With the 2026 Ironman World Championship and Pro Series now behind us, attention is turning to the 2027 Kona qualification chase, with Ironman Florida taking place this Saturday.

A total of 75 professionals will toe the line, racing for three qualifying slots and a share of the $100,000 USD prize purse.

The last time Ironman Florida hosted a professional race was in 2023, when Rudy Von Berg and Skye Moench took the overall titles. Here’s a look at the men’s and women’s professional fields for this weekend’s race.

Ironman Florida Men’s Race Preview

Sam Long, the top seed wearing bib number 1, leads the men’s field of 60. Long finished second at Ironman 70.3 Pennsylvania, first at Ironman 70.3 Boise, and third at Ironman 70.3 Northern California during a dominant summer stretch, followed by his highly talked-about recent sixth-place finish in Kona.

Magnus Ditlev is another big name on the line. In eight seasons of professional racing, the Great Dane has been working toward one goal: winning the Ironman World Championship. This year, that goal was painfully within reach, with Ditlev leading the men into T2 and for over 30km of the marathon, looking like the race was his, before cramps hit in the closing stages along the Queen K and he had to withdraw.

In Florida, Ditlev will be looking to secure early qualification, banking on his good form and familiarity with the course. In his words: “The road to Kona next year is already on, and I’m hoping to get an early qualification so I can focus even more on next year’s World Championships! I did Ironman Florida back in 2023, so I’m familiar with the course and hoping for some good and fast conditions this weekend.”

While Rudy Von Berg has been perhaps less talked about recently, it wouldn’t feel right to omit him from this discussion as returning champion. He’s a full-distance specialist and Ironman Florida course record-holder with a time of 7:34:41. As per his Instagram, Von Berg is hoping to put similar numbers on the scoresheet, including another 2:38 marathon.

Cam Wurf will also be on the start list, and for him, qualification isn’t a worry, having already secured his slot at Ironman Maryland. Instead, Wurf can race purely for the win, a podium finish, or a chance to disrupt the race with his cycling prowess.

And we can’t forget Canadian Luke Tasker. While he doesn’t yet have the same recognition as Long, Ditlev, Von Berg, or Wurf, all of whom have been racing professionally for many years, he has been having quite the debut professional year, with a recent fourth-place finish at Ironman Maryland alongside a finish just minutes behind established pro stars such as Jason West, Jackson Laundry, Long and Lionel Sanders at Ironman 70.3 Northern California this summer. He’ll be looking to secure his slot and have another great day in Florida.

Ironman Florida Women’s Race Preview

Headlining the women’s professional field are Holly Lawrence and rising star Alanis Siffert.

Lawrence missed the entire mid-season of racing due to a shin stress reaction, but after five months on the sidelines, she is back on the start line, making her long-awaited return to competition. In a recent social media post, she shared: “Sure I’d like a few more weeks to feel more ready but eager to see what I can do over the distance with where I’m at and build for next year!”

Siffert has also thrown herself into the early Kona qualification race. The Challenge Roth champion, three-time Alpe d’Huez champion, and third-place finisher at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship has claimed five podiums, including four victories, from eight races this season. If she carries her season-long success into Florida, she could earn her first-ever Kona slot this Saturday.

Fans will be able to follow the action live on the Ironman Tracker App, with racing starting at 5:40am Central Time.