Windy, wet Ironman 70.3 South Africa

Sunday, 23 January 2011 15:07

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Tough conditions at 2011 Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa

The fourth edition of the Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa produced two new champions in the form of Frederik van Lierde (BEL) and Jodie Swallow (GBR) under trying conditions. What started out as a pleasant race morning with relatively calm water soon became a tough challenge for all the athletes as the winds rose and the rain started to take its toll.

First out of the water was Van Lierde with Balazs Csoke (HUN) almost neck and neck.  Csoke crossed the mat first with a swim split of 00:24:58, closely followed by Van Lierde 00:25:00, Brad Storm (RSA) and Richie Cunningham (AUS).  2010 Ironman 70.3 World Champion Jodie Swallow was the first woman out of the water and 5th overall with a time of 00:25:16.  A minute behind her was defending champion, Mari Rabie (RSA) and Lucie Zelenkova (CZE).

This paved the way for silver and bronze positions changing hands regularly. Van Lierde and Swallow were in a class of their own and lead virtually from start to finish. South Africa’s favourite, James Cunnama exited the water in 10th place overall but made good time during his bike leg hoping to mount an assault once on the run. Van Lierde, however, had other plans as he proceeded to stretch his lead while out on the bike. The wet, blustery conditions might have put others off, but coming from Belgium where this is the norm, Van Lierde amassed a lead of 7 minutes which gave him a bit of breathing space going into the final stretch.

Cunnama made up all of five places on the bike, moving into second place after the 30km mark not before an interesting tussle between Csoke, Cunningham, Storm and Alessandro Degasperi (ITA) ensued. Things stayed this way for most of the bike leg until Brad Storm started to make a charge at the leaders eventually displacing Cunnama shortly before the 60km mark. In an effort to get closer to the leader, Cunnama then promptly reclaimed 2nd position going into the run some 7 minutes behind van Lierde. The South African decimated the 7 minute difference between him and Van Lierde to just over 2 minutes approaching the 16km mark. Van Lierde, however made sure that he would take the spoils by warding off Cunnama’s challenge and emerged wet, tired but most importantly, victorious. He was followed by Cunnama and Degasperi who finished 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Photo: FinisherPix / Rob Pollock Photography

 

The women’s race went very much the same way with Ironman 70.3 World Champion, Jodie Swallow, showing just why she’s so highly regarded. Exiting the water in 5th place overall, she never once looked like relinquishing her lead. After being followed out of the water by Zelenkova and Rabie, it was Tine Deckers (BEL) who would mount the strongest challenge out on the road.

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