More than 50 countries will be represented in the Ironman 70.3 Lapu-Lapu presented by Megaworld on Sunday, and with that being said, it will be an uphill battle for anyone seeking to snag a berth in the World Championships slated in Nice, France, next year.

There will be 35 slots each for the men’s and women’s divisions that will be up for grabs on Sunday in Mactan, Cebu, as a banner field sees action in the 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-km bike and 21-km run event set against a vibrant backdrop of Cebu’s coastal and urban terrain.

Those 70 total slots are being put up for grabs in the age-group divisions, providing PH entries the rare chance to snag berths to the grandest competition of all, which will be hosted by Nice for the second time since 2019.

The Lapu-Lapu leg has grown in stature as a gateway for Filipino athletes to step onto the world stage. As the event marks a new decade of Ironman racing in Cebu, a stellar international pro roster field, including 2023 runner-up Sam Osborne from New Zealand and elite Australian contenders Caleb Noble, Calvin Amos, Brett Clifford, Josh Ferris, Tommasso Puccini and Nicholas Free, along with Kiwi ace Mike Phillips, are seeing action.

The women’s pro division is led by Samantha Kingsford, also from New Zealand, and Australian Paige Cranage, who bring a powerful blend of experience and youthful energy to the elite field.

In addition to age-group divisions ranging from 18-24 to 75-and-above, the event also features relay categories–the all-male, all-female and mixed–encouraging broader participation and camaraderie.