THE jewel in the Ironman crown will continue to be the full-distance event despite competitor entry numbers selling out in the Port Macquarie 70.3 for a fourth-straight year.
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Since 2017 when the two races became part of one overall event and were on the same day, the 70.3 has sold out in Port Macquarie every year and 2020 will be no different.
But race director Ben Herbert said they had no plans to increase the number of competitors in the 70.3 for future years.
"This helps create the hype if anything," he said.
"People want to get involved and although we have sold out for this year - and that's a good thing in a way - it's all about keeping the main event as the Ironman and not taking away from that."
One of the main reasons is so organisers can continue to provide an enjoyable race experience for most competitors.
People want to get involved and although we have sold out for this year - and that's a good thing in a way - it's all about keeping the main event as the Ironman and not taking away from that.
- Ironman Australia race director Ben Herbert
"Our cap (for the 70.3 event) isn't necessarily set because of a number we put as a pie in the sky reference," Herbert said.
"It's something we've drawn up over the last couple of years to ensure that we keep the Ironman as the prominent race but also the fact we want to make it safe out there.
"If we put more athletes on that road during the 70.3 race, it starts to take away from the whole athlete experience."
A higher 70.3 competitor cut-off number would create more traffic on the course which could pose a safety threat.
"Too many 70.3 athletes would mean the top Ironman athletes would be coming up behind them and we want to make everyone's experience a really good one."
While the full-distance Ironman event has "gone into growth", Herbert said the 70.3 had remained at a static level.
We're at 80 per cent sold out now so it's not too far off getting to those record numbers.
- Ben Herbert
"Our numbers are growing exponentially when it comes to Ironman and we saw some great numbers last year," he said.
"We were only 50 entries from selling out last year and we're looking like we're going to sell out the Ironman again this year.
"Although the 70.3 is popular we're also seeing the Ironman is just as popular."
Should competitor numbers sell out in the Ironman event, it would create a new record number of competitors.
"We're at 80 per cent sold out now so it's not too far off getting to those record numbers," Herbert said.
"Every year we say it's going to be the biggest Ironman weekend in Port Macquarie history and every year it gets bigger and bigger.
"Numbers will be bigger again this year than last year which is great and if the event sells out there will be more competitors than last year."
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