IRONMAN BATTLE LOOMS WITH “CROWIE” PUTTING IT ALL ON THE LINE AGAIN
Ironman Melbourne, Australia, March 18, 2014: After a disappointing performance at last years’ IRONMAN World Championship three time Ironman World Champion Craig “Crowie” Alexander stated that he would not be back to Kona to compete, and that the 2013 edition of the most coveted prize in triathlon would be his last Ironman.
After Pete Jacobs took out the 2012 title and Luke McKenzie found his way onto the podiums second step, it looked as though the time had arrived for the young guns of Australian triathlon.
Craig Alexander winning the inaugural IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship in 2012. Photo Credit: Delly Carr
In July McKenzie took out Ironman Cairns, at the same time adding the scalp of Chris McCormack to his mantle piece, he’d love nothing more than to add a win over Craig Alexander to his CV. And a change of heart from Alexander means he will get that chance at this weekend’s IRONMAN Melbourne Asia-Pacific Championship.
“After Kona I said that I was pretty certain that my racing days on the Big Island were over. It didn't make sense then to race over the Ironman distance if I wasn't going to be targeting Kona,” Alexander said.
“When I was trying to plan a race schedule for the season in January, my plan was to stay home in Australia more and contest more events in the Asia-Pacific region. I immediately targeted Auckland and Geelong but also had in the back of my mind, that if training went well, Melbourne could be a possibility.
“It is such a big event, the Asia-Pacific Championship and the timing just works for me. It comes at the end of our summer when I am always fit and is a one hour flight from home.”
It sets up what will be an intriguing contest between arguably Australia’s best ever triathlete in Alexander, and a man in McKenzie who wants to one day rival Alexander for that crown.
But don’t expect these two to have it all their own way with last year’s runner up Belgium's Marino Vanhoenacker and Luxembourg’s Dirk Bockel also in the field.
Vanhoenacker had a disastrous year after his second place at Melbourne, succumbing to a hip injury that ruined his season. But he’s back fit and ready to take it up to the rest of the field.
Two time Olympian Courtney Atkinson will also be making his Ironman debut at Melbourne.
“My number one priority is to reach the finish line. Beyond that I am looking to learn and gain experience over the distance,” he said.
A seventh at IRONMAN 70.3 Auckland had some people asking if Alexander was still a factor in big races, he answered those critics emphatically with a win just weeks later at IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong in brutal conditions.
“I took a lot of confidence out of winning the race in Geelong. It doubled as the Australian Long Course Championships, and had a strong field. I just had a good day, felt strong in tough conditions, so that brought Melbourne into play even more.”
For his part McKenzie is confident he can come to Melbourne and leave with a little extra in his carry-on luggage.
“I am excited to race Ironman Melbourne. It’s only three years old but already regarded as one of the premier Ironman events in the world. I raced it in 2012 and unfortunately aggravated my back and DNF’d 24km into the marathon so coming back this year I want to get that monkey off my back and have a good race,” he says.
“I feel like the bike and run course suit me. The bike course looks pretty straight forward on paper but it can be a tough one especially if the wind is up. If I can utilise my bike strength and go onto that one way marathon with some time I know I will be hard to catch.”
Date: Sunday, 23 March 2014.
Race start: 7.20am, Frankston Pier
Television coverage: A one hour specialwill air on 7Mate, Sunday, 06 April at 2.00pm
IRONMAN Asia Pacific Championship Melbourne will be held on Sunday, March 23, 2014.
The 226km race will take place in Melbourne’s South East and Bayside suburbs. The course will include a 3.8km swim in the Frankston Foreshore, a fast and smooth 180km bike on the EastLink motorway and 42.2km Brooks run from Frankston to the IRONMAN Asia Pacific Championship finish line, located at the iconic St. Kilda Catani Gardens.
For further event details: www.ironmanmelbourne.com.
About IRONMAN
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Lisa Pringle
Media Manager, Asia-Pacific
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