Ironman Confirms Two-Day World Championship Through 2026

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In today's edition we've got,

• A breakdown of the confirmed two-day Ironman World Championship 🏆

• A preview of the first pro race of 2023, Ironman 70.3 Pucon 🏁

• How you can have the perfect nap 😴

• And pro Ruth Astle spent how much on her bike?

Thank you for being here.

-Matt Sharpe, newsletter editor

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ONE BIG THING

Ironman Confirms Two-Day World Championship Through 2026

What is it? After months of speculation, Ironman has confirmed Nice, France as the co-host of the Ironman World Championship (IMWC) through 2026.

• Nice will host the 2023 men's professional and age-group Ironman World Championship on September 10th, 2023.

• Kailua-Kona will host the 2023 women's professional and age-group Ironman World Championships on October 14th, 2023.

In 2024 the races will swap so that the men will race in Kona, and the Women in Nice. This pattern will continue through 2026.

Why it matters?

• After a hugely successful competition, the women will continue to get their own separate race day.

• The change was made in-part because the two-day format was too much for the community in Kona to handle.

• The switch will allow for a new course and novel race dynamics such as a bold breakaway on the hilly Nice bike course, or an unexpected performance due to the absence of the Kona heat, humidity, and wind.

Tempo's take:

Although Kona has been synonymous with the IMWC for decades, it simply does not have the infrastructure and local support for an expanded two-day championship. With this change athletes will still be able to race in Kona, they just may have to wait a bit. 

Some questions do arise.

• Will athletes be skipping Nice to wait for Kona?

• Will a cheaper, and logistically simpler race experience bring more athletes to Nice?

• Is Ironman incepting a permanent move from Kona?

Do you have thoughts on this? We'd love to know what you think. Reply to this email and let us know!

NEWS

🤝 Brownlee appointee: Double Olympic triathlon champion, Alistair Brownlee, has been appointed to the board of the British Olympic Foundation. Brownlee will bring his insight as an athlete as well as his experience building the Brownlee Foundation to guide the BOF in their goal of creating opportunities for young people through sport. [Inside The Games]

🥃 Scottish second-go: After being postponed due to inclement weather, the Portskerra Activ' club will host its New Year's Day mini-triathlon this weekend. Participants will walk/run, cycle to the beach, and finish with a dip in the beautiful Orcadian Straight. Mulled wine and hot chocolate will be served post-event which just sounds delightful. [The Northern Times]

👐 New trustees: The USA Triathlon Foundation has added four new board trustees - Frantz Alphonse, Audra Mallow, Bill Shenkin, and Reggie Waller. The trustees are all triathletes who bring diversity and a wealth of experience that will help grow and support the mission of the USA Triathlon Foundation. [Team USA]

👶 Baby boom: Congrats to triathletes Javier Gómez and Anneke Jenkins on the birth of their daughter, Olivia Gómez Jenkins. We can't wait for 203x when the Mcelroy, Haller, Kanute, and Gómez Jenkins babies hit the start line! [Instagram]

OFF TO THE RACES

(Very) Early Season Bragging Rights On the Line at Ironman 70.3 Pucon

Professional triathletes will be looking to take names at the first pro race of 2023, in Chile at Ironman 70.3 Pucon. 

The women's race

Key players: Barbara Riveros (CHI), Romina Biagioli (ARG), Julie Iemmolo (FRA).

Analysis:

🏊 Julie Iemmolo has a strong swim background. Look for her to be leading the charge with a nice gap as the athletes exit the water.

🚴 Riveros and Biagioli will be looking to limit the swim losses to Iemmolo and could work together to bring her back in sight.

• As a long-time short-course star possessing WTCS Podiums and a 5th place at the Rio Olympics, Riveros may just decide to go it alone and attack solo off the front of the bike.

• If fellow Olympian Biagioli can keep Riveros in her sights we could have an epic run battle on our hands.

🏃‍♀️ Riveros should take this one on the run, but not without a fight from Iemmolo who has four Ironman 70.3 podiums to her name.

• Biagioli recently took the win in mid-November at the Americas Triathlon Cup Viña del Mar and she could be looking for another big win in Chile!

Tempo's take: It isn't a massive start list, with only seven athletes currently listed. But that can mean bigger gaps between the athletes and more intrigue as they start the run. Given her palmerès, Riveros should be able to take this race on the run.

Podium prediction:

• 🥇Barbara Riveros (CHI)

• 🥈 Julie Iemmolo (FRA)

• 🥉 Romina Biagioli (ARG)

The men's race

Key players: Reinaldo Colucci (BRA), Antonio Benito Lopez (ESP), Martín Ulloa (CHI), Marc Dubrick (USA)

Analysis: 

🏊 There should be a small group exiting the water with super swimmer, Marc Dubrick and local favourite, Ulloa at the head of affairs.

• A strong cyclist, Colucci will need to ensure he doesn't lose too much time to the front pack.

🚴 If the gang up front doesn't take off with the required urgency, look for Colucci to ride himself back into this race and maybe even through the front pack. He is a bike monster.

• The wildcard here is Benito Lopez. If he swims with the front group he could be the linchpin that keeps Colucci and the chasers at bay.

🏃‍♂️ Ulloa will no doubt use the hometown crowd to his advantage, he's been racing in Pucon for over 15 years! If he can harness that energy than he should be able to take the win.

• If Colucci has a large enough gap coming off the bike he'll use his veteran experience to hold on for victory.

Tempo's take: With the quality of athletes in the field, the swim could play a huge role in this one. Dubrick will be looking to smash the swim and create a gap on some of the better bike/runners. If he has athletes like Benito Lopez and Ulloa with him then he may sneak himself onto the podium.

• "Wildcard Lopez" is once again the wildcard. In 2022 he won the European middle distance championships and could surprise the field and take an unexpected win.

Podium prediction:

• 🥇 Martín Ulloa (CHI)

• 🥈 Reinaldo Colucci (BRA)

• 🥉 Antonio Benito Lopez (ESP)

Race details:

• Full start list here.

• Live tracking on the Ironman tracker app.

FAVOURITES

💓 Monday night tragedy: For those watching this week's Monday Night Football game, Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest was frightening and raised the question, could this happen to a triathlete? The TriDoc Dr. Jeffrey Sankoff, explains what happened in the Hamlin incident, and details the specific cardiac risks for endurance athletes. As of this writing, Hamlin is thankfully showing "signs of improvement." [Triathlete]

😱 How much: Professional triathlete, Ruth Astle (GBR), takes us through the financials of her 2022 season and opens the curtains on the costs associated with the highest level of racing. It's an eye-opening look into the world of being a pro triathlete. She also drops an innovative way to diversify her income that had us shocked. [Ruth Astle - Youtube]

☕ Coffee + nap = win: Professor Ethan Mollick dropped an interesting thread on the principles of a great nap. One hack? Drink a coffee right before falling asleep. [Ethan Mollick - Twitter]

COMMUNITY QUESTION

Congrats to Nancy Carleton and Jordan Blanco for correctly answering last week's quiz that asked Tempo readers to identify our mystery athlete, Lisa Norden!

Do you have a burning question about triathlon or Ironman? Want to share a racing tip? Let us know and it could be featured in the newsletter.

Are you racing this weekend? Or any epic training sessions? We'd love to hear about them! Send us your photos or a race recap, and we will feature them in next Tuesday's edition!

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