The men have been less prolific, with David McNamee\u2019s two third places from 2017 and 2018 being the only podium performances to date.\u00a0As we head back to the Big Island at the start of October, there\u2019s more chance of GB success in the pro ranks with several top contenders to consider.<\/p>\n
- Alistair Brownlee out for rest of 2022<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>
Who are the leading GB contenders in Kona?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Kat Matthews<\/a>\u2026 <\/strong><\/h3>\n
\u2026well, she was, until she was hit by a car on a training ride<\/a><\/strong> less than two week out from the race. With a cracked skull, vertebra and sternum, her first shot at the Kona Ironman world title is now on hold for another year.<\/p>\n
The army physiotherapist from Dorset has developed into one of the strongest long-course triathletes in the world \u2013 particularly on the bike and run. Two Ironman victories and two runners-up spots, both behind Swiss star Daniela Ryf<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 the latest at the Ironman World Championship in Utah<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 had put her among the favourites here.<\/p>\n
While Matthews\u2019 lack of experience could well have been a drawback, anything less than a top five would have been a disappointment.<\/p>\n
By next year, she may well be the favourite overall.<\/p>\n
Lucy Charles-Barclay<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
A month ago it seemed there was no chance Charles-Barclay would be lining up in Kona after a hip injury had kept her out of action all year<\/strong><\/a>. But a scintillating return, leading in typical gun-to-tape fashion to take the World Triathlon Long Course title<\/strong><\/a> in Slovakia,\u00a0proved otherwise<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n
With a training base at Club La Santa in Lanzarote, few know how to prepare better for the Big Island where she\u2019s finished runner-up on the past three occasions.<\/p>\n
- Who will win the women\u2019s race at the Ironman World Championship?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>
Joe Skipper<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Joe Skipper celebrates after finishing sixth at the 2109 Ironman World Championship. (Credit: Tom Pennington\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Norfolk\u2019s finest is one of about two dozen triathletes looking to take down the Norwegians and claim top spot. In fact, if it wasn\u2019t for the presence of reigning champion Kristian Blummenfelt<\/strong><\/a> and training partner Gustav Iden<\/strong><\/a>, it would be a wide open men\u2019s race.<\/p>\n
Skipper has the form to make the podium. His win in Ironman Wales<\/strong><\/a> at the start of September showed he\u2019s leaner and keener than we\u2019ve ever seen before. Sixth last time out in Hawaii in 2019, he\u2019ll expect to go better this time around.<\/p>\n
- Who will win the men\u2019s race at the Ironman World Championship?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Can anyone beat Blummenfelt in Kona?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Will we see records fall in Kona?<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
Which Brits could place in the top 10 in Kona?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Ruth Astle<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Astle took the top step on the podium in her last visit to Kona \u2013 as overall age-group world champion \u2013 but will be under no illusions how tough it will be to repeat it in the pro ranks. That said, it\u2019s a budding pro career so far.<\/p>\n
Strong on the bike, the two-time Ironman champion has been battling an Achilles issue and would be elated with a repeat of her fifth place finish from St George in May.<\/p>\n
Laura Siddall<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Placing seventh in St George represented a terrific return from the 42-year-old whose best moments of an impressive career have come racing in Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
A five-time winner over the iron distance, the course and conditions might not be ideal for Siddall, but there\u2019ll be every expectation of finishing higher than the 15th<\/sup> she achieved in 2017 and picking up some prize money.<\/p>\n
Fenella Langridge<\/strong><\/h3>\n
A runner-up spot at Challenge Roth in July in 8:31:41 after leading through the swim and bike, suggest that Bath-based Langridge is getting to grips with the iron distance after plenty of podiums at the middle distance.<\/p>\n
World ranked No 13, she placed eighth on Ironman World Championship debut in Utah.<\/p>\n
David McNamee\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>David McNamee soaks up the atmosphere as he finishes third at the 2018 Ironman World Championship in Kona. (Credit: Al Bello\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n It would be a surprise if McNamee repeated his podium performances of 2017 and 2018, but the Girona-based Scot knows how to apply himself to the task in Hawaii better than anyone.<\/p>\n
Very much a long-distance specialist now, he finished ninth in St George and as others fade, few stick around better on the Ironman marathon than McNamee.<\/p>\n
British outsiders in Kona<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Simone Mitchell <\/strong><\/h3>\n
An Ironman winner in Ireland and Wales, and second overall in Lanzarote when racing as an age-grouper, Mitchell\u2019s liking for challenging courses should put her in good stead. It will be her first start as a pro in Kona, but has raced there successfully as an amateur.<\/p>\n
Chantal Sainter (n\u00e9e Cummings)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
It will be a Hawaiian debut for the PTO No 84 ranked Brit who has podiums at Ironman UK and Ironman Ireland. She\u2019ll be backing up from Ironman Italy and will be pressure-free in the build-up.<\/p>\n
Susie Cheetham<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Cheetham has twice finished sixth in Hawaii, in 2015 and 2017, and won Ironmans in Brazil (2017) and Hamburg (2019).<\/p>\n
After becoming a mum to Henry in late 2020, she returned to racing and grabbed a qualifying spot for the Big Island with fourth place in Des Moines, Iowa, in June.<\/p>\n
- How to watch the Ironman World Championship live<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- How to qualify for Kona<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Has the Ironman World Championship become too elitist?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
British pro success in Kona to date<\/strong><\/h2>\n
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020 \u2013\u00a0No race<\/p>\n
2021 \u2013\u00a0No race<\/p>\n
2022*
*First Ironman World Championship of 2022 took place in St George, Utah<\/p>\n
Top image credit: <\/strong>Donald Miralle \/Sports Illustrated\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n
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- How to qualify for Kona<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Can anyone beat Blummenfelt in Kona?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Who will win the men\u2019s race at the Ironman World Championship?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Who will win the women\u2019s race at the Ironman World Championship?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/09\/david-mcnamee-finishes-third-kona-2018-6ee7527-3.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
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