Posted: September 2, 2007

Triathlon: The third edition of Formula1 of Triathlon Monaco IRONMAN 70.3 

The Monaco IRONMAN 70.3 is over. 825 athletes from 42 countries faced the 1.9 km swimming, 90 km of cycling and the 21.1 km running. It was 8:30 of an amazing spectacle under the sun of Monaco with the encouragement of more than 20.000 spectators. Swimming. Distance 1.9km, time limit 1h10. The outside temperature is 27°C, water temperature 24°C. The start took place at the Larvotto beach. The first man out of the water was Benjamin SANSON (FRA) in 00 :25 :53, followed by Thierry VERBINNEN (BEL) in 00 :26 :25 and Andrew FARGUS (GBR) in 00:26:26. For the women, it’s Sibylle MATTER (SUI) who held the lead in 00 :28 :11, followed by Sione JONGSTRA (NED) in 00 :29 :53 and the Belgian Annabelle PIROTTE in 00 :31 :26. Bike. Distance 90 km with the crossing of many communes of the highlands. Rather suffocating conditions of the race with a light wind from south-west. Marcel ZAMORA (ESP) and Mike AIGROZ (SUI) were holding the lead in spite of a fall of the Spanish athlete without consequences at the beginning of the course. Marcel ZAMORA arrives as first man in a time of 00 :02 :59, followed by Mike AIGROZ (SUI) in 02:59 :50 and Nicolas LEBRUN (FRA) in 03 :02 :43. At the women`s side Sibylle MATTER (SUI) - followed closely by the young Christel ROBIN (FRA) - kept the head of the group composed of JONGSTRA (NED), LOUISON (FRA), SCHIERSCH (GER) and LEE (GBR). However Christel ROBIN made it first in 03:20:23, followed by Sibylle MATTER (03 :23 :11) and finally of Sione JONGSTRA in (03:2735). The semi-marathon was carried out in 4 and a half loops on the famous Formula1 circuit. Marcel ZAMORA (ESP) won te race in 04:14:14, followed by Paul AMEY (GBR) in 04:16 :06, then Nicolas LEBRUN (FRA) in 04:16:32. In the female group the same competitors as on the bike course remained . The French woman Alexandra LOUISON (FRA) teared off a new victory in 04:49: 43 - carrying out a « doublé » after her victory at the IRONMAN France in Nice on June 24th. Sibylle MATTER (SUI) finished in 04:51:30 on place 2nd and Christel ROBIN (FRA) in 04: 52 :46 on place 3rd. The first Monégasque championship of Triathlon was gained by Herve BANTI (start number 6) in 04:21:43. At the end of this race 30 athletes qualified themselves for the World Championship in Hawaii on May 31, 2008 and 100 slots for the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Clearwater (Florida) on November 10, 2007 are distributed. 3rd Monaco IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon MEN 1. Marcel ZAMORA PEREZ swim 00:26:57, BIKE 02:30:01, RUN 01:12:07, FINAL 4:14:14 . Paul AMEY swim 00:27:00, BIKE 02:34:21, RUN 01:09:53, FINAL 4:16:06 3. Nicolas LEBRUN swim 00:29:02, BIKE 02:31:22, RUN 01:11:05, FINAL 4:16:32 WOMEN 1. Alexandra LOUISON swim 00:32:51, BIKE 02:52:39, RUN 01:18:49, FINAL 4:49:43 2. Sibylle MATTER swim 00:28:11, BIKE 02:52:42, RUN 01:25:16, FINAL 04:51:30 3. Christel ROBIN swim 00:32:18, BIKE 02:45:19, RUN 01:29:22, FINAL 04:52:46 We can now announce that in 2008 Monaco will welcome the first European championship of the IRONMAN 70.3. RESULTS and PHOTOS: www.monaco-ironman.com. Photo: © Gernot Gleiss Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest