Throwing down the race best swim, then backing it up with the fastest bike split on a tough course netted Rudy Von Berg (USA) a 3:37 advantage hitting the bike dismount line. The 25-year-old was never under a real threat throughout the 13.1-mile, single-loop run and was able to enjoy the trip down the finish line chute to take the title. Bart Aernouts (BEL) and Jackson Laundry (CAN) top runs on the day propelled the pair to podium placings.
The 2016 IRONMAN 70.3 world champion Holly Lawrence (GBR) certainly appears to have returned to form. She came out of the water with swim leader Haley Chura and then immediately rode her way to the front of the women’s field. For the first half of the bike, Paula Findlay (CAN) was the only women to match the leader's pace. Lawrence would pull away from Findlay and the entire field in the closing miles and was already running at least half a mile up the road before Findlay entered T2. Lawrence ran away from the field and hoisted the finish line banner by a winning margin of close to nine minutes.
Men's Podium
1 Von Berg, Rudy USA 3:49:10
2 Aernounts, Bart BEL 3:50:58
3 Laundry, Jackson CAN 3:51:21
Women's Podium
1 Lawrence, Holly GBR 4:06:05
2 Findlay, Paula CAN 4:14:03
3 Wurtele, Heather CAN 4:15:55