Tight finish expected in IRONMAN 70.3

LAPU LAPU CITY, Cebu, Philippines — The past and present meet as inaugural champion Terenzo Bozzone of New Zealand makes a much-awaited return to challenge recent winners Mauricio Mendez of Mexico and Tim Reed of Australia in the Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 which unfurls tomorrow at the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa here.

Bozzone is the 2008 IRONMAN 70.3 world champion who ruled the event in its Phl debut 11 years ago in Camarines Sur but battled an Achilles tendon injury that forced him to take a long break and focus on his family.

He attempted to return last year but his bid was derailed when he was seriously injured after getting hit by a truck while cycling near his home in Kumeu in Aukland.

Now 34, Bozzone is out to relive his special moment when he won the event as well as the hearts of the Filipinos right on this very same place.

“I tried to come back last year but I had an accident,” said Bozzone during yesterday’s presser of the event powered by Philam Vitality. “All I remember here were beautiful things and its always in my mind to really come back here at this beautiful country and people.”

It will not be an easy return though as Bozzone is expected to get the toughest challenge from both the 23-year-old Mendez, the defending champion, and the 34-year-old Reed, the 2016 world champion who ruled the Subic tilt several months back.

“I hope to win again this year but I know its going to be tougher because of the strong field,” said Mendez.

Mendez is also out to bounce back from a heartbreaking race in Davao a few months back after he had a punctured tire that allowed chief rival Reed to rule the race.

For Reed, he’s just going to try to beat Mendez again.

In the women’s side, Caroline Steffen of Switzerland will go for a sixth title and should be the favorite after last year’s titlist Radka Kahlefeldt of the Czech Republic pulled out due to injury.

Other stars seeing action are Tim Van Berkel, Luke McKenzie, Mitch Robins, Lindsay Lawry, Justin Ghosh of Australia, Jakub Langhammer of the Czech Republic, Eric Watson of Bahrain, Dimity Lee Duke of Australia, Beth McKenzie of the US, Laura Wood of New Zealand, Amanda Wilson of Australia and Frankie Sanjana of Great Britain.

Sunrise Events, Inc. general manager Princess Galura said the second Regent Aguila IRONMAN 70.3 will push through as she guaranteed the safety of all the participants given the weather condition spawned by enhanced monsoon rains.