Men's IRONMAN Pro Series Outlook Post-Kona

If the World Champion wanted to race 70.3 worlds you don’t think they’d let him? That’s a bit naive. DQ counts as a qualifier but no chance of letting the champion in? But that’s besides the point. He’ll only go if IM begs and pays him enough to.

Hayden Wilde biked a 1:56 and ran a 1:08 in Melbourne last year after a shortened swim. And he’s just one of the multiple people with a serious shot at the podium.

Different course, but in Mt Tremblant the swim was also shortened with Sanders and Riele riding in a fast group with Marquardt he biked nearly 2:03 and ran nearly 1:16.

It’s very likely the front of 70.3 worlds is going to be 15+ minutes in front of those guys you’ve mentioned.

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There’s this beautiful provision in the qualification standards for pros called the Wild Card. All up to IM’s discretion but, such is life.

So the IM world champ doesn’t get a validation/slot for 70.3 WC, just the 140.6? Or does it kick in the following year?

The IM world champ doesn’t get a slot for following year’s 70.3 WC (with or without validation).
They get a slot for the next year’s IMWC, without validation.
Legacy slots for previous 70.3WC champions and IMWC champions are available with validation.
Detail: read the policies, both linked from this page:
https://www.ironman.com/pro-athletes

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