Article Courtesy of Ironman.com

We know for sure that new champions will be crowned, since neither of last year's winners (American TJ Tollakson and Canadian Heather Wurtele) are back to defend their titles. Nevertheless, there will be exciting and fast racing in the Adirondacks,

Potts, Jacobs, and Guillaume lead the way

American Andy Potts, Australian Pete Jacobs6 and Frenchman Romain Guillaume will be the keys players vying for the overall win,, and all excel in each leg of the race.

Potts, one of the fastest swimmers in the sport, should lead the field out of Mirror Lake to start the day. The 2010 Ironman Cozumel and Coeur d'Alene Champion will undoubtedly do his best to stay in that lead position for as long as he can. Potts is quite capable of running in the 2:50's, so the other top contenders will look to pass Potts on the bike or keep him within their sights.

Guillaume also likes to race from the front and performs well on tough bike courses. (He holds the bike course record at Ironman Wisconsn.) He will look to chase down Potts and push the pace on the ride to take as much of a lead as he can onto the run and hold on for the win. Guillaume is fresh off a victory at Ironman 70.3 Mont Tremblant and is still looking for his first career Ironman victory. We might also witness a scenario where Guillaume and Potts work off each other to get away from the rest of the field, particularly Jacobs.

Jacobs, second at the Ironman World Championship last year, is no slouch in all three sports, but he is an excellent runner. He outran Craig Alexander at Kona last year (2:42:29) and that run prowess will come in handy in Lake Placid - the tough run course often takes it's toll on those who have pushed too hard, leaving the stronger runners an opportunity to pull through in the final leg of the race. A strong rider himself, it is conceivable that Jacobs can get to the front of the race during the ride and run away for his first North American Ironman win.

Men

1. Andy Potts USA
2. Peter Jacobs AUS
4. Romain Guillaume FRA
5. Matthew Russell USA
6. Jared Milam USA
7. Timothy Tapply USA
8. Eneko Elosegui ESP
9. Douglas MacLean USA
10. Logan Franks USA
12. Dave Harju CAN
15. Brad Seng USA
17. Jose Rosales-Yepez VEN
18. Kirk Nelson USA
20. Ryan Grant CAN

A wide-open women's race

There are no clear favorites in the women's race, so the stage is set for someone to have their "coming out party" by claiming their first Ironman victory.

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Women

32. Sarah Piampiano USA
33. Ali Fitch AUS
34. Jennie Hansen USA
35. Jessie Donavan USA
36. Leslie LaMacchia USA
37. Suzanne Serpico USA
38. Kelly Fillnow USA
39. Amber Ferreira USA
40. Kim Schwabenbauer USA
42. Erin Spitler USA
43. Suzanne Zelazo CAN
44. Jacqui Gordon USA
45. Marie Danais CAN
46. Kristin Andrews USA
47. Kate Bruck USA

Article Courtesy of Ironman.com