Defending champion Simmonds, Swiss legend Ryf to battle for Ironman Dubai

  DUBAI - Imogen Simmonds, the 2020 women's champion, will be back in Dubai this Friday (March 12) to defend her IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai crown. The field also includes two-time Dubai women's champion and Swiss legend Daniela Ryf. More than 1,400 have registered for this year's IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai, including nearly 100 elite professionals, and the race will again take place in Jumeirah district, around Burj Al Arab. This year's IRONMAN 70.3 Dubai will offer 50 qualifying slots for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship 2021, which will take place on September 17-18 in Utah, United States. There will be an additional 25 qualifying slots exclusively for female athletes from the Women For Tri Initiative. Switzerland's Simmonds will again start as favourite, but her compatriot Daniela Ryf could make a triumphant return to competition in Dubai. Ryf, who has not competed since the Kona Ironman in October 2019, has been training for her return in St. Moritz and now feels ready for Dubai. "Over the past few months, I have been training a lot and with high intensity," said Ryf. "But I can't judge my form just yet. That's why the opportunity to compete again will not only be very welcome, but useful as well. "The fact that my next start in Dubai is now imminent, makes me very happy. The course is flat, the race attractive and the organizers are simply fantastic." On the men's side, Belgian Pieter Heemeryck, who was second behind compatriot Bart Aernouts in 2020, will be hoping to go one better this year, while Swiss ace Ruedi Wild, who finished third on his two previous appearances in Dubai in 2017 and 2018, is excited about his prospects as well. "Skiing always seemed to work well as preparation, so let's hope it still is. Grateful and appreciate more than ever to have racing opportunities these days," Wild said.

Ironman 70.3 Dubai course

The one-loop 1.9km swim course is set to the backdrop of the Burj Al Arab hotel, with athletes starting their swim next to the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and finishing at Jumeirah Public Beach before they run into transition. The one-loop 90 km bicycle course leads athletes through the city before they leave the city limits behind and venture out and into the Arabian Dunes. This is considered one of the fastest course in the world if winds don't come into play. The one and a half-loop 21.1 km run course starts at transition at Jumeirah Public Beach and leads athletes along the coastline, until the finish at Jumeirah Public Beach. Patrial road closures will be implemented along the running and cycling routes on Friday, between 6am and 1pm. ICA/Expat Media
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