Stakes got higher as the much-anticipated 2016 Cobra Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championships draws closer.
Princess Galura, Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) General Manager, recently announced that men’s and women’s champions in the professional division will get $75,000 each.
Last year’s race handed out P25,000 each for the champions in the same division.
Also, professional division champions will earn 1,500 points for their world rankings for the August 7 race.
So far, at least 20 professional triathletes have signed up for the prestigious triathlon race sanctioned by the World Triathlon Council (WTC).
The increase in purse is expected to attract more pro triathletes from around the world to compete in the 1.9-kilometer swim, 40-k bike and 21-k run that will traverse Cebu’s major cities namely Cebu City, Mandaue City and Talisay City.
The deadline of submission of entries for the pro division is on July 24.
Defending champions Caroline Steffen of Switzerland and Australia’s Tim Reed have already signed up along with Craig Alexander, Beth Gerdez, Luke Mckenzie, Luke Van Berkel, Brent Mcmahon and Dimity Lee Duke.
There will be 2,817 triathletes from 41 countries who will join the race that will start and end at Shangri-la’s Mactan Resort and Spa.
The race’s official launching will be on July 7 at Makati Shangri-la Hotel and will be spearheaded by SEI top honcho Wilfred Steven Uytengsu.