Aussie-based IRONMAN couple chase honours in Indonesia.
Likeable globetrotting couple Kate Bevilaqua and Guy Crawford will turn up the heat in preparations for the upcoming IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
The pair will compete on the tropical Indonesian island of Bintan at the IRONMAN 70.3 Bintan on Sunday.
It will be their final hit-out before the couple, who became engaged this year, compete at the Sunshine Coast.
Crawford has been a regular factor in many IRONMAN 70.3 races throughout Asia-Pacific, with his sole win to date coming in Taiwan last year.
He faces a strong field lead by legendary fellow New Zealander Cameron Brown, the oldest man to win an IRONMAN. Brown won at Bintan in 2014 and claims top seeding.
Australian David Dellow has put his year back together following injury in 2015 and will be a significant factor on the back of runner-up efforts at IRONMAN Australia and IRONMAN Cairns.
Sweden’s Fredrik Croneborg, who is based in Phuket, has been a regular in Bintan in recent years. He was third for the last three years and second in 2012. No doubt the popular Swede will be chasing the top of the podium this time.
Also watch for Australian Clayton Fettell, who is likely to form a partnership early on the bike with fellow swim flyer Crawford.
There will be a new winner in the women’s race with regular champion Gina Crawford from New Zealand now retired to focus on coaching.
Bevilaqua will be the hot favourite after consistent results this year over the IRONMAN 70.3 distance, finishing fourth in Busselton, third in Putrajaya and fourth in Taiwan.
The Western Australian is a slowish starter in the water, but a powerful bike runner as witnessed with last year’s Busselton win and in two IRONMAN victories to date in Korea and Louisville.
The race weekend is centred on the beautiful Plaza Lagoi resort area of Bintan, just a short coach trip from the island’s main ferry terminal. Bintan sits on Singapore’s doorstep, with most of the athletes transiting to the race via a 50-minute cruise from the city-state.
The action begins at 6am on Sunday for the start of the professional race with the winner expected around 10am (local time).
IRONMAN 70.3 Bintan, Indonesia will offer a $15,000 USD professional prize purse and 30 qualifying age group slots for the 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
MALE PRO:
1 Cameron Brown NZL
2 David Dellow AUS
3 Fredrik Croneborg SWE
4 Guy Crawford NZL
5 Clayton Fettell AUS
6 Michael Fox AUS
7 Matt Burton AUS
9 Courtney Ogden AUS
10 Gerhard De Bruin RSA
11 Alexander Polizzi AUS
12 Kim Harju FIN
FEMALE PRO:
21 Kate Bevilaqua AUS
22 Alise Selsmark AUS
23 Amanda Wilson AUS