All pumped up, triathletes from 40 countries told to ‘race safe’
Their bikes are parked, with race packs and transition bags ready in a transition area at the Mactan Newtown property.
Their bodies are marked with waterproof, sweat-proof ink to show numbers to identify them.
Now it’s time for the final pep talk.
Athletes gathered at the ballroom of the Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa for the much-awaited race briefing at yesterday afternoon.
The weather forecast assured “perfect” conditions for the Ironman 70.3 : Overcast skies, only a slim chance of rain, and the breeze of a typhoon far, far away that won’t disturb the races in Cebu.
“It’s finally here. The race that we have all been waiting for,” said Wilfred Steven Uytengsu, top boss of the organizers, to the triathletes who come from 40 countries.
“I wish everyone the best and please obey the marshals at all times. Race safe, everyone.”
Justin Granger, Monica Torres of the Philippines and Dimity-Lee Duke will see action today as one of the pro elite athletes. (CDN PHOTO/ CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
At 6 a.m. today more than 2,400 participants will test their endurance in a non-stop whole-day series of disciplines for the Ironman 70.3, which will taken them from Mactan island to mainland Cebu.
The “half Ironman” will require them to finish a 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike ride and a 21-kilometer half marathon that will cover Lapu-lapu City, Mandaue City, Cebu City and Talisay City.
The grueling course will take some of them up to eight hours, with professional athletes finishing under four hours, and many competitors finishing in between.
For this reason, road blocks have been set up in several streets and both Mandaue-Mactan Bridges from 6 a.m. To 2 p.m.
Thirty 30 slots will be at stake. The winners will qualify for the 2015 Ironman World Championship in Austria, the first time the championship will be staged in Europe instead of Kona, Hawaii.
The briefing opened with Dr. Peter Mancao, head of the medical response team. He said everything is ready to meet an emergency with 150 volunteers from different medical groups and a dozen ambulances fielded in key areas along the race course.
“We are ready. We will be responding immediately to those who are in need of medical attention in the route and we are fully prepared within the venue,” said the surgeon.
A 20-minute video presentation showed actor Gianmatteo Guidecilli, who is joining today’s races, announce: “The race of Ironman throne is on.”
The video, inspired by the popular TV series “Game of Thrones”, had reminders about race rules and included a brief history of Cebu and the 1521 Battle of Mactan.
NO DRAFTING
Safety is the main concern in strict enforcement of rules on sudden overtakes and illegal drafting in the 90-kilometer bike race.
A first offense for illegal drafting – getting too close to a fellow athlete – will earn a two-minute penalty and four minutes if it’s repeated.
Race marshals and 16 draft marshals riding on motorcycles will watch for rule breakers. To overtake someone on the bike course, a rider must be seven meters away from the leading rider, and make the draft within 15 seconds or be penalized.
Due to potholes along a one-kilometer stretch of S. Osmena Road, race officials warned athletes to be extra cautious in entering this part of the North Reclamation Area in Cebu City even they are newly patched up with asphalt.
No cellphones, MP3 players or communication devices are allowed on the bike run.
And it’s a big no-no to accept any assistance from spectators on the road, no matter how helpful they are in offering water or other relief.
ABS-CBN’s weatherman Kim Atienza announced “perfect” weather for today’s triathlon in Cebu based on Pagasa’s forecast.
He said skies will be overcast with little chance of rain. Temperature will be a cool 23.3 degrees to 25.2 degrees in the morning until high noon.
A typhoon is expected to enter the Philippines at 8 p.m. and will be the second strongest typhoon after Yolanda with winds of 160 kilometers per hour. But it’s heading north, leaving only overcast skies for Cebu.
Expect normal wind condition in Cebu with 10-11-k per hour breeze.
“Thank God the typhoon will be heading north and away of our country so let’s enjoy very cool weather tomorrow, which is perfect for a race like this,” said Atienza.
Related Stories:
Celebrities back for more Ironman
Meet the Ironman 70.3 Pros competing in Cebu
More Ironman stories here