Ironman Switzerland 2011

A first glance it seems that the Ironman Switzerland 2011 finisher's podium will be full of Swiss pros, but normally there is someone who is a complete surprise who challenges for the lead.

This Ironman is no different with a very fast running Belgium and several highly qualified Germans in the mix.

Ironman Switzerland 2011 will be taking place on Sunday July 10th.

Many triathletes return to Zurich year after year to take part in Ironman Switzerland because of it's stunning setting and top calibre organization.

THE SWIM

In most Ironman races in North America you just never know what the water conditions will be like on race-day.

I found this out first hand in the 10 times I was in Ironman Canada. Every year it was a new adventure.

The same thing happened in Ironman Coeur d'Alene, another of the North American Ironman races I had the pleasure of taking part in.

From year to year the water temperatures in both these venues can fluctuate wildly.

However the lake swim in Switzerland is more often than not a comfortable 20 degrees Celcius or warmer in calm, placid water.

The swim course is two loops.

THE BIKE COURSE

This appears to be one of those bike courses that has something to offer for everyone.

For instance, not all pros like flat bike courses and do much better on the hilly ones.

Then of course there are those who are not great climbers.

Ironman Switzerland 2011 has a bike course that has challenging hill sections with about 1250 meters of climbing for the triathletes, but also has some fast, flat sections where the non-climbers can make up some time.

Of course they get to do it twice because the bike course is also two loops.

THE RUN COURSE

Ironman Zurich Switzerland is one of the few Ironman courses that has four loops. Most have two, and then you have courses like Ironman Canada that are out and back.

It would be a surprise if anyone has a huge gap coming off the bike course and onto to run.

Because the bike course has something for everyone it only seems to make sense that the pros will be fairly closely grouped as they head out for the run.

With the caliber of the field expected for Ironman Switzerland 2011, a five-minute lead might be all the first pro has leaving transition. It would be a surprise if it was much more of a spread.

This of course means the winner of Ironman Switzerland 2011 could well be the one who is consistently running strong and fast Ironman marathons.

This race could well be decided in the last loop and this will be great for the fans as they get to see so much of the runners with the four loop format.

In several Ironman races already this year for both pro men and women, one pro has taken charge out on the bike course somewhere and is simply never caught.

It would seem that Ironman Switzerland promises a much more hotly contested race with several pros in the mix for a top podium spot while out on the run course.

THE FAVORITES

At first glance it would seem almost certain that a Swiss pro will cross the finish line of Ironman Switzerland 2011 first. Of course much of this is based on performances of past years.

However Ironman outcomes of 2011 are more likely to be decided by the triathlete who is in form this year. It doesn't really matter how many times in a row you win a race, what you did last year is not quite as important as what you have done in the current season.

For instance Ronnie Schildknecht has been on quite a tear the past three years and won a string of Switzerland 70.3 and full Ironman races. So does that mean he will automatically win this years Ironman?

Not necessarily. It would make more sense to go by this years results and his 70.3 string was broken by Andi B?cherer who finished a full 5 minutes of him. So just possibly he is not in quite the same great form he enjoyed last year.

There are many other great pros in the race who will certainly make Ronnie earn the top of the podium. Fellow Swiss Ironman Mathias Hecht will certainly be right up there.

However I am thinking that it will be an excellent marathoner who will challenge for first place and my pick to win Ironman Switzerland 2011 is Gerrit Schellens of Belgium.

It seems that a four-loop course would be a huge advantage to a good runner who is chasing down the leaders. He will know exactly where he is through-out the race and that can be a huge mental boost when the going gets tough.

If he can stay close in the bike than I really think this could be a break-through race for Gerrit Schellens.

On the women's side it seems like a bit of a wide open race. Sybille Matter from Switzerland has won the last two years but will not be in Ironman Switzerland 2011 so perhaps she is not in top form and is passing up this years race because of it.

Swiss triathletes Monika Lehmann and Sarah Sch?tz both have a good chance win this race and it seems more likely that a Swiss woman will be on top of the podium.

However the full list of Pro starters is not available just four days from the race and I would love to see that list.

There could very well be an Australian or and American for instance who could really shake things up on race day. I will update this page with a pro entry list when and if it is made available.

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