AerialofYorkysKnob_article-image-crop

With Challenge Cairns just days away, TMSM's editor Tim Bradley analyses the main contenders for both men's and women's races for this inaugural edition.

After the withdrawals of Pete Jacobs, Cam Brown and Josh Rix from the men's elite race for the inaugural Challenge Cairns, this event has become a four-horse race.

Matty White is primed for this event after winning his respective South Australian state title last weekend with a 1:09 for the Half Marathon. You could argue this might have taken some sting out of the full-time fire fighter's legs, but we believe it shows Matty's got the run speed dialed in for the marathon, which as we saw in Busselton last year, enabled him to comeback and take second place overall.

Jamie Whyte (New Zealand) also has form on his side. A win at Challenge Wanaka ahead of the 2010 IMWA winner Courtney Ogden show's he's not going to be far from the pointy end, but that was five months ago, so the Kiwi comes into this race as a bit of an unknown commodity.

Tim Berkel comes into this race possibly in the best form out of the elite field after winning Busselton Ironman 70.3 and finishing second at Port Macquarie Ironman 70.3. Tim's asset is his run leg, so if he can stay in contention on the bike, this race may be his for the taking.

Chris McCormack, two-time Ironman World Champion, will be toeing the start line on Sunday, and if he's on song, there's no beating Chris. But, with ITU Kitzbuhel in two weeks, he may not be in the right condition to win this race. However, don't discount the Macca factor and he may just want to turn it on for the inaugural edition of this race.

Others to look out for include Kiwi Graham O'Grady and the Brit Jonathon Hotchkiss.

In the women's race the big favourite has to be Rebekah Keat. She's been around the sport for long course triathlon for a long time now, and after big season last year, Keat will be one to beat in Cairns this year.

However, never discount the experienced Belinda Granger, who showed at Challenge Wanaka she's got a lot of fight left in her legs. Granger is a warrior and will stick out to the death, if Keat has a bad day, there's no doubt Granger will be there to capitalise.

The others to keep an eye on are Carrie Lester and Christie Sym. These girls are established long course racers, and both would love a win in Cairns.

Simone Maier is the big outsider. Second at Challenge Wanaka behind Granger, if she replicates her day in New Zealand, there's no doubt she can pull herself onto the podium.