Jan Frodeno took the wire-to-wire win at Ironman Austria on Sunday, setting up his back-to-back defense of the world title in spectacular fashion. The two-time Ironman world champion clocked the only sub eight-hour time at Klagenfurt this year, breaking the tape in 7 hours, 57 minutes, and 20 seconds — fifteen minutes ahead of his nearest rival.

 

Even though the German had not had the best preparation leading into the full-distance triathlon with illness knocking him onto his heels a month before the race, he still raced head-and-shoulders above the field. Frodeno was first out of the 3.8-kilometer swim leg with a two-minute lead. He grew that gap throughout the challenging 180-kilometer bike course to 10 minutes by the time he hit the marathon, then dug in to increase the lead to 17 minutes at one point. While the chasers clawed back two minutes as they battled for second place, Frodeno had more than enough time to cross the finish line, collapse in relief, then sit and wave at the enthusiastic crowd in thanks. He said, “Only had one tactical card today, go hard on the swim and hope the boys bunch up on the bike and play cat and mouse – I love it when a plan works.”

David Plese had a consistent race, moving up into fourth place on the bike leg and maintaining this until the finish line. Will this finally be enough to ensure he makes the Kona points cutoff for July and secure his start? To this he said, “Inshallah!”

This coming weekend, Daniela Ryf and Terenzo Bozzone are set to compete in the world’s largest and best-loved long-distance triathlon, Challenge Roth. Ryf came within four minutes of breaking Chrissie Wellington’s world record time last year, and though expectations are high she will finally seal the deal this year, the reigning Ironman champion is simply set on doing her best.

She said, “My preparation in the last few months didn’t go as I wanted having to fight a back injury. But fortunately in the past three weeks my training has been going better again and I could make improvements every day. Even if my coach told me not to race I am going to, because I think Challenge Roth is a wonderful race and I don’t want to let my fans down. On race day I will give my best as always and fight for the win with all I have.”

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Lauren Parker Leads Bahrain Victorious 13’s Medal Haul at World Championships

Lauren Parker Leads Bahrain Victorious 13’s Medal Haul at World Championships

The Bahrain Victorious 13 captured an impressive medal haul at the World Triathlon Championships in Wollongong, Australia this weekend.

Lauren Parker led the campaign, winning two medals including her fifth paratriathlon world title.

The paratriathlon races opened the elite competition on Saturday, where Parker once again proved untouchable. She led from the front, exiting the 750-metre swim first, hammering the 20-kilometre handbike leg with the day’s fastest split, and then powering through the 5-kilometre wheelchair run to cross the line 70 seconds clear of her nearest rival.

Unbeaten all year, Parker’s home victory carried extra meaning as she reclaimed the crown she relinquished last season.

“Everyone was so supportive out there and it definitely made me push a little bit harder,” Parker said post-race. “I wanted to get back on top again and I really worked hard for this one and I’m just happy to get it done.”

She also revealed her next sporting ambition: to qualify for the Winter Paralympic Games, with ongoing training in cross-country skiing and biathlon.

On Sunday, Parker added to her tally with a silver medal in the Para Mixed Relay World Championships, helping the Australian team to a podium finish.

In the men’s elite race, Vasco Vilaça placed fifth to secure the overall World Triathlon Championship Series bronze medal, returning to the world podium for the first time since earning silver at the one-day championship in Hamburg in 2020.

Emma Lombardi also delivered a standout performance, claiming bronze in the women’s race – her best finish of the season – and vaulting seven places to 11th overall in the Series standings. She swam into the pointy end on the 1.5-kilometre swim alongside compatriot Cassandre Beaugrand, then attacked on the 40-kilometre bike to lead onto the 10-kilometre run where she battled against the eventual winner and series champion Lisa Tertsch and a hard-charging Bianca Seregni to hold onto the final spot on the podium.

Beaugrand, who had stayed in the lead pack throughout the swim and bike, was forced to withdraw on the run to conclude her season ranked seventh overall.

The results in Wollongong wrap up the Bahrain Victorious 13’s short course season. The team now turns its attention to middle distance racing with the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Marbella, Spain and Ironman 70.3 Bahrain on the horizon, as well as the T100 Tour’s final two stops in Dubai and Qatar.

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Kat Matthews Runs to Silver and a Record Finish in Kona

Kat Matthews Runs to Silver and a Record Finish in Kona

Kat Matthews led the charge for the Bahrain Victorious 13 on Saturday, taking her third IRONMAN World Championship silver medal at the historic final all-women’s race in Kona, Hawaii. The British star also set a new run course record on the way to her first-ever...

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