Here’s why the Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship in Cairns has become a pivotal race in the Ironman Pro Series
This year's Ironman in Cairns has taken on a new level of importance. We explain why and also let you know how to watch the race
Photo by:
Kevin Mackinnon
When the Ironman Pro Series was announced last October, it was embraced by pro athletes who are stronger over the full-distance (read, Ironman) than the half (read, Ironman 70.3) or 100 km (read, T100). Athletes looking for a top finish in the series can count points in up to three Ironman races (which earn a maximum of 5,000 points for the win) and two 70.3 races (which earn a max of 2,500 points). If your strength is over the longer distance, and you’re one of those athletes who can bounce back from an Ironman quickly, this series is for you.
Which is why the race will be pivotal for many of the athletes set to line up on Sunday. Both the defending champions – Australia’s Kylie Simpson and New Zealand’s Braden Currie (pictured above) – are looking to do well in the Ironman Pro Series this year, and Sunday’s race will be critical in the pursuit of that journey. In fact, if Simpson can claim a third title here in Cairns, she’ll move to the top of the Ironman Pro Series standings.
We caught up with Simpson after today’s press conference to get some insights on why the Ironman Pro Series was so important for her. This will be her fourth
“Last year, when they announced the series, it really excited me,” Simpson said. “It was something that I thought was an opportunity for long-course triathletes … to really showcase what it takes at that top level throughout the whole season – to be consistent. To be able to deal with the demands of the training, the travel and to stay healthy. This will really showcase what that is.”
Simpson did three races in the States, is back home in Australia for this weekend’s race in Cairns, then will head to Europe to gear up for the world championship in Nice.
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Both Currie and another of the race favourites for this weekend, Great Britain’s Joe Skipper, were considered amongst the favourites for the top spot in the men’s Ironman Pro Series, but a tough day at the Ironman North American Championship in Texas (they both dropped out) means that Sunday’s race will make or break their chances in the Series.
“My expectations before the race (in Texas) – I thought I’d be fighting for the podium because I felt so good,” Skipper said in an interview today. “To come away from Texas with a DNF was really disappointing, to be honest. I was really gutted. It also put me on the back foot for the pro series. I was contemplating not coming to Cairns, but I thought, let’s give it one last shot for the pro series and, if this goes well, then I’ll pursue it. It wouldn’t be too back because many of my main competitors for the Pro Series will have only done one Ironman, anyway. But obviously, if Cairns doesn’t go well, then the pro series is out … I’m out of the running for it. If this goes well, the series is still on and I’ll try to win it if I can.”
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Simpson faces off against the tough swimmers
Simpson won here last year in record-setting time, but a third title will certainly require another big day as she’ll be facing two women who beat her in Texas (Simpson was eighth) – The Netherlands’ Lotte Wilms (third) and New Zealand’s Hannah Berry (fourth). Wilms is an excellent swimmer, as is another Kiwi, Rebecca Clarke, along with the swim course record holder here in Cairns, American Lauren Brandon, who typically leads out of the water at any swim that doesn’t include Lucy Charles-Barclay. That group of three (and possibly four, if Berry can bridge up to the group) could make life difficult for Simpson, who trailed Brandon and Wilms by more than 15 minutes after the swim in Texas.
While a win here in Cairns will put Simpson at the top of the standings, Wilms and Berry have only done one race in the series compared to Simpson’s three. A win for either of them will put them in an excellent position for a top finish in the overall standings, too.
Add Thompson to the mix in the men’s race
The youngest pro in the race is Western Australia’s Nick Thompson, who finished third in his first Ironman in Western Australia last December. He had a bit of a tough day in Texas, but got to the finish line in 15th, which puts him ahead of both Currie and Skipper in the Pro Series standings heading into Sunday’s race.
You can see the full pro list for Sunday’s race here.
Live coverage
As part of the Ironman Pro Series, the race will be covered live, with coverage starting at 7:00 a.m. AEST (Sunday) / 9:00 p.m. GMT (Saturday) / 5:00 p.m. EST (Saturday). The coverage will be broadcast in U.S. and Canada exclusively on Outside TV and for international audiences across multiple platforms, including proseries.ironman.com, DAZN, and L’Equipe in France.
