Ironman’s maiden Nutri-Grain series win could mark changing of the guard in the sport

THE opening Nutri-Grain ironman round may have marked a changing of the guard with a maiden winner and several new finalists.

IT WAS one of the strongest fields ever assembled for a Nutri-Grain ironman round and meant to be a battleground for the veterans of the sport.

Instead the opening round of the Ocean6 series may have marked a changing of the guard. While veterans Matt Poole and Kendrick Louis filled the minor placings, James Lacy’s maiden series win has pegged him as the man to beat this summer, while the emergence of several rising stars is an exciting new chapter for the sport.

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Ali Day after being knocked out of the eliminator final in Round 1 of the Nutri-Grain series at Queenscliff, NSW. Photo: Shane Myers

Lacy finished third overall in the Nutri-Grain series last season and is no dark horse this year.

But his ability to outlast Poole and Louis despite having to race all three legs under the eliminator format at Queenscliff Beach on Saturday, showed that he is prepared to stand up to the best ironman has to offer.

“(A series win) is one of my goals but I’m not thinking too seriously about that at the moment,” he said.

“I’m just focusing on each race — I know it sounds like a cliche but I’m just taking one race at a time,” he said.

“Especially the way the points system is, you’ve really got to be consistently in that top five to be competitive.

“That’s what I tried to do last year — I got a few seconds, a few sixths and that held me in good stead for the season, so I want to be as consistent as possible.”

That consistency is something defending champion Matt Bevilacqua will be looking for, for the rest of the season after missing the final eliminator race and finishing 14th overall on Saturday.

Ironwoman Brielle Cooper comforts defending Nutri-Grain series champion and boyfriend Matt Bevilacqua after he missed the Round 1 final at Queenscliff. Photo: Shane Myers

Bevilacqua, Ali Day (11th) and the injured Shannon Eckstein (20th) all missed the final race and a top eight placing.

But Saturday’s final was also notable for the new names that pushed they way on to the start line, with Northcliffe’s Mitch Coombes, Ky Kinsela (Currumbin), Daniel Rayward (Surfers Paradise) and Maroochydore brothers Adam and Matt Palmer in the mix. And Lacy knows how much a good result can bolster the spirits.

“It was a real confidence boost getting third (overall) last year and being amongst the guys I idolised growing up, so it’s great mixing it with them.”

A Mermaid Beach nipper, Lacy feels privileged to still be at his junior club.

“It’s been a really good ride, we’ve got a great little crew.”