Outstanding PRO Field Ready to Compete in 2019 Techombank IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, Vietnam

Professional field headlined by past and present triathlon World Champions from around the globe, including Patrick Lange, Tim Reed, Tim Don, Mauricio Mendez, Craig Alexander, Terenzo Bozone, Holly Lawrence and Sarah Crowley, and decorated athletes Radka Kahlefeldt and Luke Mckenzie

Two champions on the men’s side, Mauricio Mendez (2018 IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific champion) and Tim Reed (2018 TECHCOMBANK IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam champion) and Radka Kahlefeldt (champion of both 2018 TECHCOMBANK IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam and 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship) return to defend their title this year

2189 registered athletes from 60 countries will compete on 12 May 2019

Da Nang, Vietnam, 10 May 2019 – On Sunday, 12 May 2019, nearly 2,200 registered athletes from 60 countries, regions and territories will take to the city to race in the IRONMAN® 70.3® triathlon.

It is all systems go for the fifth edition of the TECHCOMBANK IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam, which takes place this weekend. This year, Da Nang also plays host to the IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, attracting a strong mixed local and international athletes in the Professional and Age Group races, headlined by past and present triathlon world champions from around the globe.

Strongest professional field highlight race

The strongest professional field in the history of IRONMAN® racing on the Asia circuit, the men’s category will see 6 past and present world champions and an Olympian, with a total of 18 world titles amongst them. On the women’s side, 2 world champions and an Olympian highlight the race. Notable professionals include the decorated 2018 IRONMAN World Champion Patrick Lange, Tim Reed, Tim Don, Mauricio Mendez, Craig Alexander,Terenzo Bozzone, Holly Lawrence and Radka Kahlefeldt and Ellie Salthouse.

photo courtest of IRONMAN

“This is my first triathlon race of the year and I am extremely excited to kickstart my 2019 campaign in Da Nang,” said Patrick Lange, 2018 IRONMAN World Champion. “Almost like a World Championship, the professional field is so strong and I am very thrilled to race with them this Sunday”.

“Coming back to the IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship as the defending champion has been an incredible experience for me. I have competed twice in Da Nang and always enjoy the hospitality and reception of the local team and the people here. I am excited for the weekend and hoping to defend my title”, said the reigning IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific Champion, Radka Kahlefeldt.

Unique fan experience and opportunity for local athletes to race in a global event

Through introducing the strongest pro field, Sunrise Events Vietnam, the event organiser for 2019 TECHCOMBANK IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, Vietnam, provides an exciting opportunity for over 1000 Vietnamese athletes who will be lining the start line to be part of a global event. Supporters will also enjoy a unique fan experience, being able to cheer their friends and family on throughout the bike and run course.

“Starting with only 50 Vietnamese athletes in 2015, IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam celebrates its fifth anniversary by welcoming the largest local contingent of Vietnamese athletes in the history of the race with over 1,000 registered, a testament to the growing appetite of endurance sports in the country,” said Onslo Carrington, General Manager of Sunrise Events Vietnam. “We are honoured to host the 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship in Vietnam for the very first time and would like to extend thanks to our partners, supporters, and volunteers who will contribute towards the success of this weekend.”

The pinnacle of IRONMAN 70.3 racing in Asia-Pacific

Into its third year of establishment, IRONMAN Asia has seen an exponential growth in IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 participation within the region. Races on the Asian circuit are attracting not just more athletes, but higher quality athletes too, inspiring more people to take part in the sport.

“This is the pinnacle of IRONMAN 70.3 racing in Asia-Pacific. We are excited to see the quality and depth of field, providing opportunities for the region to draw inspiration from having the world’s best right in their backyard. IRONMAN Asia is looking forward to welcoming more world-class athletes, and supporting the growth of elite athletes and age groupers from around the region,” said Geoff Meyer, Managing Director of IRONMAN Asia.

###

About Sunrise Events Vietnam

Sunrise Events Vietnam (SEV) was established in 2015 and is the exclusive licensee of the World Triathlon Corporation for IRONMAN 70.3 and IRONKIDS events in Vietnam. The vision of the company is to stage world-class endurance and mass participatory sport events which helps to promote active, inspiring, and healthy lifestyles for Vietnamese, while establishing the country as a sought-after sports tourism destination by inviting international competitors to experience the beauty and culture of Vietnam. SEV also organizes leading endurance sports events including the TECHCOMBANK Ho Chi Minh City International Marathon and Vinpearl Luxury Landmark 81 Race to the Summit.

About IRONMAN

As part of Wanda Sports Holdings, the IRONMAN Group operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series®, Iron Girl®, IRONKIDS®, International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the UCI Velothon® Series, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, premier marathons including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, trail running like Ultra-Trail Australia™, and other multisport races. IRONMAN’s events, together with all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, provide more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. The iconic IRONMAN® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Beginning as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 230 events across 53 countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.

About Wanda Sports Holdings

Wanda Sports Holdings is the world’s leading sports business entity, founded to capture the opportunities in the global sports industry and to contribute to the prosperous international sports landscape – in three key areas: 1) Spectator Sports (media & marketing business), 2) Participation Sports (active lifestyle business), 3) Services (digital, production and service business). Wanda Sports Holding incorporates the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, the iconic endurance brand IRONMAN, and Wanda Sports China. The headquarters are in Guangzhou, China.