Two-time IRONMAN world champion (1996 and 1999) Luc Van Lierde has pushed young American charge Rodolph Von Berg to better his biking as the primary aim since taking over the youngster's coaching last year.
The 24-year-old showed it's a winning strategy, taking the inaugural title at IRONMAN 70.3 Nice, which will host the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship next year. The victory was secured with a 2:21 bike over the famed and fabled climbs through the villages above Nice. Von Berg finished the ride five minutes faster than his major rivals, which laid the foundation for his win.
Von Berg, who had a breakthrough win at the KMD IRONMAN 70.3 European Championships in Elsinore last year, had come off a top-10 finish at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in South Africa. He was out at the front of the swim, pushed clear on the bike and while the margin came down to 2 mins at 63K, the American took a 6:46 buffer onto the run.
While former IRONMAN World Champion Frederik van Lierde (also coached by Luc) and Italy’s Giuilo Molinari ran a touch faster, the American had plenty of real estate in reserve.
France’s Manon Genet had a similar story in the women's race, and was out at the front of the swim before edging away from compatriot Jeanne Collonge early on the bike. Collonge came back to claim the lead but Genet reclaimed the ascendancy in the hills. Genet took a 3-minute advantage onto the run and managed to hold off her rival, finishing in 4:46. Swiss pro Nina Derron ran up to second ahead of Collonge.
Top 5 Pro Men
1 Von Berg, Rodolph USA 4:09:50
2 Van Lierde, Fred BEL 4:15:24
3 Molinari, Giulio ITA 4:16:06
4 Jarrige, Yvan FRA 4:18:35
5 Viain, Simon FRA 4:20:07
Top 5 Pro Women
1 Genet, Manon FRA 4:46:29
2 Derron, Nina CHE 4:50:12
3 Collonge, Jeanne FRA 4:55:10
4 Cummings, Chantal GBR 5:03:51
5 Konczalla, Leonie DEU 5:10:27