For the third time – and second time in a row – Taylor Knibb has simply develop into World Champion Ironman 70.3. In Taupo, New Zealand, the American athlete did precisely what was anticipated: she destroyed everybody on the bike, always elevated her lead and through the run she merely completed it off.
Proper from the swim, the race was made powerful, primarily by Knibb. This was considerably placing, as she often solely reveals herself through the bike and run, however this time the defending champion thus instantly took the initiative and was desperate to make an announcement. Nonetheless, she let herself drop again a bit in the previous few hundred meters of the swim, ultimately leaving the initiative to Sara Perez Sala and likewise Lotte Wilms. These have been additionally the ladies who got here out of the water first, however instantly behind them adopted Rebecca Clarke, Marta Sanchez, Knibb, Imogen Simmonds, Caroline Pohle, Julie Derron, Hanne de Vet and Jodie Stimpson, amongst others. The primary ten athletes got here out of the water inside 24 seconds of one another, whereas a variety of favorites confronted greater deficits. Kat Matthews, for instance, adopted in fifteenth place at 43 seconds, Ashleigh Light got here out of the water instantly after at 44 seconds, and Paula Findlay was allowed to seek for her bike in twentieth place – one minute behind Knibb.
On the bike all types of teams have been fashioned, however what everybody had anticipated occurred instantly on the entrance: within the first powerful kilometers Knibb rode to the lead and wouldn’t relinquish it to the end. Knibb began to actually speed up after a couple of kilometers already and made certain that no person might sustain together with her. After thirty kilometers she was already a minute and a half forward of Simmonds and Matthews, who had discovered one another within the chase, and thirty kilometers later her lead had elevated to a different minute. In the meantime, behind Simmonds and Matthews was a bigger chasing group together with Wilms, Light, Derron, Sanchez, Findlay, Pohle and likewise Belgium’s Hanne de Vet, however even that group noticed the hole develop bigger and bigger.
Within the ultimate 15 kilometers of biking, Knibb accelerated but once more, on one other powerful stretch of climbing, and that meant her lead in T2 had elevated to 4:39 on Simmonds and 4:52 on Matthews. The chasing group behind, who at that time had been caught by Hannah Berry, Lisa Becharas and Laura Madsen, adopted at over eight minutes.
The truth that Knibb’s victory was really now not at risk didn’t make the half marathon any much less fascinating. All types of issues have been nonetheless occurring and the battle for bronze proved particularly thrilling. Nearly instantly it was clear that Knibb would win and that the very sturdy operating Matthews, who ultimately approached Knibb by simply over a minute, can be second was additionally evident, however behind them a battle for third place erupted between Simmonds, Light and Derron. After fifteen kilometers it was clear who was the strongest of those ladies and Light started to safe third place.
The race was received by Knibb: she extended her world title in 3:57:34. Matthews was second at 1:15 minute behind and Light was third at 5:27 minute behind.
Full prime ten:
- Taylor Knibb 3:57:34
- Kat Matthews +1:15
- Ashleigh Light +5:27
- Imogen Simmonds +7:38
- Julie Derron +8:28
- Paula Findlay +9:38
- Ellie Salthouse +10:14
- Caroline Pohle +10:32
- Tamara Jewett +11:12
- Grace Thek +11:33