How to Watch: The Women's Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Taupo
From Olympic medallists to hometown heroes, Saturday's women's race in Taupo serves up the perfect storm of speed, strategy, and $200K worth of motivation.
Alright crew, put the coffee on - we've got a proper showdown brewing for Saturday's women's race at the 70.3 Worlds in Taupo. Here's your complete guide to catching what might be the most stacked field we've seen all year.
- First guns go at 7:00am NZDT Saturday (that's 5:00am AEDT for our sleep-deprived Aussie mates)
- Pre-race show kicks off at 6:30am NZDT
- Estimated finish around 11:06am NZDT (perfect timing for second breakfast)
Why You Can't Miss This One
- Taylor Knibb's hunting the three-peat (despite being properly knocked about post-Olympics)
- Julie Derron's bringing fresh Olympic silver hardware to the party
- Our Aussie contingent (Gentle, Salthouse, Thek) are ready to shake things up
- Cat Matthews is chasing both the world title AND that juicy $200K Pro Series bonus
- The entire women's Lahti podium is back for round two
Where to Watch
For everyone else
- DAZN globally
- Outside TV (North America)
- L'Équipe Live (France)
- iQIYI (China)
Pro Tips
- Set multiple alarms - no one wants to miss Knibb's swim exit
- Keep an eye on the Pro Series battle - $200K makes for spicy racing
- Watch for Gentle's run split - she's been quietly confident about this one
- The sacred waters of Lake Taupo might just serve up some surprises
Remember: This is no ordinary world champs. We've got Olympic medallists, long-course specialists, and a course that's been four years in the making. Plus, with 2,400 age-group women taking on the same course, you might spot your local tri club hero mixing it up with the pros.
If anyone questions your decision to watch triathlon at dawn, remind them this is what happens when you finally get a world championship in our timezone. That, and you're supporting the search for the next Mirinda Carfrae.
Weather reports suggest we might need to add "dodging Taupo's famous wind" to the list of required skills. But hey, that's just another day in paradise for our Southern Hemisphere warriors.
Post-race coverage kicks off around 11:30am NZDT, perfect timing to start planning your Sunday long run while riding the inspiration high.
