PILI, Camarines Sur ? A memorable competition is expected when a world-class field swings into action in the first Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 Philippines Sunday at the CamSur Watersports Complex in this bustling province.

Almost everyone among the elite triathletes welcomed the scorching CamSur weather with Australian Ironman veteran Pete Jacobs calling the Lago Del Ray Lake ?like a soup.?

The race will feature longer distances than its Olympic counterpart with the 1.9-kilometer swim divided into two legs, the 90.1-km bike course set with the scenic Mt. Isarog serving as backdrop and the 21.1-km run divided into two counter clockwise loops.

?A lot of [foreigners] are here because of the weather and that?s why we have these really good athletes coming in,? said RP bet Arland Macasieb.

Macasieb will lead the country?s campaign in this tough race participated in by two world champions and a few more world championship campaigners from Australia, New Zealand and Europe who will battle it out for the $6,000 top prize.

Reigning Ironman champion Chris McCormack of Australia is expected to be seriously challenged by fellow Aussie Jacobs, Tim Marr of Hawaii and Cameron Brown of New Zealand.

Another New Zealander, Terenzo Bozzonne, the defending 70.3 champion vows to put up a competitive but ?controlled? race as he is coming off a shoulder injury after a nasty spill during a recent training with McCormack.

Chief promoter Wilfred Steven Uytengsu of Alaska Milk will compete in the race and is at the same time anxious how the event will come about since his corporation got the rights to stage the Ironman from the usually strict World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) for two more years.

Part of the strategy to entice more participants is the classification of the race into relay courses.