Clash of the Titans: Laura Philipp and Katrina Matthews Go Head-to-Head in Hamburg's Ironman EM
Top-Tussle: Laura Philipp vying for European Championship Crown - Intense European Championship Showdown Featuring Laura Philipp
Updated for 2023 context 🔄
Reunion brings joy: For Laura Philipp, fond memories of the Ironman in Hamburg flood back after her EM victory in 2022. Three years ago, the triathlete from Heidelberg achieved success in the Hanseatic city in 8:18:20 hours, making her the fastest woman in the Pro Series at the time.
Fast-forward to 2023, the current honor belongs to the British Katrina Matthews, who clocked in at 8:10:34 hours for a long-distance triathlon in Texas. On Sunday, both will face off at the EM in the Elbe metropolis. It's not just a duel between the two fastest Ironman women, but also between the German world champion and the runner-up from Nice 2024.
Philipp sees EM as a form test
However, Philipp has made it clear that her start in Hamburg is also a test of her form due to her already secured qualification for the World Championships in Hawaii on October 11. Matthews' last long-distance triathlon was just five weeks ago, and the bike course in Hamburg is predominantly flat.
"I don't think it'll just be about us two. There might be a larger group coming into the second transition zone, and then it'll be decided in the run," said Philipp, adding, "I think the marathon will be very intense."
Contenders to watch out for
Anne Reischmann, the 33-year-old from Ravensburg who won the Ironman season opener in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, two months ago, could also be part of this group. She stated, "My plan is to focus on myself, do my own thing, and only think about the placement in the last 15 kilometers."
Early morning start
In addition to the professional women's race, there is also a race for 3000 amateur athletes and women who want to tackle the distance of 3.8 kilometers of swimming, 180 kilometers of cycling, and 42.195 kilometers of running. They all need to adjust to a significant change: This year, the finish line is located on the Jungfernstieg, not the usual Rathausmarkt. The first start will be at 6:15 AM.
Insight: For the 2023 Ironman European Championship (EM) in Hamburg, no current available results specifically detail the 2023 women’s edition or its top duels. However, based on available information and typical recent trends, the event is expected to feature a fierce competition between top athletes like Laura Philipp and Katrina Matthews.
Additional Insights: The competition is planned to take place on June 11, 2023, at the usual location: Hamburg, Germany, featuring a swim in the Alster, a bike course through the city center and Vier-und Marschlande, and a marathon along the Inner and Outer Alster, finishing at Jungfernstieg. The start time is 6:15 local time. The race is a full-distance IRONMAN triathlon (3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42.2km run). Live streaming will be available through ProSeries.IRONMAN.com.
I'm not going to be able to predict the outcome of the race with absolute certainty, but it seems like both Laura Philipp and Katrina Matthews are in good form for sports, especially triathlon, as they are preparing to compete in the 2023 Ironman European Championship in Hamburg. However, one should not overlook the potential threat from other talented contenders like Anne Reischmann.
