“Abu Dhabi is the first goal of my season,” Bockel says.  “The race is said to have the second hardest field of the year, with all the big names participating. The bike leg is a bit longer than in an Ironman – 200 km instead of 180 km - and this suits me well. The running is ‘only’ a half marathon, which will make for a hard and stressful race from the start. It’s really a race where you don’t hold back.”

“After I changed from short to long distance racing, taking the win in Kona became my big dream. It’s where the Ironman myth was born and where it all started. Kona is my Tour de France. Having finished fourth last year, I know that it is within my reach to win the race one day. Abu Dhabi is a good preparation for Kona.”

After Abu Dhabi comes the Ironman Regensburg in Germany on June 17 and the most important race of the year, the Ford Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, on October 13.