| Watch over 50 IAAF Events Live and On-Demand at WCSN.com |
Press Release
After a change in the lead within the last 100 metres the Italian Massimo Cigana was able to send long-term leader Björn Andersson (SWE) off to the second rank. Last years winner Michael Göhner (GER) finishes 3rd. Daniel Niederreiter as best Austrian takes the 11th place. With the women, Yvonne Van Vlerken from the Netherlands wins the race.
The race week around the Austria IRONMAN 70.3 began on Thursday, 22. Mai, with the IronKIDS-race (140 participants) and the NÖ Triathlon Challenge (185 participants) which turned out to be a good start for the main event. But the big concern on Saturday was about the one thing which cannot be influenced, the weather. But everything turned out fine und the 2nd IRONMAN 70.3 attracted a great deal of spectators. The swimming began separately for each group. Unique in the world of triathlon was that the race swimming course streched over two lakes.
1.480 participants started the race at 8.30 a.m, among them 106 relay-athletes. The lead in the SWIM was soon taken by Adam Molnar (HUN) with Francisco Pontano (ARG) as second, followed by Björn Andersson (SWE). Last years winner Michael Göhner (GER)is ranked 24th. At 9.05 a.m it is Andersson, who is first on the BIKE course and obtains the lead from then on, until 100m before the finish line. At bike-kilometre 20 he increases the lead to 5 minutes. Peter Schoissengeier as best Austrian follows on 2nd rank.
With the women, Sandra Wallenhorst (GER)takes the lead at kilometer 70, followed by Erika Csomor (HUN). Andersson reaches transition area 2 as first with a time of 2:33:15.
The two Austrians, Schoissengeier and Niederreiter have a good start into the running course and work their way up to second and third rank. But this ranking doesn’t last long on the running distance.
After all the finish could not have been more exciting – on the last metres Massimo Cigana catches up and takes the lead in the event-arena with 11.000 spectators watching. So he crosses the finish line as first with the time of 3:56:12. Anderson finished 2nd 3:56:52 after the start. Last years winner Michael Göhner finishes as 3rd with a time of 3:57:11 (Difference to Cigana: +0:58,5).
Best Austrian is Daniel Niederreiter at rank 11 wit a time of 4:03:09.
The Dutchwoman Yvonne Van-Vlerken leads the field at kilometre 11 on the running course 2:40 ahead of her fellow competent and second in the field, Sandra Wallenhorst. Van-Vlerken is able to extend her lead, Csomor is ranked 3rd at kilometre 15,7 but is able to overtake Wallenhorst at kilometre 18. Van-Vlerken is not to be caught and finishes as first with a time of 4:22:43. Csomor finishes 2nd with a time of 4:25:52. Wallenhorst crosses the finishline as 3rd with a time of 4:26:25.
Best Austrian is Veronika Hauke, again on rank 4 with a time of 4:32:01.
St. Pölten has proven to be the ideal IRONMAN location in it’s second years of the event and approximately 11.000 spectators were in the event-arena already at 10 a.m. The livestreams from the BIKE-course in Gansbach brought the great atmosphere straight from the course into the arena. Apart from a videowall, Cheerleader, 5 commentators and drummers on stage enhanced the vibes in the arena even more.
The great weather with a marvellous blue heaven, sunshine and pleasant temperatures around 23°C contributed to make the race a great experience for athletes as well as spectators.
Pictures and results are available from Sunday, 25th May, online at www.ironman703.at.
Results:
Men
| 1
| Cigana Massimo
| 3:56:12
|
| 2
| Andersson Björn
| 3:56:52
|
| 3
| Göhner Michael
| 3:57:11
|
| 4
| Devriendt Dennis
| 3:58:54
|
| 5
| Woodward Alun
| 4:00:26
|
| 6
| Johnsen Jimmy
| 4:01:01
|
| 7
| Fachbach Markus
| 4:01:59
|
| 8
| Patrcevic Dejan
| 4:02:18
|
| 9
| Pontano Francisco
| 4:02:39
|
| 10
| Stelzle Florian
| 4:02:56
|
Women
| 1
| Van-Vlerken Yvonne
| 4:22:43
|
| 2
| Csomor Erika
| 4:25:52
|
| 3
| Wallenhorst Sandra
| 4:26:25
|
| 4
| Hauke Veronika
| 4:32:01
|
| 5
| Bláfoss Joan
| 4:35:07
|
Finish of Massimo Cigana in the Evenet-Arena © Josef Bollwein
Know someone else who's interested in running and triathlon?
