Rhodes And Comerford Lead The Way Into Ironman UK

Ironman UK set for Sunday, August 19 at Sherborne Castle in Dorset

The question is, will they still be in front at the finish line? Bryan Rhodes won Ironman UK two years ago, but was forced to watch from the sidelines last year after a bike accident just a few days before the race left him with an injured shoulder. He'll wear race number one this weekend, though, since last year's champion Frank Heldoorn retired from Ironman racing after his big win at Sherborne Castle last year.

Scotland's Bella Comerford arrives at Ironman UK as the women's favorite, too, but not only because last year's women's champion, Dede Griesbauer, isn't in the field. Just a few weeks after winning her fourth Ford Ironman Florida title, Comerford claimed the ITU World Long Course Championship in Canberra, Australia last year.

The run course starts with two challenging laps within the spectacular Sherborne Castle grounds followed by two road loops that take the athletes to the infamous “Babylon Hill” turnaround point.

More than 1,500 athletes are expected to take part in this weekend’s race. We’ll have live text

updates, live timing and pictures from the race right here on Ironman.com.

Here is the pro list for Sunday: