2024 IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz Startlist Announced for The Eleventh Race of The IRONMAN Pro Series

July 3, 2024

Reigning IRONMAN World Champion, Sam Laidlow (FRA), is amongst the strong line-up of professional triathletes currently registered to race

LONDON, UK/ TAMPA, Fla. (July 03, 2024) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – The IRONMAN Pro Series™ remains in Europe for its next stop, with the Basque Country of Spain hosting IRONMAN^® Vitoria-Gasteiz, the 11^th race, and fourth full distance IRONMAN^® triathlon of the series. Approximately 80 of the top male and female triathletes are currently expected to race next Sunday 14 July, and will be battling it out for a maximum of 5,000 IRONMAN Pro Series points, a prize purse of $125,000 and 3 slots per gender for the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlons in Nice, France (women), or Kona, Hawai`i (men).

As with all IRONMAN Pro Series events, the race can be seen live in person and will be broadcast for free across multiple platforms for viewers around the world including proseries.ironman.com, YouTube, Outside TV, DAZN and Équipe in France, among others.

In the men’s professional field, wearing bib #1, and making his IRONMAN Pro Series debut, will be the reigning IRONMAN World Champion, Sam Laidlow (FRA). Laidlow has made no secret that this race will be his attempt to validate his start at the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona this October. Joining Sam will be Kristian Høgenhaug (DNK) who came fifth at 2024 Zafiro IRONMAN^® 70.3^® Alcúdia-Mallorca back in May, and Mathias Lyngsø Petersen (DNK) who came second at the IRONMAN African Championship South Africa triathlon earlier this year. Lyngsø Petersen, who did not finish at this past weekend’s IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendée triathlon has said that this has given him ‘more fuel to the fire’ for IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz (quote, Instagram).

Making their IRONMAN Pro Series debuts will be David McNamee (GBR), Antonio Benito-Lopez (ESP), and Arthur Horseau (FRA) amongst others.

In the women’s field, 2023 IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz champion, Gurutze Frades Larralde (ESP), will wear bib #1. Frades Larralde currently sits in 58th place in the IRONMAN Pro Series, after two top 10 finishes at the Intermountain Health IRONMAN 70.3 North American Championship St. Geroge and Athletic Brewing IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside.

Her main rival will be Great Britain’s Kat Matthews, who announced on Instagram this week that her aim is to win. Matthews currently has a total of 5,000 IRONMAN Pro Series points following her win at the 2024 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN North American Championship Texas triathlon.

Daniela Bleymehl (DEU), who currently sits in 13th in the IRONMAN Pro Standings, following a third-place finish at the IRONMAN European Championship Hamburg triathlon, and ninth position at this past weekend’s IRONMAN 70.3 Les Sables d’Olonne-Vendée is also due to race. A win, or a strong performance from Bleymehl, could catapult her to the top of the IRONMAN Pro Series standings.

Els Visser (NLD), who came third in the 2023 edition of the race, will also be looking to repeat a strong performance. Following a fifth place position at the IRONMAN European Championship Hamburg triathlon, Visser currently sits in 27th place in the IRONMAN Pro Series standings with 4,189 points.

Ruth Astle (GBR) who has been battling injury since the start of the year will also take to the start in her IRONMAN Pro Series debut.

Joining the professional athletes, will be 1,700 registered age-group participants, who will be competing with the hope of securing one of the age-group qualifying slots to the 2024 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlons in Nice, France (women), or Kona, Hawai`i (men).

The race, which takes place in the cultural capital of northern Spain’s Basque Country offers beautiful natural landscapes, rich Basque culture and gastronomy and one of the most passionate and lively crowds on the circuit. Athletes will take on a 3.8km (2.4 mile) long ROKA swim course in beautiful Ulibarri-Gamboa lake, located in the Landa Provincial Park, just outside Vitoria-Gasteiz. Following a short run into transition, athletes will then embark on the 190km (112 mile) bike course, which consists of three loops, passing by some of most scenic towns of the Álava region and even shares a section with the “Camino de Santiago” – the famous ancient pilgrim route. The four-loop 42.2 km (26.2 mile) HOKA run course is a flat course along the wonderful city centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz, completely crowded with triathlon fans cheering on every athlete. The finish line is located in Plaza España (central square in Vitoria).

Female Professional Start List (subject to change):

Male Professional Start List (subject to change):

For more information on the IRONMAN Pro Series visit Here.

For more information on the 2024 IRONMAN Vitoria-Gasteiz triathlon, visit: ironman.com/im-vitoria To learn more about the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and series of events, please visit  www.ironman.com. Media inquiries may be directed to emeapress@ironman.com.

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About IRONMAN Pro Series

The IRONMAN Pro Series™ is a year-long performance-based world series that will see professional triathletes earn points at 20 select races in 19 locations globally to vie for the title of IRONMAN Pro Series Champion and a share of the lucrative USD $1.7 million year-end bonus prize pool. Athletes will also continue to battle for each individual event’s prize money equating to over USD $2.5 million and coveted world championship qualifying slots. The IRONMAN Pro Series will consist of six full-distance IRONMAN^® triathlons and 10 half-distance IRONMAN^® 70.3^® triathlons in addition to the split location women’s and men’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlons and two-day women’s and men’s VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlons. Open to approximately 1,000 eligible professional triathletes worldwide, the IRONMAN Pro Series will usher in a new era of IRONMAN racing where Every Second Matters™ with every second behind the race winner equating to a point earned or lost. Incorporating iconic distances, challenging courses, and stunning destinations, every IRONMAN Pro Series race will be broadcast live and free to a global audience. An additional 18 events throughout 2024 will also offer IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 professional racing and world championship qualifying opportunities, as well as over USD $1.6 million in prize money to create a total 2024 professional prize purse of nearly USD $6 million. For more information, visit proseries.ironman.com.

About The IRONMAN Group

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^® Running Series, IRONKIDS^®, World Triathlon Championship Series, premier running events including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon™ and City2Surf^®, UTMB^® World Series trail-running events including the Canyons Endurance Runs™ by UTMB^®, Tarawera Ultra™ by UTMB^® and Ultra-Trail Australia™ by UTMB^®, Epic Series™ mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic^®, road cycling events, and other multisport races. The IRONMAN Group is the largest operator of mass participation sports in the world, providing participants the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. Catering to the full athlete experience, the company portfolio also includes FulGaz^® virtual cycling, the most realistic indoor riding experience connected fitness application aimed at preparing athletes for real-world events. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN^® brand and its first event in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE^® by crossing finish lines around the world. Beginning as a single race, The IRONMAN Group has grown to become a global sensation with hundreds of events across 55+ countries. The IRONMAN Group is owned by Advance, a private, family-owned business, and Orkila Capital, a growth equity firm focused on building great brands. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about-ironman-group.

About Advance 

Advance is a private, family-held business that owns and invests in companies across media, entertainment, technology, communications, education and other promising growth sectors. Our mission is to build the value of our companies over the long-term by fostering growth and innovation. Advance’s portfolio includes Condé Nast, Advance Local, Stage Entertainment, The IRONMAN Group, American City Business Journals, Leaders Group, Turnitin, and Pop. Together these operating companies employ more than 14,000 people in 29 countries. Advance is also among the largest shareholders in Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit. For more information visit www.advance.com.

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