New Ironman races are riveting, especially ones in foreign, far-away places. But this Sunday, April 20, prepare yourself, triathlon fanatic, for an exciting long-course event of a rare dimension—the Eastern dimension, that is. This year’s inaugural Ironman China continues the World Triathlon Corporation’s increasing trend of bringing long-distance multisport events to continental Asia, with a race roster that now includes Ironman Singapore 70.3, Ironman Japan and Ironman China 70.3, set for the same day as the full-course event.

Headlining this weekend’s Ironman China, held in the city of Haikou on the island of Hainan, is six-time Ironman champion Belinda Granger, who recently won Lotto Ironman Malaysia in a similar island city Feburary 23. The Aussie, who trains with Chrissie Wellington on Brett Sutton’s Team TBB, has been next to unbeatable the past year, rarely accepting anything less than the first-place podium with the exception of a third-place showing at last July’s Quelle Challenge Roth in Germany.

If anyone fronts a fight to Granger’s greatness, she could be Germany’s Nicole Topfer, who placed sixth at the 2007 Ironman European championship in Frankfurt. Also joining Topher on Sunday will be Aussie Joanna King, a former Olympic-distance world champion who has a top-10 Ironman Hawaii finish to her credit. In addition, Ute Muckel of Germany, who won the 2005 Ironman Wisconsin, could pose a challenge, although she has not seen much glory since her race in Racine three years ago. Perhaps more formidable will be Australia’s Belinda Harrison or the U.K.’s Abi Bailey, but all curiouso will have check back here this Sunday to find out if Granger made it lucky number seven or if the Aussie was beat in the South China Sea showdown by a competitor of a lesser résumé.

In the men’s race, look for Petr Vabrousek to lead at least some part of Ironman China, if not win the entire event hands down. The 34-year-old Czech place second to Germany’s Faris Al-Sultan at February’s Ironman Malaysia this past February before suffering a virus and taking 10th at Ironman Australia in April. But Vabrousek’s lead won’t come easy with Germany’s Olaf Sebatschus on the line—the German made a triumphant comeback to triathlon last year after beating a bout with testicular cancer. Satatschus may be a little rusty compared to the recently raced Vabrousek, but you can nevertheless expect the two-time Ironman Brazil champion to pose a threat to the Czech on the bike, if not at any other point of the race.

A lesser-known variable among American tri fans at this Sunday’s Ironman China is Korea’s Park Byung Hoon, who, in 2007, won Ironman Japan and took second at Ironman Korea after finishing fourth at Ironman Malaysia in February. Finally, Aussie Chris McDonald will prove a fine history at winning first-year races if he can bag the China title following his crown from last August’s inaugural Ironman Louisville. Coached by Scott Molina, the soon-to-be 30-year-old splits his time between Boulder, Colorado, and Albury, New South Wales, where he sometimes engages in part-time labor as a carpenter…

OK, enough of the middling details! The take-home point is that, for an inaugural race in a far-off place, Ironman China’s boasts some pretty big names this weekend. Tune back here or visit InsideTri.com Sunday for the full race round-up.