World Champions To Compete In Frankfurt!

Chrissie Wellington and Chris McCormack highlight the field competing at the Frankfurter Sparkasse Ironman European Championship

It's hard to believe that an event that proved to be one of the most exciting Ironman races of 2007 could get any better, but this year's edition of the Frankfurter Sparkasse Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt, Germany promises to be bigger, better and even more competitive than ever this year.

The event is stacked with so many big names that Ford Ironman World Champions Chris McCormack and Chrissie Wellington won't be the prohibitive favorites heading into the race.

McCormack must take on former Kona champions Normann Stadler and Faris Al-Sultan, not to mention the likes of Cameron Brown (six-time Ironman New Zealand champion and the winner in Frankfurt two years ago), last year’s champion Timo Bracht, along with Eneko and Hektor Llanos if he is to add another Ironman title to his impressive resume.

Wellington will face a strong field that includes Germans Nicole Leder and Andrea Brede, who raced side by side for more than 35 km during last year’s race before sprinting to the line in one of the most exciting races in Ironman history. Two-time Ironman Lanzarote champion Virginia Berasategui, 2006 German national champion Wenke Kujala, Imke Schiersch and Ina Reinders will also provide some stiff competition to Wellington.

The professionals won’t be the only one’s looking for a fast time in Frankfurt this July. More than 2,500 athletes signed up for the race within 14 hours of registration opening. They will be after one of the 120 qualifying spots for the Ford Ironman World Championship available at the race.

Almost 500,000 fans are expected to be on hand to watch the race live, while millions more will see the event on television or on-line here at Ironman.com. Make sure you don’t miss the exciting racing on July 6, 2008.