After a great season for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team with 19 victories and 42 podiums, the team delivered a solid performance in the Ironman World Championship of Hawaii with 5 athletes in the top 12. The race conditions on the Big Island proved its iconic status with the strongest field of contenders and extreme weather today: strong currents, heavy winds and a burning heat.
In the men's field, Sebastian Kienle performed the race of his life by blowing away the competition. The 28-year-old German realized his childhood dream with a strong finish in 8:14:18 before - the surprise of the day - Ben Hofman (USA: 8:19:23) and his fellow countryman Jan Frodeno (GER: 8:20:32). Bart Aernouts came 9th in 8:28:28, while the young French man, Romain Guillaume, made the perfect race and pushed himself into the top 10 in the last 3km of the race in 8:30:15. Ronnie Schildknecht had a consistent race and moved up through the race to a top 12 position in 8:33:35. Axel Zeebroek did what he could today, but the legs went after 60k and withdrew from the race.
In the women's race, Miranda Carfrae started in T2 11:15 back on Daniela Ryf, like last year she ran an incredible marathon in 2:50:26 - 4 minutes faster than Kienle. Daniela Ryf (SUI: 9:02:57) who was in the lead for 90% of the race had to consolidate for second. Rachel Joyce (GBR: 9:04:23) took the third place. Our Liz Blatchford came 10th after a consistent race. European Champion Corinne Abraham had a difficult swim, a tough bike leg with a penalty, but with the 3rd fastest marathon she managed to get 11th. It was not the day of Sofie Goos, she left the chubby sea much later than expected, the bike went well until 140km but then it was over. Her start of the marathon was slow, it was both conditional and mentally demanding. She did not give up and finished in 42nd position.
For the post-race reactions, check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cH36hXoQnQ&list=PLro3Y6W3uz771Ox5s9GMg8CF7Qp3nxfKN&index=14
