Daniela Ryf and Ronnie Schildknecht took sensational wins at the 20th IRONMAN Switzerland. While Ryf set a race record in 8:51:50 in Zurich, the 36-year old race legend Schildknecht celebrated his ninth win in 8:17:04. Both champs highlighted a great anniversary race on a brand new course including a marathon which led athletes into the heart of the city for the first time in history.
Eight-time champion Schildknecht takes over on the run
In men’s race, Balasz Csoke took over the initiative early in the swim together with the strong Swiss swimmer Manuel Kueng. On the second half of the swim Csoke set the pace to exit the water in first place after 49:53. Kueng was 48 seconds behind while a bigger chase group including favorites like Germany’s Timo Bracht and last year’s runner-up Jan van Berkel was already three minutes behind.
Eight-time champion Schildknecht lost almost six minutes in the water, but started on the tough and scenic bike course like a professional time-trialer making up a lot of ground on the first and flat 30 kilometers. When the men’s leaders passed the first timing after 32 kilometers, he had already downsized the gap to 2:40. Through 60 kilometers, Schildknecht caught up with the lead group of eight including Bracht, two other strong Germans, Markus Fachbach and Roman Deisenhofer, and three Swiss Kueng, van Berkel and Philipp Koutny. Surprisingly Deisenhofer made a break away with 60 kilometers to go and got off the bike with a lead of almost 5 minutes.
On the run, Schildknecht impressed the Zurich crowd once more with a consistent speed gaining time on Deisenhofer early. He battled for second place behind Deisenhofer with van Berkel for some kilometers, before the multiple Zurich champion embarked on another impressive winning strike. Schildknecht ran into first place shortly before the half marathon mark and never gave it away again.
"I realized my win with two kilometers to go, and I was full of emotions," said Schildknecht later.
"It’s a sensational moment, it is absolutely not normal for me to win here even if people may think that. This is a little IRONMAN world championship for me."
Bracht had a great run into second place ahead of van Berkel but he couldn’t touch Schildknecht.
"The race was super fair, it’s a great course with a lot of great people. I saw Ronnie running super strong," said Bracht after his debut race in Zurich, "I’m a big fan of IRONMAN Switzerland now."
Van Berkel eventually ran into third ahead of Deisenhofer thanks to a huge mental strength on the second half of the marathon.
"There should be several holes on the run course, I exploded a few times out there," said van Berkel. "I discovered all sort of emotions today. Third place today means a lot to me."
Daniela Ryf impresses the crowd with phenomenal performance
Only one week after racing another full distance event in great style, Daniela Ryf dominated IRONMAN Switzerland.
"My strategy was to go easy," said Ryf after the race, "but Celine was going so good in the swim, I just had to follow. On the bike, I decided to go hard then, and on the run you can’t go easy when there are so many people."
Ryf’s words were a perfect description of a fast and furious race she had signed-in only four days before. Shortly after the start the 29-year old top favorite embarked on a great journey together with her Swiss colleague Celine Schaerer. Her compatriot had the best swim split in 53:14 two seconds ahead of Ryf, but the reigning IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 world champion then hammered away on the bike.
Thanks to the best bike split by far, Ryf came off the bike with a lead of 21 minutes over Emma Bilham (SUI).
"My body was working very good today," said Ryf describing her 3:07 marathon which led her to a thrilling victory.
She smashed the race record in 8:51:50 by more than 8 minutes taking an impressive win. Two years after she won her first IRONMAN here in Zurich, Ryf had the 10th fastest time overall.
Behind the champion, Bilham added a great result to her CV after being runner-up at the IRONMAN France in June.
"I wasn’t chasing the IRONMAN world champion today," said Bilham with a smile, "I think she was already under the shower when I crossed the line. Daniela is in a different league."
Bilham was really happy with her second place ahead of Austria’s Michaela Herlbauer.
"I thought about quitting a lot," said Herlbauer four weeks after taking silver at the IRONMAN Austria, "from kilometer 25 on it was a pure fight. But it paid off."
Top 5 Men
1 Ronnie Schildknecht SUI 08:17:04
2 Timo Bracht GER 08:24:13
3 Jan van Van Berkel SUI 08:29:12
4 Roman Deisenhofer GER 08:32:58
5 David Plese SLO 08:36:50
Top 5 Women
1 Daniela Ryf SUI 08:51:50
2 Emma Bilham SUI 09:21:48
3 Michaela Herlbauer AUT 09:28:12
4 Celine Schärer SUI 09:35:26
5 Ariane Monticeli BRA 09:40:07