Blue Mountains triathlete Sam Appleton will defend his Ironman 70.3 Geelong title on February 18.
The event, Appleton’s fifth visit to Geelong, will also mark Ironman’s 40th anniversary.
“It is amazing to think that the first Ironman race was held only 40 years ago. The sport has come so far in such a short time and it exciting to see where we are heading in the near future. I am proud to be part of the evolution of the sport, and also like to pay the respects to the people that came before me to help shape it into what we have today,” said the former Warrimoo resident.
After a lengthy break over Christmas, Appleton has been in his Arizona training base putting in the hard work to set himself up for the year ahead.
“It is a long season and I need a mental and physical break to ensure my longevity. Geelong will be my first race of 2018, so it will be good to assess where I am at, and where I need to keep working on as the season progresses.
“My coach Matt Dixon and I have been are laying down the foundations for a successful season. I always love to come and support Australian races and I am excited to get to Geelong and test my fitness. Last year I was fortunate enough to win after I had come close a few years ago in a sprint finish with Craig Alexander. Geelong is a great event run in a superb location and I think starting a season on such a positive note gives me a lot of confidence going forward into the rest of year. That is definitely something I am hoping to repeat, like last year,” Appleton said.
For more details visit the Ironman 70.3 Geelong website.