Challenge Philippines has vowed to assemble the most prestigious and fastest pro field in Southeast Asia for the 2015 Yellow Cab Challenge Philippines Subic-Bataan race kicking off this February 21.
World champion Chris 'Macca' McCormack is set to lead an impressive cast in the latest leg of the international racing series that is expected to bolster the country's growing reputation as a world-class triathlon destination.
A two-time Ironman World Championship winner, the 41-year old Australian is expected to meet stiff opposition from Challenge Atlantic City winner Fredrik Croneborg of Sweden and inaugural Challenge Philippines second placer Michael Murphy of Australia.
Tagged as a dark horse is Italian Domenico Passuello, a former pro cyclist who is expected to shine in Subic's tough and hilly bike course. He is coming off a great season highlighted by victories in the 2014 Challenge Rimini and Challenge Sardinia. Completing the lineup are Brian Fleischmann (USA), 2013 Challenge Laguna Phuket winner Rasmus Petraeus (Denmark), Australia's Eric Watson and Austrian Christoph Schlagbauer, who will be racing for the first time in the Philippines.
The season opener for long-distance racing in the country will be held at the Camayan Beach Resort in Subic Bay. "Many of the world's best have claimed that Challenge Philippines Subic-Bataan is the toughest half-distance race in Asia," said Dave Voth, Leverage Sports Asia CEO and chairman of Challenge Philippines Subic-Bataan. "No doubt this old school course will put you to the test, but it is also achievable and breathtakingly beautiful. Bataan provides a setting that the world would want to see. It's a race that will celebrate hard work and it does provide bragging rights for a lifetime."
While hometown heroine Monica Torres (Philippines) should get a lot of attention in the women's pro race, American Kelly Williamson is tagged as the favorite after concluding an impressive 2014 season with her victory in Ironman Texas.
Other contenders are 2014 Challenge Batemans Bay and IM 70.3 St. Croix winner Radka Vodickova of the Czech Republic and British Olympic medalist Emma Pooley, who placed third in last year's event. Likely to surprise is Parys Edwards (Great Britain), winner of the 2013 ITU World Championships in London. Rounding out the list are Carole Fuchs (Thailand), Katja Rabe (Germany), European campaigner Louise Rundqvist (Sweden) and Stef Puszka of Austria.
Challenge Philippines is on its second year with nearly 700 athletes participating in what could be the toughest half distance race in all of Asia.
For further race information, visit www.challengephilippines.com.ph.
