Tim Reed seeks fourth straight in Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Australia’s Tim Reed will wear a bullseye on his back when the Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao is fired off at sunrise today at the Azuela Cove here.

The 33-year-old Aussie is seeking his fourth straight Ironman 70.3 crown on Philippine soil following a string of triumphs in Cebu beginning in 2015.

All eyes are on him.

“Anything can happen,” said Reed on the eve of the race, trying to downplay his chances in the event that drew a total of 1,782 participants, who will be flagged off in different groups depending on their recorded times.

He said the heat can play a factor in the race that will cover a relatively flat course, and could lead to a lot of personal bests.

The elite runners, including five world champions in the men’s side, get going at around 6 a.m. followed the age-groupers for the 1.9 km swim, 90 km bike and 21 km run.

The cut-off time for the entire course is eight hours 30 minutes. Reed won last year’s race in Cebu in three hours 54 minutes, seven seconds.

It’s the first time the Ironman 70.3 (the total course distance in miles) is being held in this province known for its native durian fruit and Mt. Apo, the country’s highest mountain at 2,956 meters above sea level.

Everybody wants to be part of the show but only a few, a handful in fact, can pose a challenge to Reed, who was into rugby and basketball before he became a triathlete.

Mexico’s Mauricio Mendez, the 2016 XTerra world champion, will be right behind Reed, in the same manner he finished a close second to the Australian last year.

This year, the 22-year-old Mexican is hoping for a better result.

“I feel great. I’m super excited for the race. As you see, it’s a tough field so I will just do my best,” said the young two-time Ironman 70.3 champion in 2017, winning in Texas and Los Cabos.

“It’s going to be really hard and it’s going to be a really tough race. I’ll do my best to win the event,” said Mendez ahead of the race put up by Sunrise Events and backed by 2Go Express, Powerade, Wilkins, Sportswear, TYR, GU, Aboitiz Power, Davao Light, David’s Salon, Intercare and The Philippine STAR among others.

As the Ironman 70.3 participants spent Friday carbo loading and Saturday flexing their muscles, the kids took centerstage through the Alaska IronKids, a triathlon for those aged six to 14 years.

Last Friday, the Herbalife Iron Girls 5K fun run was staged in and around the Azuela Cove.

Among the contenders in the women’s side are Anna Eberhardt of Hungary and Australians Dimity Lee Duke, Kirra Seidel, Kate Crawford and Sarah Lester.

Five-time world champion Craig Alexander, who feels lucky just to be here following a crash in late 2016, can’t pick the man to beat.

“There’s a lot. There’s Tim Berkel, Tim Reed, Mauricio (Mendez). There’s a lot of good guys here. I’m not in my best form but I’m confident I’m gonna have a good race,” he said.

Alexander, the great triathlete, is just looking at a podium finish.

“I hope,” he said.