Two-time Olympic gold medalist Alastair Brownlee is aiming to break 7 hours in the Ironman Triathlon as part of the Pho3nix Sub7 project, with Alex Dowsett (Israel-Premier Tech) and Dan Bigam as pacemakers.

Christian Blumenfeldt, who set the Ironman Full Distance world record of 7 hours, 21 minutes, and 12 seconds in Mexico last November, will face Brownlee as part of the Sub7 project.

The challenge, sponsored by Zwift, will take place in a few weeks and is scheduled for June 5 or 6 (weather permitting) in Dekra Lausitzring, Germany (cycling a 5.85 km fixed circuit).

Brownlee and Blumenfeldt will need to maintain a speed of 45-50 km/h for the 180 km bike leg to get close to their 7-hour goal. Brownlee and Blumenfeldt will use a team of pacers to break the record, as they are allowed to draft other riders.

Brownlee has selected a team of eight pacers, primarily from the Ribble Well Dite Pro Cycling team, but the leading pacemaker is Dowsett, who unsuccessfully attempted to break the world time record in November.

Dowsett covered 54.555 km in 1 hour, just over 500 meters short of Victor Campanaz's current record. He also failed to reach the British hour record set by Dan Bigum in October with 54.723 km.

In addition to Bigham, four other Commonwealth Games medalists, including fellow Yorkshiremen Charlie and Harry Tanfield and teammates Ollie Peckover and Zeb Kaifin, are also from Ribble Well Dite.

"These athletes specialize in team time trials, and their performance coach and rider, Jacob Tipper, brought them together," said Brownlee's technical manager for the Sub7 project, Nigel Mitchell, Brownlee's technical manager for the Sub7 project. We were very fortunate to have what we consider to be the best riders in the world for this type of event."

Jacob Tipper was also a substantial director sportif for the record attempt.

Blummenfeld's pacemaker team will be directed by British time trial veteran Matt Bottrill and will include British riders Grouch Lewis, Kyle Gordon, Chris Fennell, and Phil Williams.