Daniela Ryf wins record 5^th Ironman 70.3 World Championship    

Daniel Ryf claimed her 5^th Ironman 70.3 World Championship (2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014) on Saturday in Nice, France, extending her record for most wins by any athlete at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.

Ryf swam in the front pack in her Tsunami 1.0 Speedsuit in 26:32. Once on the bike Ryf charged to the front of the race. The bike course peaked at 37km at the Col de Vence, where Ryf was 0;29 back of the lead, but put her superior descending skills to work and entered T2 with a 2:39 lead. Once on the run Ryf held steady and claimed the 2019 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in 4:23:04 over Holly Lawrence (4:27:02) and Imogen Simmonds (4:28:10).

In a post race interview with Ironman Live Ryf said:

“For me today was a fantastic day, the girls were pushing really hard, I think it was amazing. The level in the swim was just fantastic, you know it’s crazy to see how well everyone swims at the moment and I had a fantastic swim but came out with ten other girls! Then on the bike the same, I felt good but everyone was pushing hard and the girls were attacking at certain moments and in the end I was happy to make a little gap downhill. You needed a lot of skill today. Then on the run Holly was pushing hard today, and I knew I had to show a really good run to be able to win. I really got pushed to my absolute maximum today and that’s what World Championship races are about."

Once Daniela Ryf is recovered from her win in Nice she will set her sights on the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on October 12, 2019, where Daniela will try to win her 5^th consecutive Ironman World Championship.

Good luck Daniela!

 

Ben Kanute 10^th at Ironman 70.3 World Championship

Ben Kanute finished 10^th at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship on Sunday in Nice, France. Kanute was aggressive from the gun to put himself in a position to go for the win. Kanute swam in the front group in his Tsunami 1.0 Speedsuit, exiting the water in 23:21. On the bike Kanute formed a breakaway with Alistair Brownlee, but Kanute was caught before the peak of the Col de Vence at 37k.

Gustav Iden won in 3:52:35, followed by Alistair Brownlee (3:55:19), and Rudy Von Berg (3:56:45).

After the race Kanute said:

"I took risks I felt would put me in position for the podium. It was working well until it didn't. Aggressive racing is costly, and I thought I could sustain the efforts because of the great block of training beforehand. Not entirely sure what was the main issue, but will be sure to find it and solve it. I race for the win and podium, and today I am disappointed in 10th, but proud of my tactics and effort"

Racers race, and we loved seeing Kanute be aggressive and go for it.

Ben Kanute will set his sights back to short-course racing, with the goal of Qualifying for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.