Ironman Cozumel Preview
Beke and Van Vlerken back to defend.
Rutger Beke (BEL) and Yvonne Van Vlerken (NED) are back to defend their titles this Sunday at Ironman Cozumel.
In last year’s inaugural race, both dominated their respective races. Beke swam 46:38, biked 4:34:27, and ran 2:53:56, to finish in 8:18:40 – 10:30 ahead of Viktor Zyemtsev. While Van Vlerken swam 51:06, biked 5:03:44, and ran 3:08:04, to take her win in 9:06:58 – 15:36 ahead of Bella Bayliss.
The start list features many athletes (some are listed but will not attend) that should offer an honest challenge to the title. Van Vlerken should feel pressure from Bella Bayliss, Kate Major, Bree Wee (4th last year), Tyler Stewart, Sofie Goos, Dede Griesbauer, and Amanda Stevens. Beke will be challenged by Michael Lovato, Eduardo Sturla, Andy Potts, Max Longree, Justin Daerr, Oscar Galindez, and Petr Vabrousek.
Ironman.com will have live text updates, photos, and an athlete tracker for the day.
Pro Women
VLERKEN VAN YVONNEÂ Â NETHERLANDS
DCROZ BRUSATIN FIORELLAÂ Â COLOMBIA
SNOW ANNE CAITLINÂ Â UNITED STATES
BALDING AMANDAÂ Â Â AUSTRALIA
TVERMOES BROOKEÂ Â UNITED STATES
WEE BREEÂ Â UNITED STATES
BEEBE KELZIEÂ Â UNITED STATES
OMAR SOLEDAD MARIAÂ Â ARGENTINA
MAJOR KATEÂ Â AUSTRALIA
STEWART TYLERÂ Â UNITED STATES
IAVARONE KRISTINÂ Â UNITED STATES
FRONTINI MARIA FEDERICAÂ Â URUGUAY
ROBIN CHRISTELÂ Â FRANCE
GOOS SOFIEÂ Â BELGIUM
WHITBY FIONAÂ Â CANADA
WOYSCH NICOLEÂ Â GERMANY
GRIESBAUER DEDEÂ Â UNITED STATES
WERNICK CHARISAÂ Â UNITED STATES
BAYLISS BELLAÂ Â Â UNITED KINGDOM
MORALES CARMENZAÂ Â COLOMBIA
STEVENS AMANDAÂ Â UNITED STATES
JACOBS JESSICAÂ Â UNITED STATES
LOVATO AMANDAÂ Â UNITED STATES
Pro Men
BEKE RUTGERÂ Â BELGIUM
MIKELSON ANDREW IANÂ Â UNITED STATES
BUCK HENRI KELMERSONÂ Â BRAZIL
LOVATO MICHAELÂ Â UNITED STATES
AMEY PAULÂ Â UNITED KINGDOM
THURSTON NEIL HEATHÂ Â UNITED STATES
MORALES EZEQUIELÂ Â ARGENTINA
STURLA EDUARDOÂ ARGENTINA
POTTS ANDYÂ Â UNITED STATES
VALERA CESARÂ Â VENEZUELA
DIEPART XAVIERÂ Â BELGIUM
LONGREE MAXIMILIANÂ Â UNITED STATES
VILLANUEVA FLORES ALLAN  MÉXICO
DAERR JUSTINÂ Â UNITED STATES
CASTILLO LATORRE FELIPE ANDRESÂ Â COLOMBIA
EVOE PATRICKÂ Â UNITED STATES
LOPES DE OLIVEIRA DANIELÂ Â BRAZIL
RADCLIFFE TOBYÂ Â UNITED KINGDOM
LARGAJOLLI CADRICÂ Â FRANCE
PEREIRA FURTADO RAULÂ Â BRAZIL
SNOW TIMÂ Â UNITED STATES
MCKENZIE LUKEÂ Â AUSTRALIA
CASEY CHRISÂ Â UNITED STATES
GALINDEZ OSCARÂ Â ARGENTINA
CADIÈRE RENAUD  FRANCE
STRINI MARKUSÂ AUSTRIA
VABROUSEK PETRÂ Â CZECH REPUBLIC
GUILLAUME ROMAINÂ Â FRANCE
YASTREBOV ANDRIYÂ Â UKRAINE