End of German title era - Anne Haug happy in third place

Was that Ironman changing guard? The German title era ends with the Norwegian Blumenfeldt’s World Cup victory. The 2019 winner ensured a German medal in Utah instead of Hawaii.

St George’s (DPA) – Anne Haug with her last strength threw a bottle of water over her head and went completely exhausted on the hot black carpet in the goal area. The 39-year-old professional triathlete from Bavaria didn’t even want a beer at the awards ceremony.

“You don’t have membership to win,” said Hugh, happy and proud of her strong performance at the Ironman World Championships in St. “It was actually incredibly difficult,” she said: “In the marathon it was dying in installments then.”

Excellent in his fifth World Cup win against Swiss Daniela Raiff and Kat Matthews from Great Britain, the Bayreuth lightweight had no chance despite a great advantage in the first World Cup that did not take place in Hawaii.

“It will be a love-hate relationship between us”

And at the extraordinary premiere in the US state of Utah, the series ended. Germans in particular, especially among men, where Norwegian Kristian Blumenfelt crowned himself and his extraordinary year 2021 with the title. After Olympic victories in 2021, short distance world championship success in 2021 and world best time in 2021, he is now officially listed as the 2021 Ironman Champion. The race to be held in St. George in October 2021 was a catch-up World Championship because it was not possible to start it for the second time in a row in Hawaii due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“It will be a love-hate relationship between us,” predicted Jane Frodeno, who dethroned with a smile, switching from her adopted home in Girona to broadcast by Ghanta Television. The 2015, 2016 and 2019 world champions were also missing, following a partial tear in the Achilles tendon. “I’m very excited to see how it will end one day, when we look forward to seeing each other again,” Frodeno said again. , given the showdown that was now really expected for Hawaii in October. The now 40-year-old native of the Rhineland is no longer the only triathlete with Olympic and Ironman gold.

In the Marathon, Blumenfeldt Cheats the Competition

The fact that Blumenfelt was only at 90 percent after a cold, according to his instructor, gives an idea of what may still be to come. The “hats off”, also praised Patrick Lang, who was also the new champion, missing the 2017 and 2018 champions due to injury. After swimming 3.86 kilometers in Sand Hollow Reservoir and cycling 180.2 kilometers on a rough up-and-down course, Blumenfelt was not quite right for a medal, let alone victory.

With the marathon running at 2:38:01 hours, the strong and muscular athlete from Bergen outperformed all competition. “Maybe I started faster than I should have,” he said – he needed about 1:17 hours for the first 21 kilometres. Canada’s Lionel Sanders finished second in the final meter over New Zealand’s Brayden Curry, behind Blumenfelt.

Florian Engert was the best German. The 30-year-old, who had been in the top group for a long time, showed a strong showing, but eventually suffered from convulsions. “More than happy,” said Engert: “it was my first World Cup, I can’t even describe it.”

Sebastian Keinel, who started the German title era in 2014, finished 14th. “At first, alternating ice baths and whirlpools,” said the now 37-year-old, who looks to strike again at his last World Cup in October in Hawaii: “I’m not writing myself out yet.” Next year, Keenal wants to do a show run season to end his career.

Boris Stein was 17th, after a collision on a bike course with a motorcycle and Andreas Dretz was injured and had to be retired with a broken fork. It was the first time since 2008 that German men had not won a medal. Laura Zimmerman was in 16th place at the start of the Women’s World Cup.

At the front, Hough did everything to close the gap to the leading Ryf on his parade route. On the bike he lost contact with the Swiss woman, riding a lonely race for long periods of time, crossing breathtaking scenery with red canyons. “I thought, how am I supposed to run a marathon after cycling,” Hogg said. He did it in 2:56 hours. No professional triathlete was faster than 42.195 kms.