Bahrain Endurance Team racing around the world

Two of the team’s world champions will be competing in Europe less than four hours’ drive away from each other. Daniela Ryf, the Ironman 70.3 world champion, is defending her title at Ironman 70.3 Switzerland. The race held in Rapperswil-Jona has been won by Swiss women since 2010; last year, Daniela won this race in 4:00:14, beating the runner-up by 12 minutes.

Ironman world champion Sebastian Kienle is on the start list at the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Kraichgau in Germany. He won the 2012 Long-Distance European Triathlon Championship on this course, and won this event last year when it was held as a Challenge race.  

Sebi considers Kraichgau his home race and will be hungry for victory on Sunday. He says, “After I had to withdraw from 70.3 St.George I’m excited about the 70.3 Kraichgau. I do a lot of bike training on the race course, since I live just 20 minutes away. The race is also very important for me on the way to defend my title in Frankfurt. I need some races to get the last bit of performance.”

While the sun sets on Australia and Europe, it will rise on Ben Hoffman and Josh Amberger, both in San Francisco for the legendary Escape from Alcatraz. The historic race is in its 35th year, and Ben and Josh will be looking to take the title from defending champion Andy Potts, who has won the race six times. They will have received some sage advice from team director Macca, who has won Alcatraz four times.

Ben is coming off Ironman Texas. He says, “Escape from Alcatraz has always been on my radar as one that I wanted to do, so I am excited to go and see what it’s all about. It’s been a while since I have raced a shorter distance event like this, so it will be good fun to mix it up in such a historic venue. With it being 3 weeks after Ironman, I’m not entirely sure how the body will respond, but I will give everything I have on the day!”

Josh, on the Bahrain ENDURANCE  Racing Team, concurs about Alcatraz. “Escape from Alcatraz is hands down my favorite race. The unique distance, course and location combine to make it an unbelievable race experience despite being one of the toughest short course events on the map. My body is ready for the challenge, and I’m only too keen to jump off that boat into the icy bay waters.”