Chris McCormack leads the charge at Austria 70.3 Triathlon

The winners of the previous three years Austria 70.3 races will go head to head  this weekend, with Australia’s Chris McCormack favourite to take line honours. Germany’s Michael Goehner winner of the 2007 event and Italy’s Massimo Cigana who won in 2008 will be doing their best to push the world champion Aussie all the way to the end.

It is a similar storey in the womens event with Hungarian Erika Csomor (winner 2007), Yvonne van Vlerken(2008), born in Holland but now an Austrian citizen and the German Sandra Wallenhorst (2009), competing against each other.

Other pros capable of causing an upset include Belgiums Marino Vanhoenacker (four time Ironman Austria winner) and Andreas Raelert of Germany (second at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship 2008, and  third in Hawaii in 2009).

Finally keep an eye out for Dirk Bockel from Luxembourg, who placed 7th at Hawaii in 2009.

The race takes place on May 30, with 3000 athletes from 50 nations taking part. This is the fourth time this event has been run and this year has seen a 30% increase on last years participation with the race selling out in March. The sport of Ironman and 70.3 Triathlon racing continues to go from strength to strength around the globe.

Registration for the 2011-event opens on Friday online.