Craig-Alexander-EnduraPix

 

Craig Alexander has announced he will compete at the inaugural Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship Melbourne on 25 March.

Last year the Australian became just the fourth man in history to claim a third Ironman World Championship title in Kona, smashing the 15-year-old race record in his wake. The win also saw him surpass another legend Greg Welch as winner of the most world titles by an Australian triathlete. It was also his second world title in the space of one month, after securing the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Las Vegas in September.

This will be Alexander’s first race in Australia since 2007 when he finished third in his Ironman debut at the Ironman Australia Triathlon in Port Macquarie and says he couldn’t think of a better way to return to racing at home than Melbourne.

'Melbourne prides itself on being the sporting capital of Australia and has an appetite for hosting world-class events and this is another one you can add to the list,' said Alexander. "It is the inaugural race this year but I have heard great things about the course already. It could be very quick given favourable conditions."

The 226km race will take place in Melbourne’s South East and Bayside suburbs. The course will include a 3.8km swim in the Frankston Foreshore, a fast and smooth 180km bike on the EastLink Tollway and 42.2km Brooks run from Frankston to the Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship finish line, located at the iconic St. Kilda Sea Baths.

The 2012 Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship is one of nearly 30 Ironman events worldwide. Athletes will compete for a professional prize purse of $125,000 USD and 75 age group qualifying slots to the 2012 Ironman World Championship, more than any other race in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Image credit: EnduraPix