History-making races need strong mentalities. Germany’s Sebastian Kienle obviously had the right mindset to take not only the win at the 2017 Mainova IRONMAN European Championship. He also became the first athlete to celebrate a third victory in Frankfurt and the first male to take three IRONMAN continental championships. Kienle put the whole puzzle together to show the best race he has ever put on. He was close to the co-favorites in the water, and paced himself constantly to take over control on the second half of the bike to manage one of the best bike splits ever on a course that was three kilometers short due to road work. Kienle was Mr. Consistency, although he knew that his training colleague and longtime friend Andreas Boecherer would be right there on the bike and ready for a battle in the marathon—both had shown their abilities the year before in a dramatic run thriller. Things happened as expected, and Boecherer stormed into the run in first place; Kienle remained focused and relaxed. It was a day of sensational run splits in men’s field, but Kienle, three days after celebrating his 33rd birthday, took the lead early in the run and made his way to one of the most glorious continental championship wins in the history of IRONMAN.
Sarah Crowley had already discovered the emotion of taking an IRONMAN continental title this season when she appeared at the start line at the Lake Waldsee in Langen. Only four weeks after her victory at the IRONMAN Asia Pacific Championship the question was more if her legs would stay with her for another tough battle—especially when someone like IRONMAN Lanzarote champion Lucy Charles was in the field. For more than 7 hours, the British leader looked like the woman of the day in Frankfurt, but then Crowley followed into the footsteps of Melissa Hauschildt who took the first Australian win in Frankfurt last year. Those who expected a cruel run battle among some strong marathoners in women’s field were proved wrong. Crowley’s extraordinary bike performance was the key to a huge success. As Patrik Nilsson did in the men’s race, the best runner of the day, Alexandra Tondeur, was only able to round out the podium.
Top 5 Pro Men
Sebastian Kienle DEU 0:50:11…4:02:22…2:45:09…7:41:42
Andreas Boecherer DEU 0:47:21…4:04:56…2:49:48…7:46:07
Patrik Nilsson SWE 0:47:15…4:17:41…2:40:58…7:50:16
James Cunnama RSA 0:48:54…4:09:25…2:48:49…7:51:02
Ivan Tutukin RUS 0:48:58…4:15:41…2:42:40…7:51:56
Top 5 Pro Women
Sarah Crowley AUS 0:56:17…4:40:32…3:05:12…8:47:58
Lucy Charles GBR 0:48:29…4:45:08…3:13:18…8:51:50
Alexandra Tondeur BEL 0:59:25…4:49:48…3:04:47…8:59:55
Liz Lyles USA 0:57:12…4:52:11…3:07:53…9:01:59
Michaela Herlbauer AUT 0:56:19…4:52:55…3:10:58…9:05:09