October 10, 2019, 9:10 a.m.
October 10, 2019, 9:10 a.m.
Update: October 16, 2019, 03:33 a.m.
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Kaila-Kona (dpa) On Saturday, in the early morning hours of Kailua-Kona, the world’s best long-distance triathletes start a very strenuous working day.
Triathletes from all over the world compete in the Ironman in Hawaii.
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The professional men start at 6.25 a.m. (local time / 6.25 p.m. CEST), after which the professional women continue. Things to know and notable about the Ironman World Cup in Hawaii:
KEY DATA: 3.86 kilometers swimming, 180.2 kilometers cycling, 42.2 kilometers running. Record time: 7:52:39 hours (Patrick Lange 2018).
VORMACHT: Since 2014, the men’s winner has come from Germany. First Sebastian Kienle won the title, in 2015 and 2016 Jan Frodeno struck, in 2017 and last year the winner was Patrick Lange.
HO’O MUMUKU: Sounds cute. What is meant are the gusty winds that make cycling particularly difficult for the participants. On the one hand as a headwind, on the other hand when they blow from the side onto the track. Then it can be dangerous. Ultimate control of the bike is required. Disc wheels are forbidden, they would offer too large a contact surface.
EXCLUSIVE: Many want to start there one day, not everyone is granted it. If you want to be at the World Cup in Hawaii, you have to qualify. This applies to the professionals as well as primarily to the so-called age group athletes. In the past, points could be collected, but now it’s all about placements in other Ironman races around the world. With the professionals, victory usually has to be achieved. The first three of the previous year only have to finish an Ironman in the World Cup year. For the non-professionals, a certain number of starting places per age group will be allocated in the Ironman races. Because the trip is too expensive for some, they forego and the runner-up gets the chance.
COSTS: Participation in the World Cup is not cheap. For the age group athletes, an entry fee of almost 1000 euros per se is due. There are also flight and accommodation costs. And because the climate in Hawaii takes some getting used to for most of the starters, they need more time to acclimate. The torture in vacation paradise can cost several thousand euros. Not to forget that quite a bit has already been invested in other races, equipment and training camps along the way.
CULT: They are part of it like the pictures of sea turtles and dolphins from the many participants in the social networks: The Parade of Nations and the Underpants Run.
KUCHEN: She has been unbeaten in eight cross-distance races, outstanding at half the Ironman distance and is one of the German hopes for a medal in the women’s race: Laura Philipp. 32 years old, comes from Heidelberg and has a habit: she eats a piece of cake every day.
BODY FAT: Anyone who imagines muscle-packed powerhouses among the so-called iron men will be amazed. An example: According to his homepage, Jan Frodeno weighs 76 kilograms and is 1.94 meters tall. Body fat percentage: five percent.
NEO: Wearing wetsuits is prohibited. For the professionals this applies from 21.9 degrees Celsius, for the age group starters from 24.5 degrees. The temperature of the Pacific off Kailua-Kona is around 28 degrees.
EIS: After all, the wind cools on the bike, does it get really hard when you run? at lunchtime and in the afternoon, when the sun can really heat up with a blue sky. Over 70 percent humidity, plus over 30 degrees. The athletes have to try to cool their bodies permanently in the extreme conditions. Sponges and ice cubes in masses are available at the refreshment stations.
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