A total of 31 professional men will be competing in the 2013 Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa in Port Elizabeth, providing exciting possibilities for the podium.<\/p>\n
Defending champion, Spain\u2019s Clemente Alonso-McKernan, will not be racing this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter several months trying to recover from an injury with very hard work, I had to withdraw,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to wish all triathletes and the organisation a very good race.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although Alonso-McKernan\u2019s withdrawal is unfortunate, it provides the opening for other top participants like Cyril Viennot of France and Mike Aigroz of Switzerland who placed second and third respectively at the 2012 Ironman SA.<\/p>\n
In addition to Viennot\u2019s podium finish last year, he also placed third at Ironman 70.3 Austria last year and won Ironman 70.3 France.<\/p>\n
Viennot started off this year placing sixth at the Ironman 70.3 South Africa in Buffalo City in January.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a little difficult for me this winter because of the weather and motivation, but since the end of January I have been training hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis race is quite early in the season, but I hope I\u2019ll be in great shape,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Aigroz is not new to Ironman SA, having finished third in 2012 and obtaining the same result at Ironman Ireland and Challenge Roth.<\/p>\n