The Ironman Championship series will continue with this weekend’s 2016 Mainova Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt on July 3. Boasting some of triathlon’s top talent, the professional field will feature competitors from around the world.
Headlining the women's professional race is returning Ironman European Champion and last year’s Ironman World Champion Daniela Ryf (CHE). With Ironman 70.3 Dubai and Ironman 70.3 Switzerland victories added to her resume already this year, Ryf looks to improve on her already impressive course record time of 8:51:00.
Also vying for the title is 2015 Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship winner Melissa Hauschildt (AUS). Ryf and Hauschildt both hold two Ironman 70.3 World Championship titles and will prove to be stiff competition for the rest of the field. Adding to the mix of talented women is three-time Ironman champion and 2015 Ironman Lanzarote winner Diana Riesler (DEU), three-time Ironman champion Kristin Moeller (DEU), and Frankfurt local Natascha Schmitt straight off her recent victory at Ironman 70.3 Luxembourg.
On the men’s side, an equally determined group will seek to win this year’s title with Sebastian Kienle (DEU) leading the pack. Kienle, the 2014 Ironman European Champion, 2014 Ironman World Champion and two-time Ironman 70.3 World Champion is fresh off his win at Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga.
Racing for the first time in Frankfurt will be Tim O’Donnell (USA), who finished third at last year’s Ironman World Championship and second at the 2015 Ironman South American Championship Brazil. Also among the men’s favorites is four-time Ironman Champion and 2016 Ironman France winner Victor Del Coral (ESP), 2013 Ironman Frankfurt champion Eneko Llanos (ESP), and Andi Boecherer (DEU), who took third place at last year’s race and has had early season success, winning 2016 Ironman 70.3 St. Pölten.
An automatic bid to the 2016 Ironman World Championship will be on the line as the male and female professional winners of each 2016 Ironman Regional Championship race receive automatic qualification to the 2016 Ironman World Championship, taking place in Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i, on October 8. The Mainova Ironman European Championship Frankfurt race will also offer a $150,000 prize purse to male and female professionals which will be distributed amongst the first through tenth place finishers.
In addition to the competitive professional field, over 3,000 registered age-group athletes are expected to compete at this year’s Mainova Ironman European Championship Frankfurt. The race will offer 75 coveted age-group slots to the 2016 Ironman World Championship.
