Daniela Ryf and Bart Aernouts take the crowns at the 2014 Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship.
Record breaking win for Ryf
Even though she is all-too-familiar with the feeling, Daniela Ryf had a huge smile on her face as she neared the finish line in the lead of the race. Last year Ryf’s outstanding race in Wiesbaden saw her set a new course record, but this year she felt the pressure as the defending champion and put the pressure on herself to break the course record again. Which is why it was no surprise to see the 26-year-old attacked early on the bike for a decisive breakaway.
When IRONMAN 2012 world champion Leanda Cave (GBR) exited the water in first place in 23:23, Ryf trailed, but was in a solid position, sitting in third behind Britain's Liz Blatchford (23:26) and only 53 seconds behind the lead. After only 12 km, Ryf powered by Cave for the lead and hammered to the front. Through 40 km she built her lead to 90 seconds. As she made the long climb to the “Platte” and through the ensuing fast downhill section through the 60 km point of the race she opened the gap to five minutes. Ryf's race-best bike split (2:36:42) left her more than seven minutes ahead of a group that included Blatchford, Pedersen, Cave and Germany's Laura Philipp.
Through the first 15 kilometers of the run Ryf seemed to be running conservatively before she finally gave it a last surge to break the course record. Finishing in 4:26:12 Ryf topped last year’s record by five minutes thanks to the best run split of 1:21:44. Two weeks after her sensational Zurich weekend which included wins at the both the 5i50 championship and IRONMAN Switzerland, Ryf proved in Wiesbaden that she is on fire.
“Today I felt much more pressure than in Zurich,” Ryf said. “I wanted to have a strong performance.”
Cave came off the bike in fifth, but ran well. By the three km point she passed Philipp for the runner-up position and never looked back, finishing in 4:34:50.
“The bike course was a little bit of shock to me, but I am happy with my race,” Cave said after the race.
Philipp took third after a tough running battle with co-favorite Pedersen, finishing 34-seconds in front of the Dane, who came fourth in 4:36:57. Blatchford took fifth.
Aernouts solid all day
Bart Aernouts was movtivated to hurry to the finish line because his 20-month-old daughter Paulien was waiting for her Dad in front of the Kurhaus in Wiesbaden. The Belgian, who won IRONMAN France earlier this year, had a good swim coming out of the water only 2:07 behind the leaders. Switzerland's Manuel Küng came out of Lake Raunheimer Waldsee in 22 minutes, ahead of Pieter Heemeryck (NED), Ruedi Wild (SUI) and Germany's Maurice Clavel, who were all within 11 seconds.
Clavel and Heemeryck set the pace for the first 60 km of the bike, with Aernouts patiently waiting to make his move. At the 60-km point the Belgian attacked and, by the time he reached T2 he held a three minute advantage. Behind the 30-year-old there were two strong groups including fast runners like Australian Peter Robertson and Wild.
Thanks to the best bike split of 2:22:23, followed by a solid 1:15:26 run, Aernouts dominated the championship and claimed the title in 4:05:27. Robertson had the fastest run in 1:13:16 and moved from fifth to second during the run, passing Clavel with three km to go, finishing in 4:08:15 and 19 seconds ahead of the 26-year old German. Wild crossed the line in fourth (4:09:33), while Australian Tim van Berkel took fifth (4:10:07).
Top 5 Pro Men
1.Bart Aernouts BEL 4:05:27
2.Peter Robertson AUS 4:08:15
3.Maurice Clavel GER 4:08:34
4.Ruedi Wild SUI 4:09:33
5.Tim Van Berkel AUS 4:10:07
Top 5 Pro Women
1.Daniela Ryf SUI 4:26:12
2.Leanda Cave GBR 4:34:50
3.Laura Philipp GER 4:36:23
4.Camilla Pedersen DEN 4:36:57
5.Liz Blatchford AUS 4:41:07