A thrilling battle dominated the KMD IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship, Elsinore both in the men’s and women’s pro race. Non-Europeans eventually claimed victories thanks to brilliant performances on the bike and run. While Europeans led the way in both races for the majority, it was on Aussie Melissa Hauschildt to bike and run into first place in women’s race while American Rodolphe von Berg took the title in the men’s competition.
Von Berg was among the co-favorites for Elsinore thanks to his fifth-place performance last year. While Australian Max Neumann ran into the mix on the final kilometers, the 24-year-old von Berg belonged to the leaders right from the start, together with Adam Bowden (GBR) and defending champion Michael Raelert (GER). Von Berg showed strength right from the swim and embarked on a duo ride with Raelert later on the bike course. These two nailed a 2:01-hour bike split on the flat but wet course, before the German three-time European IRONMAN 70.3 champion had to drop out due to a leg injury. With Raelert out, Bowden reclaimed the front of the race. Although von Berg knew about the extraordinary running talent of his opponent, Bowden, he didn’t throw-in when Bowden made the pass after 10 kilometers. Von Berg kept on pushing and nailed the fastest split on the final two kilometers to sprint into the lead again.
Hauschildt came out of the water with an expected deficit, but the gap of 2:43 to leader Helle Frederiksen was small enough for her to quickly bridge up to first place on the bike. Hauschildt paced herself in brilliant style, an effective way to make up a lot of ground. During the final third of the bike, Hauschildt downsized the gap decisively; when T2 was almost within reach, the 35-year-old made her move to pass the Danish leader. Frederiksen is well known as an enormously talented runner, but she had no chance to catch Hauschildt on the run. The former steeplechaser was focused and ready to take the IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship title two years after winning the continental championship on the tough course in Wiesbaden.
Top 5 Pro Men
1 Von Berg, Rodolphe USA 3:40:22
2 Bowden, Adam GBR 3:40:52
3 Aernouts, Bert BEL 3:44:38
4 Wild, Ruedi CHE 3:44:46
5 Neumann , Max AUS 3:46:11
Top 5 Pro Women
1 Hauschildt, Mel AUS 4:07:18
2 Frederiksen, Helle DEN 4:09:43
3 Svensk, Sara SWE 4:17:11
4 Luxem, Xenia BEL 4:27:02
5 Hartikainen, Heini FIN 4:42:04