Caroline Steffen and Brent McMahon are all set to burn up the race course at the Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship in Cebu, Philippines. The two previous champions return this time to campaign for the regional 70.3 title which is being held for the first time outside of New Zealand and Australia.
Steffen means to extend her winning streak at this race in the Philippines; she has not relinquished the crown since 2011. “I am all packed up and ready to head over to Cebu for the fifth time in a row. It is definitely one of my favorite races on the circuit. With a very classy race venue and cheering school kids on course, you just can’t miss out on this event,” she says. “With winning the event for the last four years, I will give my very best shot to make this number five.”
The Swiss star expects yet another battle in the heat and humidity of the urban race venue as she sharpens up for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship next month in her home court on the Sunshine Coast, Australia.
Like Steffen, McMahon has been a regular at the Ironman 70.3 Philippines for four years, winning in 2014. “This year it’s the Asia Pacific Championship, so I did some extra preparation for it in Maui for two weeks. With almost identical weather I have had some phenomenal bike and run workouts in intense conditions.”
The Canadian Olympian is in the middle of his build toward both the Ironman 70.3 World Championship and the Ironman World Championship. “This has been a great camp in Maui to get some testing and preparation done for Kona. I feel more prepared than any previous year heading to the Philippines,” he says. A multiple Ironman 70.3 champion, McMahon will be keen to test himself this weekend.
