SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—American Brian Fleishmann checked out the course yesterday and found the terrain daunting.
But the seasoned triathlete from Jacksonville, Florida, welcomes the test along with some of the world’s best in the Yellow Cab Challenge Philippines that flags off today at Camayan Beach Resort here.
“The word got out that it’s the toughest race in Asia, that’s why I’m here,” said Fleishmann, a multiple winner in the United States circuit, who is competing for the first time in the continent.
He vies for the championship of the 70.3-mile endurance race today against the likes of two-time Ironman world champion Chris “Macca” McCormack of Australia, Sweden’s Fredrik Croneberg, Austrian Christoph Schagbauer and Denmark’s Rasmus Petraeus.
In all, about 750 triathletes from 30 or so countries will answer the starter’s gun.
Another highlight of the race is the relay where McCormack, who won the 2007 and 2010 Ironman World Championships, joins forces with members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police.
“We all followed the [SAF] story, the world followed the story,” said McCormack. “I want to be a part of this, it’s the only chance to get out here and support them.”