Bella finished second in the event last year but will be amongst the favourites to win Sunday's race, which includes a 2.4-mile lake based swim, 112-mile bike in the Alps and a 26.2-mile run.

Last year Bella and her husband Stephen Bayliss both set British Ironman distance records on the course.

Bella, 31, said: "Last year I came second at Ironman Austria in a magnificently fast time of eight hours 51 minutes. It was a special result for me. This year I am racing Ironman Austria again and I am looking forward to a great race since I am fit and strong after my recent win at Ironman Lanzarote and continued great training."

Bella's husband Stephen came second in the men's event last year and will face stiff competition from reigning champion Marino Vanhoenacker from Belgium.

Stephen said: "I am really looking forward to racing in Klagenfurt for Ironman Austria. I have been doing some great training and think I can have a great race. However I am not aiming for anything in particular at this race and I am instead trying to use it in my build up for IMUK. The IM Austria course is renowned for being really quick and if the weather is good it will be great to run really fast and try to get right up to the front!"

For full coverage and race results visit www.ironmanlive.com or for more information visit www.ironmanaustria.com