Antwerp Ironman 70.3 Attracts Top Field

Sunday's race includes some of Europe's premier long distance triathletes

Frederik Van Lierde, the new European Long Distance Triathlon Champion will take on defending champion Andrew Johns at Antwerp Ironman 70.3 on Sunday. The two men will take on many of Belgium's top triathletes including Rutger Beke, Bert Jammaer, Gerrit Schellens, Marino Vanhoenacker, Luc Van Lierde and Peter Croes. Foreign contenders include Luke McKenzie and Steffen Liebetrau.

In the women's race last year's winner Yvonne Van Vlerken will take on Belgian Tine Deckers, who finished third last year. Also included in the women's field are Tiina Boman, winner of Ironman Lanzarote 2007, Anne Fallows, Silke Hinrichs, Michelle Lee (fifth Ironman 70.3 Switzerland), Michelle Fangmann, Monika Lehmann (fourth Ironman 70.3 Switzerland) and Mariska Kramer.

In the Antwerp Ironman 70.3 athletes will swim for 1.9 km, cycle 90 km and run 21 km. The finish is at the Grote Markt. The event has 75 qualifying slots for the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Florida. There are also three handcycle slots for the Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii.

The race has reached full capacity – in all 900 triathletes will compete on Sunday.

Check here at Ironman.com for athlete tracking and live timing of the event.