Led by Lionel Sanders and Paula Findlay, a strong Canadian contingent are on hand for tomorrow's Challenge Daytona "Distance Under the Lights." Photo gallery by Jose Luis Hourcade.
Today’s press conference at the Daytona International Speedway featured three Canadians as a strong pro contingent gears up for tomorrow’s Challenge Daytona event.
Lionel Sanders comes to Challenge Daytona fresh off a big win at Ironman 70.3 Indian Wells-La Quinta. Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade.
Photos: Jose Luis Hourcade
The pro race at Challenge Daytona has been dubbed “Daytona Distance Under the Lights” and features a 1-mile (1.6 km swim) swim, a 38 mile (61 km) bike that takes in 15-laps of the iconic Daytona International Speedway and an 8.2-mile (13.2 km) run. A stacked pro field of 50 athletes are set to take on the course, with the men starting at 4:30 pm and the women leaving five minutes later. That means the majority of the bike and run courses will take place under the lights on the Speedway grounds.
Here are more photos from today’s press conference that included three Canadians – Lionel Sanders, Paula Findlay and Taylor Reid.
The pros on hand for today’s press conference (from left): Andrew Starykowicz, Joe Maloy, Meredith Kesslar, Paula Findlay, Lucy Charles, Pablo Dapena, Lisa Norden, Taylor Reid and Lionel Sanders.Like Sanders, 2012 Olympian Paula Findlay is coming off an impressive victory at Ironman 70.3 Indian Wells – La Quinta last weekend.Prohibitive race favourite Lucy Charles says she “hasn’t done much” since her runner-up finish at the Ironman World Championship.Andrew Starykowicz averaged 29.7 mph on the bike course here last year. He’s aiming to ride faster in 2019.Super-mom Meredith Kessler qualified for next year’s Kona race thanks to a third-place finish at Ironman Arizona three weeks ago.
2016 Olympian Joe Maloy will be stepping up to a longer distance race, taking on some of the world’s premier long-distance racers.Lisa Norden will no-doubt be ready to rip up the bike course here in Daytona – the 2012 Olympic silver medalist won the Swedish cycling championship earlier this year.Spain’s Pablo Dapena won the ITU Long Distance World Championship in 2018 and finished second there in 2019.Challenge Family CEO Zibi Szlufcik welcomes everyone to the only Challenge event in the United States.Triathlon Magazine Canada editor Kevin Mackinnon MC’d today’s press conference.
