco Ironman 70.3
7 September 2008
1.9km SWIM | 90km BIKE | 21.1km RUN
30 qualifying places for the Ironman World Championship on 10 October 2009 Hawaii
50 qualifying places for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship on 9 November 2008 Florida
Athletes representing 35 nations
9 hours and more of show & sports on race day
3 days of triathlon on the Esplanade du Larvotto
www.monaco-ironman.com .
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