It was the most thrilling race that Klagenfurt has ever seen Marino Vanhoenacker dominated the race from Bike kilometre 20 on and won for the third time in a row. Sandra Wallenhorst finishes with world best! Best Austrian is Hannes Hempel on third rank. The weather turns out fine in the end.
The 10th Kärnten IRONMAN Austria was characterised by a record-breaking field - in terms of numbers as well as in terms of the results of the PROs. 2.453 athletes started at 7.00 a.m sharp. The weather conditions for the race could not have been better – the sky was overclouded and the temperatures were comfortable when the starting signal was given. More than approx. 18.000 spectators came to watch them at the start in the open-air bath ‘Strandbad Klagenfurt’.
The lead during the 3.8km in the water is taken as was to be expected by the two Storm brothers from South Africa – Anton and Brad. In the chasing group are Marino Vanhoenacker (BEL) and Werner Leitner (AUT). Anton Storm is first out of the water after 0:45:53. In the women’s category it is Lucie Zelenkova (CZE) who changes first onto the bike.
On the bike course Charley Loisel (FRAU) overtakes the Storm brothers and takes the lead. Vanhoenacker catches up with them and is already in second place right after Loisel at bike kilometre 20. At kilometre 63 the chasing group consists of Werner Leitner, Hannes Hempel, Peter Schoissengeier and Stephen Bayliss, who change places all the time and compete for the best rank after the leader. The women’s field is still lead by Zelenkova, followed by Dede Griesbauer (USA) and Bella Comerford (GBR). At kilometre 107 Loisel has troubles with his tire and looses a good deal of his lead. Vanhoenacker then finally takes the lead and does not give it away anymore. Hempel and Leitner constantly change position as best Austrian male.
In the women’s field Zelenkova is overtaken by Comerford at kilometre 90, on third rank is at that point Dede Griesbauer. At kilometre 90 Sandra Wallenhorst makes it to place three.
Vanhoenacker starts the run with a lead of seven minutes and Stephen Bayliss is in the chasing group on place two from kilometre ten onwards. The third place is changing between Leitner and Hempel several times, but Hempel finally wins this duel.
Hat-trick for Vanhoenacker!
Belgian Marino Vanhoenacker wins the Kärnten IRONMAN Austria in 08:06:11 for the third time in a row. Stephen Bayliss (GBR) follows in 08:13:53. Best Austrian and best Carinthian athlete ever is ex-bike pro Hannes Hempel in 08:16:56. Werner Leitner finishes fourth with a time of 08:22:23, followed by Croatian Dejan Patrcevic on the fifth place in 08:28:04.
World best for Wallenhorst!
In the women’s field it is Sandra Wallenhorst (GER) who is taking the lead and is not just winning her first IRONMAN ever but also finishing with world besttime in 08:47:26 that has been set up by Paula Newby Fraser in 1994 at IRONMAN Europe with 08:50:55.
Bella Comerford (GBR), fiancée of second ranked Stephen Bayliss, also finishes on second rank (08:51:17). Last year’s winner Edith Niederfriniger has to give in to Comerford again and comes in third in 08:59:45.
The best Austrian woman is Marlies Penker with 09:18:47 and finishes on the sixth place in the women’s division.
For the first time in history of the Kärnten IRONMAN Austria the race was affected by bad weather and a storm, which blew over Carinthia, made it hard for the athletes. Norbert Langbrandtner fell badly and had to be taken to the hospital with a bruised hip. According to the circumstances he is in a quite good condition.
The worldwide media coverage of the race was prepared by more than 100 accredited, international media representatives for approx. 40 millionen viewers and readers. Apart from the ORF, who broadcasted the race semi-live, there were also many international TV-stations represented, among them PRO7 from Germany, who shot on location for a report for the infotainment series “Galileo“.
As the race was fully booked within 19 hours last year, a new system was set up, in order to allow athletes a problem free application already on site. Application is open from Monday, 9.00 a.m. in the IRONMAN City.
For results and pictures see: IronmanAustria.com.
Results
| Men |
| 1 | Marino Vanhoenacker | BEL | 08:06:11 |
| 2 | Stephen Bayliss | GBR | 08:13:53 |
| 3 | Hannes Hempel | AUT | 08:16:56 |
| 4 | Werner Leitner | AUT | 08:22:23 |
| 5 | Dejan Patrcevic | CRO | 08:28:04 |
| 6 | Benjamin Rossmann | GER | 08:29:57 |
| 7 | Hans Mühlbauer | GER | 08:31:27 |
| 8 | Josè-Luis Cano-Villanueva | ESP | 08:32:09 |
| 9 | Peter Schoissengeier | AUT | 08:32:33 |
| 10 | Karl Prungraber | AUT | 08:35:03 |
| Women |
| 1 | Sandra Wallenhorst | GER | 08:47:26 |
| 2 | Bella Comerford | GBR | 08:51:17 |
| 3 | Edith Niederfriniger | ITA | 08:59:45 |
| 4 | Tamara Kozulina | UKR | 09:06:42 |
| 5 | Lucie Zelenkova | CZE | 09:13:15 |
FACTS
13th July 2008 | 7.00 a.m | Strandbad Klagenfurt
3,8 km SWIM | 180 km BIKE | 42,2 km RUN
2.400 athletes | 61 PROs
50 qualifying slots for the IRONMAN world championship in Hawaii
IronmanAustria.com.
Photo: © Martin Steinthaler
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