Andi Böcherer is fully committed to European Ironman races on his way to the Ironman Hawaii 2018

First highlights in Kraichgau and Frankfurt

Böcherer (c) Biestmilch

The biggest goal of professional triathlete Andi Böcherer is - unsurprisingly - the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii in October, where the Freiburger would like to improve his 5th place finish from 2016 and take another step forward, after he was forced out of last year’s race due to an injury. On their way to this highlight, however, the pros have to qualify at other races of the Ironman series on a points system, because only the best in this ranking fight for the Ironman World Championship title on the Big Island.  Böcherer's "Road to Kona" will include the Ironman 70.3 Pays d'Aix in France and two German races: The Ironman 70.3 Kraichgau and the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt. There Böcherer meets big names. For example the two German Hawaii champions Jan Frodeno and Patrick Lange or Nils Frommhold. And that's exactly what motivates the 34-year-old: "I thought about doing something different and compete at another race this year. But for me, I clearly want to compete with the best and not win a second or third-rate race! A second or third place in a world-class field is worth more than a victory in the back country." These words are proven true by several top three finishes in Frankfurt. In the last three years, Böcherer has always been on the podium, having been beaten in 2016 and 2017 only by Ironman world champion Sebastian Kienle. Therefore, his goal is clear: "I want to win in Frankfurt and use this tailwind for the big dance on Hawaii."

Böcherer (c) KILIAN KREB

Böcherer is well aware that this will not be an easy task considering the starting field. This is not the only reason why he and his coach Lubos Bilek have adapted a few things during training to become even stronger, especially in the last discipline. At his season debut at the "Dirty Race Murr", he hinted with his 5-kilometer time of 16:05 minutes over a challenging cross-country course that this work was worth it.

Böcherer is currently training a lot on cross-country skis in Goms, Switzerland, before it’ll get more specific on its Road to Kona and the first training camps under southern sun are pending.

Andi Böcherer

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Photos are provided by the athlete.  Please get in contact with Andi for use of him images. 

Andi Boecherer (c) Greta Fleck