Normal limits do not apply. Welcome to the toughest Ironman in the world

“At least they didn’t say it was a ‘light breeze,'” my wife joked as we finished our ride. Our 41 km effort had taken about 20 minutes longer than it should have in the strong winds that we’ve experienced since arriving on Tuesday night for this weekend’s Ironman Lanzarote race. The word is that the winds are supposed to die down on race day, but we’ll believe it when we see it. The weather report will often call for “light breezes” on days that stop you in your tracks while out on the bike. There’s a reason they call this the toughest Ironman in the world.

Ironman Lanzarote. Normal limits do not apply

For those who aren’t familiar with Lanzarote, it is the most north and east of the Canary Islands, situated about 125 km off the north coast of Africa. The Ironman events on the island are backed by Club La Santa, a sports Mecca that has been going since the early 80s. Kenneth Gasque, who worked at Club La Santa, did the Ironman World Championship in 1985 and was amazed at how similar Lanzarote was to the Big Island in Hawaii. He worked tirelessly for years and eventually was able to get an Ironman license to host a full-distance qualifier on the island in 1992. Renowned for the tough biking conditions, Lanzarote has long been a go-to destination for many of Europe’s top professional triathletes over the years. Ironman world champion Anne Haug has spent so much time here that she describes her 70.3 wins here as “hometown victories,” 2023 Ironman world champ Lucy Charles-Barclay, is amongst numerous European pros who regularly train at Club La Santa, too.

Thanks to an infection that sidelined her for the start of the season, Haug (pictured above competing at Ironman 70.3 Lanzarote last year) is racing here this weekend to ratify her spot for the Ironman World Championship in Nice in September. She’s avoided this race in the past because, as she points out in the video below, she knows the island so well she is fully aware of just how difficult this race will be.

 

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Embrace the challenge

Ironman Lanzarote is a bucket-list event for many because it truly sets you apart from other Ironman finishers. In addition to the tough winds, there’s 2,550 m of climbing that includes climbs up Mirador de Haria and Mirador del Rio. There’s also a long, windy climb through the Fire Mountains that can often be one of the toughest parts of the course, too.

Remember that famous quote from  Commander John Collins, one of the founders of the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, describing Ironman?

“Swim 2.4 miles. Bike 112 miles. Run a 26.2-mile marathon. Brag for the rest of your life.”

The thing about Ironman Lanzarote is that you get to brag even when you’re with other Ironman finishers. Every time someone tries to complain about a windy race, you’ve likely got them topped. A race with lots of climbing through challenging conditions? Yeah, you’ve got that topped, too.

Based on the difficulty of the course, it is hardly a surprise that the race doesn’t draw a huge field. There are just over 1,000 athletes registered for tomorrow’s race, which, for many, is part of the draw to the event – huge draft packs are hardly an issue out on this bike course!

Pro field

Haug highlights the pro field, of course, but she’ll be taking on the two-time defending champion Lydia Dant (GBR). Dant has done two Ironman races in her life, both here in Lanzarote. She’s also won those two races, so even though she’s taking on one of the biggest names in the sport, you can’t count her out for a three-peat.

The men’s field is a bit more wide open as defending champ Arthur Horseau isn’t back (and the next two athletes on the pro list, Cam Wurf and Arnaud Guilloux are reportedly not competing). The 2022 champ, Kenneth Vandendriessche and the top Spaniard from last year’s race, Jordi Montraveta, are likely the two main contenders for the win, but Andi Dreitz (GER) and Milan Brons (NED) are certainly other athletes to keep an eye on.

You can see the full pro list here.

Coverage

There’s no video coverage of tomorrow’s race, but you will be able to follow the race and athletes through the Ironman Tracker.