Eva Wutti and Marino Vanhoenacker tested the Austrian waters for next year's IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship race venue.
The world got a sneak preview of the new and stunning course that will also double as the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship course in 2015. The reviews are positive and the anticipation of the championship race in Austria next year is already piquing interest from far and wide.
"The new race course suits the majority of the athletes and showed what awaits us next year," said Thomas Dieckhoff, CEO IRONMAN Europe, Middle East and South Africa.
Vanhoenacker on fire all day
In the men’s race the battle started within the first meters after the gun went off. Alberto Casadei (ITA) and Manuel Küng (CHE) were expected to be among the fastest swimmers, and they hammered the field from the sound of the gun in Lake Zell. Casadei exited the water in 23:31 ahead of Andrea Pederzolli (ITA), and Küng (23:33). While strong swimmers like Jan Raphael DEU) were already dropped (24:56), Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) had a great start reaching T1 in 24:07 and jumping onto his bike in fifth position.
Once the Belgian was on the bike course, Vanhoenacker started his fireworks, blowing by the leaders only minutes into the bike and storming off into the lead. The tough bike course consists of more than 900 meters of elevation, and Vanhoenacker managed a Kona-like bike split of 2:11:36. When Vanhoenacker came off the bike he had already opened up a gap of over five minutes on Casadei and Küng. Behind, Matt Trautmann (ZAF) led the next chase group into T2 over seven minutes in arrears.
"I pushed hard from the beginning," said Vanhoenacker, "it was hard to defend this (lead) on the run, and those boys are quicker on their feet than me."
One week after finishing second at IRONMAN 70.3 Budapest, Casadei eventually had another great run. When Vanhoenacker crossed the line in 4:02:32, the Italian was only 50 seconds behind, while Trautmann rounded out the podium thanks to a race-best run split of 1:15:38, in 4:04:03.
"There was a lot of pain on this course," said 38-year old Vanhoenacker, "but it all pays off."
Wutti gives a showdown on the run
Women’s champion Eva Wutti (AUT) was impressed by the new course at IRONMAN 70.3 Zell am See-Kaprun. "Racing here at the World Championship next year will be wonderful," said the 25-year old after taking the title in a fast and furious race in her home country. Wutti had been searching for a victory, and was overwhelmed by her career win.
In the water, Anja Beranek (DEU) mastered the women’s field in 24:53 ahead of Jenny Fletcher (CAN) (26:33) and Wutti (27:30). Beranek powered through 60 kms of the bike in tenth overall, and had gapped Wutti by five minutes and Erika Csomor (HUN) by over 12 minutes.
Beranek flew into T2 with a lead of 5:00 on Wutti and 12:33 on Fletcher, thanks to her race-best bike split of 2:27:12. However, Beranek started to loose time soon and at 7 kilometers her lead had been reduced to 45 seconds to the hard charging Wutti. A kilometer later, Wutti made the pass for the lead and went on the take the win in 4:28:35.
"It was a fight for the whole race," said Wutti, "it was cold, it was hard, but I’m totally happy." On the last kilometer, Beranek got passed by another German, marathoner Kristin Möller ran from nowhere into silver thanks to the fastest run split of the day (1:23:14).
Top 5 Men
1 Marino Vanhoenacker BEL 4:02:32
2 Alberto Casadei ITA 4:03:22
3 Matt Trautman RSA 4:04:03
4 Jonathan Ciavattella ITA 4:07:02
5 Manuel Küng SUI 4:08:41
Top 5 Women
1 Eva Wutti AUT 4:28:35
2 Kristin Möller GER 4:37:30
3 Anja Beranek GER 4:38:34
4 Erika Csomor HUN 4:42:39
5 Lisi Gruber AUT 4:42:49