Read prelude to Ironman Arizona here .

Read the prelude to the men's race here .

View full start list here .

Chrissie Wellington *****

The Englishman was favorite before the World Cup in Hawaii 6 weeks ago, but dull just 1 ½ hours before the start retires with a stomach infection. She holds the world record for women at the Ironman distance. She has won World Championships in Hawaii 3 times in a row. She is keen to show the world that she is the world's best female triathlete. She was speaking at the official press conference on Friday that she has trained by running a sub 2:54 marathon, and she goes after the tenth Ironman victory out of ten possible. The most exciting is almost the progress of the men, she ends ...

Linsey Corbin **

She was No. 2 last year in Arizona, so she knows the route. She won the Ironman Coeur D'Alene this summer, and she was No. 12 in the Ironman Hawaii this year. She has several top results from halvironman distance, and she can find the move from the half distance, she is a clear podium candidate. She has over the last 4 Ironman marathons in 3:04 and she goes after sub 3:00 in Arizona.

Heather Wurtele **

She won the Ironman St. George in May and followed up with a second space in Ironman Canada. We then took a break and chose not to stand in the Ironman Hawaii. She comes with fresh legs, and it can be crucial at this time of the season.

Leanda Cave *

She got silver to 70.3 World Championships for 1 week ago. 5 weeks before she was 10 to Ironman Hawaii, and in the meantime she just pulled a victory home in 70.3 Miami. She has had a long season and it is doubtful whether she has more in this year.

Nina Kraft *

The aging German 42 year participate in many races of the season. She was No. 11 a week ago for the World Cup at the 70.3 distance, and 2 weeks before she was # 3 in 70.3 Miami. Her senior level is not a Top 5 position, but a stable performance and a Top 10 ranking is most likely.

Rachel Joyce *

The Englishman was No. 5 for 6 weeks in Ironman Hawaii. In 2009, she was 6, so one has to say that she can perform at high levels in a strong field, as is the case also in Arizona. She was 3rd in Ironman South Africa in 2009, # 2 in Ironman Lanzarote in 2009. She seems to have recovered sensible, but as always, she finds out first of it when the race is in progress.

Heleen bij de Vaate *

The Dutchman has become an experienced Ironman triathlete. She won in Arizona in 2008, and this year she has been # 2 in Ironman Zurich, and she was No. 9 in Hawaii 6 weeks ago. She picked enough points in Hawaii to feel reasonably certain to qualify for next year's edition, and in addition, she had a long season that started with Abu Dhabi in March, so she can finish with a Top 5 position, she be very happy.

Lauren Harrison *

She was No. 7 in this year's Ironman Coeur D'Alene, and # 5 in REV3 Cedar Point in 9:39. She has shown a high level on the half Ironman, and she has not Hawaii in the legs as any of her competitors.

Other possible Top 5 candidates should be mentioned Meredith Brooke Keeran Kessler and Erika Csomor.