Pros return to full Ironman racing this weekend in New Zealand
Joe Skipper lines up after a rough a season last year
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Photo: Kevin Mackinnon
The first Ironman race of the season is in Taupo, New Zealand this weekend. Besides a big pool of pro athletes from its home turf and neighbouring Australia, there are a few names from the US, Great Britain, Switzerland, France, Ireland and Belgium.
The US’s Jocelyn McCauley is a favourite going in, sporting bib number two. Ahead of her is Great Britain’s Fenella Langridge, likely to be McCauley’s toughest competition. Regan Hollioake from Australia will bring some heat as the third ranked woman on the pro start list. On the men’s side, New Zealand’s Mike Phillips and Ben Hamilton are topped ranked going in, trailed by France’s Arnaud Guilloux.
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Fan favourite Joe Skipper is back
Fans are in for a treat with Great Britain’s Joe Skipper in the mix. Skipper has had a tough few season lately. It will be the first glimpse into how he is doing since a set back last year. Following a few disappointing results, he dropped out of 2024 Ironman Lake Placid and publicly announced we was taking some time off and getting some blood work done. He opted out of competing for a Kona spot last year as a result.
Following his announcement to drop out of Lake Placid he shared a statement.
“I will be taking some time off now. I’m going to get some blood tests done to see if there’s anything up with me as I’ve been so inconsistent and rarely feel like my normal self in races. I don’t know when I will race again as I’m going to just concentrate on feeling better and when I am confident I can race like myself I’ll be back to the start line.”
“As you can probably guess this means no Kona, but to be honest that’s probably a good thing as I can just take my time to get myself back firing on all cylinders and not force it.”
He raced Ironman Chattanooga in September, 2024 finishing seventh.
In 2021, Skipper ended up in hospital instead of the start line of Ironman Florida after losing his ability to speak or remember certain things as he was getting ready for an outdoor ride. A CT scan showed nothing but he didn’t race again that year. Previous to that he suffered a serious bike crash when he was hit by a van during a training session.
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Race is a multi athlete choice award winner
It was not long ago that the Ironman 70.3 World Championships were held at the same venue. The weather this weekend should be cooler than it was back in December for the championships, as the country heads towards its winter months.
The course is an Ironman favourite, set on the largest freshwater lake in Oceania, the stunning Lake Taupo. Its bike course is scenic and rolling, followed by a flat and fast lakeside run with lots of spectators. It is the longest running Ironman outside of Kona, Hawaii.
The race was awarded fourth place for Most Recommended in the Ironman Athlete’s Choice Global Awards announced earlier this week. It was chosen first for Most Recommended in the Oceania category, as well as second place for the Best Bike and Best Run, and third for Best Swim.
The Ironman 70.3 Pro Series kicks off at Geelong in Australia on March 23, while the full distance pro series commences a week later in South Africa on March 30.