REIGNING Ironman 70.3 world record holder Michael Raelert will headline a star-studded field set to contest the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Ballarat in two weeks.

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The German, who is a two-time world champion over the distance, will be the hunted man in a field of 12 professionals.

However, he is no certainty to take out the title, with 2008 Ironman70.3 World Champion Terenzo Bozzone and Swiss Olympic star Ruedi Wild also set to hit the course.

With reigning Australian Ironman champion and race ambassador Luke Bell also set to contest the event, a fast winning time looks all but guaranteed.

Ralert, Bozzone and Bell will size each other up next week at Ironman 70.3 Mandurah before heading to a repeat the showdown in Ballarat.

“It is not really an easy goal to win both races, but I will be trying to. It would be much more than a nice gift after travelling around the world to race Ironman 70.3 Mandurah and

Ironman 70.3 Ballarat,” said Raelert, who won Ironman 70.3 Miami last week.

Bozzone and Bell will be doing everything in their power to prevent the German from leaving the country with two extra pieces of carry-on luggage, as will Ballarat brothers Jamie and Ben Huggett.

“Like any race, the conditions will play a major part in how fast the day will be, however when you have athletes like Terenzo and Michael on the start line one thing is certain, it will be a fight to the finish,” Bell said.

Raelert set the world record of 3:34:04 in 2009 at Ironman 70.3 Clearwater, Florida, before defending his title in 2010.

His lightning-fast time included a 1.9km swim of 21:58 (average pace of 1:09 per 100m) a 90km ride of 1:59:35 (average pace of 45.21kmh) and a 21.1km of 1:09:05 (average pace of 3:16 per km).

The women’s race will be headlined by Canada’s and three-time Xterra (off-road triathlon) world champion, Melanie McQuaid, Germany’s Mareen Hufe and Australian Madeleine Oldfield.

McQuaid is looking forward to being part of the inaugural event.

‘”I really enjoyed my stay in Victoria last year and I look forward to racing at a new venue in a city I have never visited,” she said. “It is a great way to pick my way through Australia, meet some new people and experience new places.”

More than 1000 people have registered for the event.

patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au

PROFESSIONALS

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Michael Raelert (Germany)

Terenzo Bozzone (NZ)

Ruedi Wild (Switzerland)

Luke Bell (Australia)

John Polson (Australia)

Luke Whitmore (Australia)

Josh Rix (Australia)

Matt Bailey (Australia)