Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Belgian speedster to compete in Taupo Ironman

Updated at 12:24 pm on 3 February 2012

The fastest Ironman in the world is set to provide the toughest test for Cameron Brown's 10-year reign at the New Zealand Ironman in Taupo next month.

Belgium's Marino Vanhoenacker set the triathlon world in a spin when he set a new world's best time for an Ironman of seven hours 45 minutes and 50 seconds in Austria last year, which took five minutes off the previous best time established 14 years previous.

The 35-year-old is a six-time winner of Ironman Austria and a podium placegetter at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

Vanhoenacker says he is aware of the daunting task in taking on Brown, who last year became the first person in triathlon history to win the same Ironman event 10 times with his victory at Taupo.

His decision to race Taupo was influenced by failing to finish in Kona in October.

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