Heading up the pro field is Tim Reed, 2016 Ironman 70.3 World Champion, 2016 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Champion and defending IRONMAN Australia Champion, who is back to where it all began.

“As a teenager Ironman Australia was the first Ironman event I witnessed and it sparked a small fire inside me to one day be able to find out what my potential is in triathlon,” Reed said.

“My preparation has been great, did the USA Ironman Champs as a lead in race, felt good going into it and was having a great day until to a mechanical on the bike set me back. So I am trying to use this as a positive, so I can race IRONMAN Australia a little fresher.”

In the women’s event one of the pre-race favourites is IRONMAN Australia debutante and British triathlete Laura Siddall.

Siddall is a self-confessed sport junkie, who represented England as a junior in 400m hurdles and netball, began her love affair with triathlon while she was working in Australia on two year contract with Shell Oil.

 “Ironman Australia is an iconic race with a lot of history attached to it, so it means a lot to be racing for the title,” Siddall said. “I raced Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie back in October 2009, as my first ever half distance triathlon. I was an amateur then, and very new to the sport so I'm excited to come back to Port Macquarie.”

“Race day is all about converting my training into the race and executing a race and performance I'm truly proud of. I'm excited about putting together the swim, bike and run that I know I'm capable of, and of course I'll be ready to front up and race on the day, and against the fantastic women on the start line with me,” she said.

IRONMAN Australia is an important World Championship Qualifying Race, offering 40 standard qualifying slots for the original and most famous long distance triathlon in the world, the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.