January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Butterfield and Egyed to go on pre-honeymoon 'stroll'
The couple, who get married next weekend, will take on the world's best at the event on Sunday morning.
Former world ironman champion Chris McCormack and defending Escape champion Becky Lavelle are the clear favourites for the men's and women's crowns.
But Butterfield, who gave up professional cycling this year to refocus on triathlon, will be the strongest local challenger.
"Tyler will have a strong bike because of his cycling background," said Dave Morrison, spokesman for IMG sports media and the Bermuda Triathlon Association.
"He hopes to be within two minutes of the leaders coming out of the water but I think without having competed in triathlon for a while it might be a bit more than that.
"He will have a fast time on the bike but I don't think he'll necessarily be faster that Chris McCormack or Matty Reed.
"I think he'll have a decent time and he'll be right up there but he could have too much time to make up after the swim. Don't forget he's only three months into triathlon training so, even though he's a very good runner, he might find it tough after a bike and swim.
"Anywhere between six and eight and he'll have done very well in this field, but he is a guy who springs a lot of surprises and being on home turf he's going to be inspired to go for it."
Morrison said Egyed, one of the top ten cyclists in the world, may have an even better chance of a podium spot than her fiancée.
"She's not just a good cyclist, she's a very good time triallist which is important in this race because drafting (pack racing) is not allowed.
"If she's not first off the bike then she'll be very close to Becky Lavelle but, like Tyler, she could suffer on the run from not being a specialist triathlete."
Morrison expects Ironman McCormack to dominate the mens' race.
But he says there are a trio of top pros - specialists at the shorter distance - who will be hot on his heels if the 35-year-old Aussie slips up.
Chief among them is Matty Reed. Reed was third last year but did not have a good race.
He was fourth earlier this year in the big money Minneapolis Lifetime Triathlon - an event series that Morrison believes is a good form guide for Bermuda because it has similar rules on not be allowed to draft.
"That really brings the top cyclists to the fore. You can't hide in the pack, so it's more like time trialling."
German Michael Raelert and America's Jarrod Shoemaker, who have also had good results in the Lifetime series, are expected to be the next strongest challengers.
Lavelle is clearly the one to beat in the women's event but Morrison expects compatriot Sarah Groff to push her all the way.
"Groff has the skills and I think it could be very close but Lavelle has raced here before and on a tricky, technical course like this, that could be a big advantage.
"The British girl Andrea Whitcombe is a drafting specialist but she is top ten in the world. She's never really gone up against Groff and Lavelle so it will be interesting to see how that works out."
The strongest of a field of roughly 60 local amateurs who will compete along with 140 overseas entrants are Evan Naude and Kim McMullen.
One interesting quirk will be whether the top local team of Eleanor Garnder, Garth Thomson and Chris Estwanik is able to beat the first individual professional over the line.
"It really depends on how close they are on the swim. Garth has got a very strong bike and if he can open up a little bit of a lead then Chris will be fresh on the run. He could very well be first across the line."[[In-content Ad]]
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