Andy Dreitz and Pernille Thalund each took home a convincing victory in Saturday's Challenge Herning. After a non wetsuit swim the athletes had to conquer an unusual hot summer day, which delivered as well drama as excitement.
For a while favourite Camilla Pedersen (DK) looked like a sure winner. The former elite swimmer came first out of the water after only 25:56 minutes, with two minutes down to fellow dane Pernille Thalund. But almost halfway through the bike course, Thalund took the lead and kept it all the way to the finish line. Laura Siddall (GB) fought her way up from being 9th second place, well three minutes after Thalund. 18 minutes later Frankie Sanjana (GB) crossed the finishline.
Meanwhile, Camilla Pedersen fought a brave but brutal battle with her stomach which refused to hold anything down in the heat. It goes without saying that it was an unfair match, and halfway through the course she chose to pull herself out of the race.
Dreitz does it again
Among the men, Swedish favorite Jesper Svensson was first out off the water with Daniel Bækkegaard right behind him. But racing across the Danish heath, the ranks were turned upside down. Ultimately, the former Challenge Denmark winner Andi Dreitz took the lead, after which Danes Matthias Lyngsø Petersen and Kristian Hindkjær succeeded in overtaking Svensson.
Last year's winner, Anders "Hightower" Christensen finished fifth.
The weather as X factor
One should never complain about the fabulous, Danish summer weather. But in the triathlon context, the heat was grueling.For the pros, the water temperature of 23.1 degrees meant a non wetsuit swim, which was a draw back for the heavier athletes.The vast majority of the age groupers athletes chose to swim in their wetsuits.
The almost non-existent wind made cycling really fast. But as the athletes went out running, the combination of heat, sun and no wind meant an excruciatingly hard run through Herning's otherwise festive streets.
“The weather is always the x-factor in triathlon. It's something you can not predict or change - and that can make a huge difference in either direction. But it's the same for everyone, and that's something that makes it exciting", says race director Claus Vesterby.
All about the experience
It is a very proud and happy race director, Claus Vesterby, who can close and shut Challenge Herning this evening: “We had a phenomenal pro field with some amazing athletes and personalities. It's amazing to notice how the Challenge Family spirit influenced the day among both pro and age group athletes. All the amateur athletes at all levels who struggled to exceed their own expectations and have a party with their sport, never seize to amaze me. They are just as important to us as the professionals, and it's fascinating to see the breadth of our sport. I am proud of that,” says Claus Vesterby:
“Everyone is here to do their best, but first and foremost they come to get a great experience. And there's no doubt they've got that today - and so have I.It's a pleasure to feel how the city of Herning has taken the Challenge in and really backs us up and creates a party around the athletes. That means so unbelievably much. So we are already looking forward to making an even more amazing event next year.”
RESULTS
Men
1 Andreas Dreiz, D, 3:47:12
2 Matthias Lyngsø Petersen, DK, 3:51:54
3 Kristian Hindkjær, DK, 3:57:31
Women
1 Pernille Thalund, DK, 4:20:55
2 Laura Siddall, GB 4:24:00
3 Frankie Sanjana, GB, 4:42:00