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Published on December 2, 2007

These athletes will compete over a challenging three-discipline course starting with a 1.8km swim from the Laguna Resort beach, a 55km bike ride through Phuket and a two-loop 12km run.

In yesterday's press conference presided over by Phuket Vice-Governor Vorapot Rattasima, Wellington said she is intent on producing her best.

"I have already won the biggest race in the world and hope to repeat the feat here. I'm  determined to enjoy every minute of the race. The course is challenging with beautiful scenery," said Wellington, who turned pro a year ago.

Aussie Carfrae said: "This is also my first time in Thailand. Team-mate Richie Cunning-ham has been inviting me to join the race for several years, but I haven't had the opportunity.

"Phuket is a beautiful island and Laguna Phuket is a fantastic place to stay. I feel relaxed and almost forget that I'm here to race and not on vacation."

Despite strong challengers, German Faris Al-Sultan, who won the 2005 Ironman World Championships, believes he will be hard to beat."This is my first Laguna Phuket Triathlon. I toured the competition course and admitted that biking is likely to be the most difficult among the three disciplines," he said.

Preechachan  Wiriyanupappong

The Nation

Phuket