Behind Laura Philipp is the most successful year of her triathlon career, which the reigning Ironman world champion wants to crown: with the title defense at the legendary World Cup in Hawaii.
It’s just a small detail, but if you look closely, it will be noticed immediately: Laura Philipp’s new bike has a gold screw at the front of the handlebar. You can tell that so well because Philipp simply brought her bike to the press appointment before the Ironman World Cup (Saturday from 6.15 p.m. in the Sportschau-Stream). While she is sitting and tells on a stool in a Hawaiian café, her bike stands next to it. White painted, with pink accents – and this golden screw. “That makes me really proud,” says Philipp. You can see it in your eyes.
The golden screw stands for the World Cup title, which the Heidelberg woman won in Nice in southern French last year and which she now wants to defend in Hawaii. “Winning here would be another crowning glory,” she says in an interview with the sports show. Because: “Of course, the race in Hawaii has most of the tradition and this myth.” No triathlete will contradict her. The Pacific island on the other end of the world is the place of longing of this sport, here it was invented, here the conditions are as hard as little else. For some one, paradise on Saturday can quickly become hell. Philipp knows that, she finally runs the race for the fourth time, two years ago she became third.
Laura Philipp was the first to ran through the finish at the 2024 World Cup in Nice
Heat training for preparation
In order to cut even better this time, the 38-year-old has prepared primarily for the heat. For weeks she and her husband Philipp Seipp, who is also her trainer, are already on Hawaii. The body should acclimatize and adjust to the tropical temperatures with heat and high humidity. This is why Philipp was often attracted to Philipp in training – despite 30 degrees. The body should train the heat.
You can tell that the crew around the reigning world champion has once again worked out a plan, which in the end should lead it to the top. The swimming starts, 3.8 kilometers through the Pacific – not exactly Philipp’s favorite discipline. In addition, in wild water. Philipp only met dolphins last week during a training session. “I was totally apart from myself.” But around them not only the cute mammals, but also jellyfish. “And suddenly, Zack, Zack, Zack – burned.” Something like that can be fatal in the race.
Strong competition is waiting
After swimming, Philipp wants to start her chase, it starts on the bike, 180 kilometers through the Lava Deast of Big Island. As a strong cyclist, she hopes for treacherous winds. After that, the heat training should pay off at the marathon through and around Kailua-Kona. It is quite possible that the competition will only be decided on the last kilometers; The competition with Philipp’s permanent rival Kate Matthews from Great Britain or her compatriot Lucy Charles-Barclay is strong.
And yet Philipp can of course imagine what it would be like to win after Nice in Hawaii. “When I think of this energy of the island when you get the wreath on her head as a winner – that gives me goose bumps. A dream comes true.” However, which would be associated with renovation work: On Philipp’s bike there was probably a second golden screw.