Under the radiant sun of Monaco, they were there, the best of the best, the crème de la crème of triathletes. Belgians Rutger Beke, Luc Van Lierde, Marc Herremans, and the Spaniard Marcel Zamora Perez already had their minds set on the Pacific. Even before the start of the races, they all dreamed of a top 5 finish that would earn them a spot in the prestigious Ironman Hawaii 70.3 World Championship in 2007.
Marc “Mad Max” Herremans, the disabled triathlete and founder of the “2 Walk Again” organization, stated, “The reason I came to Monaco is to prepare for the Ironman Hawaii world championship final.” Luc Van Lierde, two-time winner of the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii and triathlon world champion, responded, “I think that the 70.3 races will grow in terms of prestige. For me, Monaco is a training ground; Hawaii counts the most.” Marcel Zamora Perez, the Spanish winner of the 2006 Ironman Nice edition, went even further: “I won in Nice, so I can win in Monaco. I can also win in Hawaii. I want to make Ironman 70.3 my Formula 1. Alonso is an example for all Spanish athletes. Even if I fail, I am young, I will come back.”
“Only the Monaco Ironman allows one to win 30 slots for Hawaii,” noted Marina Peré, one of the event’s organizers.
This exclusivity is the result of a precise financial calculation. The Principality fully benefits from the success of the competition. In one week, the Half-Ironman will attract nearly 600 athletes from 40 different nationalities to the Principality, who often come with their families, like the Belgian Rutger Beke. “I try to bring my wife and my daughter everywhere with me. My family is central to my life,” he confided.
Visitors are counted by the thousands, thanks to international repercussions. And, for the first time, through the exclusive sponsorship of HSH Prince Albert II.
According to the organizers, the average Ironman competitor is accompanied by one person and stays for about 4 nights. This equates to 8,000 nights spent. International studies show that an average athlete and their companions will spend roughly 450€ per day. The event, therefore, holds great promise for the hoteliers and restaurateurs of Monaco.
Another calculation: Behind the Hawaiian dream, seemingly accessible to all athletes, there lies a material challenge. One does not come empty-handed to receive the coveted spots. Instead, one arrives with 475 dollars in cash for the trip. Additionally, 10 dollars must be shelled out for a daily USAT (USA Triathlon) license on-site.
However, the public can enjoy the event for free. Seats in the grandstands at the finish line are graciously offered by the organizers.
Like all major events, the Ironman has a hidden side. But regardless of the behind-the-scenes details, it remains a grand celebration of sport and health. Even if, for Monaco, it’s about financial health.
