IRONMAN 70.3 São Paulo: Women's Field and Altitude
With a lean pro field, the race sees Romina as the clear favorite alongside discussions on the real gains of altitude training.
The professional women's race at IRONMAN 70.3 São Paulo features a small start list and a clear frontrunner. Alongside the competitive outlook, altitude training takes the spotlight for its biomechanical benefits and injury prevention advantages.
The women's professional field at IRONMAN 70.3 São Paulo features a lean lineup of just six competitors. Despite the small start list, the race dynamic is clearly drawn between a heavy frontrunner and a wide-open battle for the remaining podium spots.
Romina Emerges as the Clear Race Favorite
As the reigning IRONMAN Brazil champion in Florianópolis and a Kona World Championship qualifier, Romina enters as the top contender for the title. Backed by three Olympic appearances, she brings the trademark consistency of an athlete who built a solid short-course foundation before transitioning to long-distance racing. According to former pro triathlete Fábio Carvalho, her balanced strength across all three disciplines—especially her run pace—alongside the absence of competitors like Vittoria Lopes and Pâmela Oliveira, makes her the favorite to lead right from the swim.
A Fierce Battle for Podium Spots
While first place may pull away early, the fight for second promises to light up the São Paulo course. The field includes Michele, riding the momentum of her Challenge Fortaleza title after transitioning from the amateur ranks to the pro elite, and the experienced Mariana Borges, known for her steady bike leg. The lineup also features Rachel Olson, a regular competitor on the Brazilian circuit, and Luma Guillen, who makes her middle-distance debut following a career built on shorter courses.
The True Benefit of Altitude Training
Several athletes in the women's field, including Luma Guillen and Bruna Stolf—who is also preparing for the 70.3 World Championship—opted for altitude training camps in Colombia. Far beyond the classic hematological boost that increases blood oxygenation by roughly 1% to 2%, Fábio Carvalho highlights a key practical advantage: the dramatic reduction in mechanical stress.
When training at high elevation, the body hits elevated heart rate zones and anaerobic thresholds (Zone 5) at slower speeds than required at sea level. Running at a 3:10/km pace to reach 180 bpm at altitude spares joints and muscles from the severe impact that a 2:50/km pace would demand in the flats, delivering maximum cardiovascular strain with a significantly lower risk of injury.