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Weekend Preview: Deep fields lining up for Ironman 70.3 races in Monterrey and Puerto Rico

 

Monterrey, Mexico
Monterrey, Mexico

After the past two weekends jam-packed with exciting racing on the ITU circuit, triathletes can expect to see some strong Canadian results at one of this year’s first major weekends of Ironman 70.3 racing on the North American circuit. Ironman 70.3 Monterrey and Ironman 70.3 Puerto Rico kick off on Sunday, March 20th with stacked international pro fields.

Ironman 70.3 Monterrey

Monterrey, Mexico plays host to several world class athletes this weekend including Ironman World Champion Mirinda Carfrae on the women’s side.

Carfrae lines up against some of Canada’s top half distance triathletes, including Ironman 70.3 Monterrey defending champ Magali Tisseyre. Last year, Tisseyre finished 11 minutes before the runner-up in a smashing time of 4:00:48. The Quebec native lives in California where she trains full time and has been spending the winter preparing to open her 2016 season with a win.

Last year, Canada had a second athlete on the podium — Angela Naeth. While Naeth isn’t lining up for Monterrey this year, Kirsty Jahn (who placed 6th last year) returns as does Karen Thibodeau. Jahn placed 4th in January at the Ironman 70.3 Pam Am Pro Championship in Panama.

American Sarah Piampiano, last year’s runner-up Denmark’s Camilla Pedersen round out a strong women’s field.

Rising pro Cody Beals opens his season in Monterrey as well. Beals began competing on the pro circuit a few years ago but has already earned some impressive results in the half distance, including podium finishes at all five of his races least year and two bike course records.

Beals is up against defending champ, Tim Don of Great Britain and Bahrain Endurance’s Ben Hoffman.

Heather and Trevor Wurtele, who recently signed with Garneau, are also lining up this weekend.

Ironman 70.3 Puerto Rico

Ironman 70.3 Puerto Rico, hosting the Pan Am TriClub Championship, promises to be another exciting race. American Tim O’Donnell, one of the countries fastest long distance triathletes as well as a podium finisher at Kona last year, leads the men’s field.

Canada’s Cedric Boily, who placed third in Puerto Rico last year, looks to improve his finish. He is the sole Canadian pro racing this year.