Karnten Ironman Austria Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Kevin Mackinnon previews this Sunday's race in Klagenfurt

It's hard to believe that Karnten Ironman Austria is only 10 years old - it seems as though this event has been a major part of the Ironman series for much longer than that.The first Ironman distance event was held here in 1998. A year later Peter Reid and Wendy Ingraham lit up the course here in Klagenfurt with 7:51 and 9:02 clockings, sending a clear message to the world that if you were after a fast time, Austria was the place to come.

There will be debates for years to come as to the accuracy of the course for that first official Ironman event in Klagenfurt, but there were no doubts on the course length when Lori Bowden came within a minute of a world best time here in 2002 or, a year later, when 2004 Olympic champ Kate Allen was just over three minutes off the great Paula Newby-Fraser's world best 8:50:53.

So how fast is this course? Jurgen Zack once put together a 4:14 bike split here in Austria. Before you grab your calculator, let me help out – that's an average of 26 mph or 42 kph. I've driven cars that can't go that fast for that long. Race organizers slowed things up a bit a few years ago when they changed the bike from three loops to two, a move required as the race grew in popularity. (Grew in popularity? Did I mention that in 1998 there were 124 starters here and now, a decade later, they're expecting 2,400?)

Back to those fast times, though. The blazing bike splits come despite the fact that there are some good climbs to be dealt with along the way. The trick seems to be that the hills are relatively short and are followed by long, gradual descents that more than make up for any lost time. The real shame of it all, for the pros and fast age groupers gunning after a quick time, is that, with the spectacular mountain vistas, this is one of the most beautiful courses on the Ironman circuit – a fact that is often lost to those who are only looking at the road ahead and the computers on their bike.

For the tenth year in a row the day will begin here in Klagenfurt with a lake swim in the beautiful Worthersee. Then it's off for two fast 90 km loops on the bike, followed by a two-loop run course that passes by the transition and finish areas multiple times, providing spectacular spectating opportunities.

Which is one of the many reasons that upwards of 50,000 Austrians come out and line this course every year. The finish line here in Klagenfurt has to be seen to be believed – it is without a doubt one of the loudest in our sport. Two years ago Marino Vanhoenacker surprised the huge crowd with his faster-than-expected finish, sticking his head around the corner of the chute and giving a polite wave to the race announcers to let them know he was coming.

After winning again last year and arriving as the prohibitive favorite again this year, Vanhoenacker hardly has to warn anyone of his impending arrival at the finish line in first. That said, Great Britain's Stephen Bayliss, who won Ironman South Africa earlier this year, certainly can't be counted out as a man who could prevent Vanhoenacker from winning a third straight title.

Bayliss' fiance, Bella Comerford, also won in South Africa and followed that up with a win at Ironman Lanzarote this year. In South Africa she outsprinted last year's champion here in Klagenfurt, Edith Niederfriniger, and she'll face the Italian again on Sunday. Dede Griesbauer, who Ironman UK in 2006, is likely to lead both Comerford and Niederfriniger off the bike – she's a phenomenal swimmer and cyclist – then we'll simply have to wait and see if the American can hold off the rest of the field through the marathon.

While the pros could put on a great show, the spotlight could very well be on Marc Herremans, who is here gunning after a world-best handcycle time on Sunday – which should be fun to watch, too!

It's always a great day of racing here in Klagenfurt and this 10th anniversary event promises to be just that. We'll have live coverage including text, pictures, video and live timing right here on Ironman.com