Anne Haug will start at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii on Thursday evening (6.25 p.m. CET). Born in Bayreuth, who was the first German woman to win the Ironman World Championship title in 2019, is one of the favorites again this year. Her biggest competitors are probably the German Laura Philipp, the Swiss Daniela Ryf (acting Ironman World Champion from St. George) and the British Lucy Charles-Barclay.
Ironman: Anne Haug wants to be on the podium in Hawaii
Anne Haug, who is also the reigning Challenge Roth winner, is now returning to the place where she celebrated her greatest success to date. Because in 2019 the world championship race took place for the last time on the US island. Because of the corona pandemic, the Ironman had to be canceled there twice in the past two years – but there was a catch-up World Championship race in the US state of Utah in May. Anne Haug did not come this year to make a “Top Ten” place, she says in an interview with BR24, “but a World Cup has its own rules.” She also wants to fight for a place on the podium again in her fourth start at an Ironman World Championship.
“Hawaii has the best in the world competing, all in top form. But to win, everything has to come together in one day.” Anne Haug, professional triathlete
She is satisfied with her preparation, which includes an average of 43 hours of training per week and was recently rounded off with a training camp in Lanzarote. “But that’s no guarantee for a podium,” the professional triathlete continued.
Two World Championship races: men and women do not start together
New this year: There will be two Ironman races in Hawaii. The professional women will start on Thursday, followed by the professional men on Saturday (October 8th, 2022, 6:25 p.m. CET). Here, too, an Upper Franconian is at the start: Andi Dreitz from Michelau in the district of Lichtenfels, who fell off his bike in May at the World Championships in Utah because of a media motorcycle and was injured so badly that his career was even threatened. Dreitz only celebrated his triathlon comeback at the end of August.
Lots of age group athletes at the start: races over two days
The fact that there is no joint race for all athletes this year in Hawaii is due to the cancellation of the last two World Cup races in Hawaii. Many age group athletes have to qualify for the race, which is a lifelong dream for many, and have therefore “reserved” their starting permits for this year. This is why more than 5,000 athletes are now starting instead of the usual 2,500 women and men.
World Championship races in live stream and on TV
ZDF will broadcast both races over 3.8 kilometers of swimming, 180 kilometers of cycling and 42 kilometers of running – on Thursday from 18.15 (CET) the women’s race will be streamed live on the Internet and from 00.45 (07.10.22) also live on TV. The live stream of the men’s race begins on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. and will be broadcast on TV from 12:25 a.m. (October 9th, 2022).