Patrick Lange is the first to cross the finish line at the World Cup in Hawaii in 2018.
Image: imago/Panoramic International
Patrick Lange talks about the island that kindled the fire for the sport in him: Hawaii. He also tells what he thinks about the cost explosion and how he assesses his competitors.
The Ironman in Hawaii, which you won in 2017 and 2018, takes place over two days for the first time. The women will start in Kailua-Kona on Thursday and the men on Saturday (both races will be streamed live from 6:15 p.m. on zdfsport.de). 5000 triathletes instead of 2500 – the place is overcrowded, the prices for accommodation have exploded. How do you rate the new format?
Of course we have to wait and see how the whole thing develops. But I think in general that the classic version is much better. One day, one race. As many starters as before. If you look at how the prices have been doing here in Kona, if you look at what there is insane traffic here a week before the start, it just can’t be good to hold this event over two days. I’ve thought long and hard about how I feel about this, but I’ve found more and more negative factors for doubling. Hawaii is the Mecca, the dream of so many triathletes. As it is now, in the future this dream will be priceless, prices have multiplied. You pay up to $13,000 for seven days’ accommodation, I’ve seen such an offer. Who can still afford that?
