投稿者: TMJ Otsuka

8/26（土）27（日）の2日間、ミドルの最高峰アイアンマン70.3ワールドチャンピオンシップが開催される。

会場は北欧のフィンランド。幸福度No.1でも話題となるが、美しい自然やオーロラも見ることができ、トリップも楽しむことができる最高のロケーションと言えるだろう。スカンジナビアも含め、北欧としては初めての開催となるワールドチャンピオンシップだ。昨年覇者クリスティアン・ブルンメンフェルトのノルウェーは隣国となる。

今回で17回目となるアイアンマン70.3ワールドチャンピオンシップは、ロング系選手とショート系選手を繋げたレースだ。90年台はロングもショートもどちらも強い選手がいたが、その後、それぞれのルールという条件の中で専門化し、異なるステージとなっていたが、このミドルができ、ここ10年でショート選手の中から参戦が増え、結果を出し始めていた。

ショート選手がロングで活躍できるケースは多いとは言えないが、ミドルであれば「共通」のステージとなり、「異種格闘技」のようになってきた。男子は、やはり2014年のハビエル・ゴメス（スペイン）の優勝から流れが出来てきたのではないだろうか。その後、ヤン・フロデノ（ドイツ）、グスタフ・イデン（ノルウェー）、ブルンメンフェルト（ノルウェー）が席巻して行った。女子では、女王ダニエラ・リフの5勝が輝いているが、リフの場合が、ミドル以上が合っていたのだろう。ミドルから大活躍となった選手だ。

優勝候補としては、ブルンメンフェルト（ノルウェー）、女子はテイラー・ニブ（USA）が本命と言えるだろう。ブルンメンフェルトは周知の通り、ショートの東京オリンピックからロングのアイアンマンワールドチャンピオンシップまでを一年以内に制した、現在、最も「理想形」と言えるトライアスリートだ。スピードが求められるランで勝負を決めるだろう。一方、女子は、急成長株のニブで可能性しかない。普段の笑顔から想像できないパフォーマンスの高さは、モンスターと言える。ショート出身ながらもバイクが強く、そのバイクはまだまだ伸び代が期待できる。まだ若く期待は極めて大きい選手だ。

そして、ワールドチャンピオンシップのスタートリストに日本人の名がある。「Ai Ueda」活躍を期待したい。

以下、大会NEWSとなる。

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PRO START LISTS REVEALED: TOP TRIATHLETES HEAD TO LAHTI, FINLAND FOR THE 2023 VINFAST IRONMAN 70.3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

– Defending IRONMAN 70.3 World Champions Taylor Knibb (USA) and Kristian Blummenfelt (NOR) headline professional field deep in talent
 
– Challengers include 5-time IRONMAN World Champion and 5-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Daniela Ryf (CHE), Paula Findlay (CAN) and Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR) among others in the women’s field; Ben Kanute (USA), Gustav Iden (NOR) and Lionel Sanders (CAN) highlight strong men’s professional field
 
– VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon set to take place in Lahti, Finland on Aug. 26 and 27, 2023
 
– Live coverage of both race days of the VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon will air on Outside Watch

LAHTI, Finland / TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 15, 2023) – An elite field of professional triathletes from around the globe will descend on Lahti, Finland for the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN^® 70.3^® World Championship triathlon with women’s professional race on Saturday, Aug. 26 and men’s professional race on Sunday, Aug. 27. The professional triathletes will be vying for a share of the $350,000 USD professional prize purse and the title of IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion. In addition to the professional field, over 6,000 age-group athletes are registered to compete as they look to be crowned world champion in their respective age-group divisions. Live coverage of both days of racing at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon will air on Outside Watch.
 
“With a staggering amount of world-class talent coming to Finland, we can all expect to see a hard-fought world championship and immensely entertaining competition,” said Andrew Messick, President & Chief Executive Officer for The IRONMAN Group. “Lahti will be an excellent host as the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship hits this beautiful Scandinavian country for the first time; athletes and fans of the sport from all around the globe are in for a real treat whether cheering on locally or watching from afar on Outside TV.”

Professional Women’s Field
The women’s field will take center stage on Saturday, Aug. 26, as Lahti, the Finnish Lake District and its surrounding areas host a high caliber field of professional women. Reigning IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Taylor Knibb (USA) will look to defend her crown coming into race day in top form following another impressive year of performances. Top Canadian and last year’s runner up Paula Findlay will look to continue her run of form and challenge for the top spot on the podium while 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon third-place finisher and 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship runner-up Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR) look primed for a strong performance. With five IRONMAN World Championship and five IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship titles to her name, Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf can never be counted out and has continued to show this year why she is amongst the best triathletes of all time. Germany’s Laura Philipp will be one to watch following her recent success at the IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship Tallinn triathlon. Highlighting a large contingent of strong contenders include two Brits, 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion and 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 Word Championship runner up Holly Lawrence and 2021 IRONMAN World Championship runner up Kat Matthews. Australian Ellie Salthouse, American Jackie Hering, Canada’s Tamara Jewett, and many more of the sports most talented women will all join in the battle for a spot on the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship podium.
 
A full list of professional women’s field listed below:

*Subject to change

Professional Men’s Field
The professional men will take on the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon on Sunday, Aug. 27. Leading the field is Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt who will look to defend his IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion crown and add another world championship title to his already impressive resume. Fellow Norwegian and defending 2022 IRONMAN World Champion Gustav Iden will look to challenge his friend and countryman and add a third IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship title to his tally following wins in 2019 and 2021. Top American Ben Kanute stands ready to challenge the Norwegian contingent following a second-place finish at the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon in St. George, Utah. Denmark’s Miki Taagholt will be one to watch following a win at the 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 Luxembourg triathlon and multiple top ten IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship finishes over the past two years. Additional global contenders will come from Germany’s Frederic Funk, Australia’s Steve McKenna, Canada’s Jackson Laundry and Lionel Sanders as well as Americans Jason West and Sam Long, and French dark horse Pierre Le Corre along with many other talented professional men all thirsty for a top world championship result.
 
A full list of professional men’s field listed below:

*Subject to change

The 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon will kick off with the 1.2-mile (1.9km) ROKA Swim Course, which takes place in beautiful Lake Vesijärvi. A challenging 56-mile (91.3km) FULGAZ Bike Course follows and will lead athletes through the stunning Finnish countryside passing through the small towns of Kärkölä and Hollola and culminating with a steep incline just before returning to transition at the Sport and Fair Centre. The 13.1-mile (21.1km) HOKA Run Course will take athletes on two loops beginning indoors at the Sport and Fair Centre, passing inside the Lahti Stadium and tackling a long climb up Salpausselkä ridge before making their way back towards Lake Vesijarvi. The run path will showcase beautiful water views and eclipse the Pikku-Vesijarvi before culminating in an exhilarating finish line experience just in sight of famous Salpausselka Ski Jumps.
 
Tune into the two days of live race-day coverage of the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon globally via Outside Watch.
 
For more information about the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event, please visit www.ironman.com/im703-world-championship. To learn more about the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and series of events, please visit www.ironman.com.