More than 2,000 triathletes from all walks of life are descending on Nelson Mandela Bay in preparation for the 15th edition of the Standard Bank Ironman African Championship on Sunday.
Race director Paul Wolff said the number of participants was a year-on-year increase compared with previous races.
He said entrants were from 60 countries, including Great Britain, Germany and Spain.
On Sunday, professional and amateurs alike will take to the sea and streets of the metro as they compete for the Ironman title and a possible slot at the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, in October.
This African championship competition offers 80 qualifying slots for the 2019 world championship.
The event, which takes place along the picturesque Bay coastline, will see athletes navigate a 3.8km swim, followed by a 180km bike ride, before finishing off with a 42.2km run.
Seasoned professional triathlete James Cunnama, a multiple Ironman podium finisher, was excited to return to his former home city for the event. Cunnama, who arrived in the Bay earlier this week, said he was quite confident heading into the race.
“This is the first Ironman of the season, so you never really know [how you feel] until you’re out there racing.
“But I am feeling quite confident and I think my fitness is where it needs to be to compete with the best in the world this weekend.”
With the rerouted bike course set to test bikers to the limits, Cunnama believed it would be a faster course, but said athletes would only really know how conditions play out once in race mode.
“The course doesn’t really matter until you know what the wind is going to do on the day.
“Obviously, with it [route] going in reverse, it could be a very fast course – you will get all the wind out on the coastal roads, and be sheltered the way back,” he said.
While the clouds will be hanging low this weekend, no rain was expected to fall in the Bay, SA Weather Service forecaster Deon van der Mescht said on Thursday.
“Northeasterly winds are expected on Saturday with cloudy weather and morning wind speed may reach 30km/h, peaking at 40km/h by sunrise,” he said.
Van der Mescht said a little more sunshine was expected on Sunday, with partly cloudy weather and a continuation of easterly to northeasterly winds.
“Morning wind speed may reach 30km/h, with speed increasing steadily throughout the day, reaching 50km/h by sunset. No rain is expected,” he said.
Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association (Pembba) chair Shena Wilmot said while guesthouses were filling up quickly, there was still space available.
Pembba represents more than 100 accommodation establishments in the Bay, including bed and breakfasts, guest houses and lodges.
“It’s wonderful to have all of the visitors in town, we love having them here and the place is buzzing,” Wilmot said.
She said most of the space that was available was mainly due to late cancellations.
‘It’s wonderful to have all of the visitors in town, we love having them here and the place is buzzing’
It’s all systems go for Ironman
Image: Eugene Coetzee
More than 2,000 triathletes from all walks of life are descending on Nelson Mandela Bay in preparation for the 15th edition of the Standard Bank Ironman African Championship on Sunday.
Race director Paul Wolff said the number of participants was a year-on-year increase compared with previous races.
He said entrants were from 60 countries, including Great Britain, Germany and Spain.
On Sunday, professional and amateurs alike will take to the sea and streets of the metro as they compete for the Ironman title and a possible slot at the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, in October.
This African championship competition offers 80 qualifying slots for the 2019 world championship.
The event, which takes place along the picturesque Bay coastline, will see athletes navigate a 3.8km swim, followed by a 180km bike ride, before finishing off with a 42.2km run.
Seasoned professional triathlete James Cunnama, a multiple Ironman podium finisher, was excited to return to his former home city for the event. Cunnama, who arrived in the Bay earlier this week, said he was quite confident heading into the race.
“This is the first Ironman of the season, so you never really know [how you feel] until you’re out there racing.
“But I am feeling quite confident and I think my fitness is where it needs to be to compete with the best in the world this weekend.”
With the rerouted bike course set to test bikers to the limits, Cunnama believed it would be a faster course, but said athletes would only really know how conditions play out once in race mode.
“The course doesn’t really matter until you know what the wind is going to do on the day.
“Obviously, with it [route] going in reverse, it could be a very fast course – you will get all the wind out on the coastal roads, and be sheltered the way back,” he said.
While the clouds will be hanging low this weekend, no rain was expected to fall in the Bay, SA Weather Service forecaster Deon van der Mescht said on Thursday.
“Northeasterly winds are expected on Saturday with cloudy weather and morning wind speed may reach 30km/h, peaking at 40km/h by sunrise,” he said.
Van der Mescht said a little more sunshine was expected on Sunday, with partly cloudy weather and a continuation of easterly to northeasterly winds.
“Morning wind speed may reach 30km/h, with speed increasing steadily throughout the day, reaching 50km/h by sunset. No rain is expected,” he said.
Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association (Pembba) chair Shena Wilmot said while guesthouses were filling up quickly, there was still space available.
Pembba represents more than 100 accommodation establishments in the Bay, including bed and breakfasts, guest houses and lodges.
“It’s wonderful to have all of the visitors in town, we love having them here and the place is buzzing,” Wilmot said.
She said most of the space that was available was mainly due to late cancellations.
‘It’s wonderful to have all of the visitors in town, we love having them here and the place is buzzing’
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