Athletes – pros and amateurs – had to deal with one of the hottest days in recent Kona history at the 2015 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. Cloudless sky in the morning, almost no swell and temperatures up to 39°C exhausted the participants past Saturday.
Almost all supposed race favorites reached T1 together and a few attacks within the big leading group with more than 15 athletes were unsuccessful.
After the turning point in Hawi Timothy O’Donnell mustered up his courage, attacked and formed a small gap. Unfortunately he faced a mechanical shortly before entering T2 and had Frodeno to let pass who left T2 as the race leader.
“Sometimes you get an opportunity and you just have to take it and not look back.”
O’Donnell – dressed in aerodynamic T1:Stealth Top and Free two piece kit – claimed the third fastest bike split of the day.
He started the concluding marathon in second position, fought bravely and achieved his first Kona podium with third place in 8:18:50, behind winner Jan Frodeno and Andreas Raelert.
The American after the race:
„I am really proud of taking the risk on the bike. I expected I can have a performance like this and be on the podium, but I didn’t expect that it happened that way. Sometimes you get an opportunity and you just have to take it and not look back. It could have turned out horribly but in the biggest race in our sport you gotta role the dice a little bit and see what happens.“
Andreas Raelert – who wore the Free Sanremo Suit SS for the entire race – has shown a strong comeback race after two difficult years. In his seventh race in Kona, he finished second in 8:17:43 hours.
“Jan was very strong today,” said Andreas Raelert after the finish on the Alii Drive, “he showed the best performance, and he deserved this victory.”
Like O’Donnell, Raelert also suffered a mechanical and lost touch with the leading group on the second half of the bike leg.
“Unfortunately, I had some bad luck on the bike today,” said Andreas Raelert. “I want to thank the mechanics in the neutral service car”, said Andreas Raelert, “they were there immediately and could help me.” Although the bike was fixed quite quickly, Andreas Raelert lost some time due to the fact that the US-American Tim O’Donnell had made a move just moments before Andreas Raelert flattened. “The timing of the flat tire was not really great,” said Andreas Raelert, “but punctures never appear at the right time.”
“After two difficult years, I am very happy that I’m back on the podium in Kona.”
Andreas Raelert started into the marathon being 5:23 minutes down on leader Jan Frodeno and moved into third place before he hit the half marathon mark. “The heat was tremendous,” said Andreas Raelert later. “I was not able to push my pace on the final kilometers” Five kilometers away from the finish line, he overtook Tim O’Donnell for second place. Andreas Raelert ran the second-fastest marathon time of the day in 2:50:02 hours. “After two difficult years, I am very happy that I’m back on the podium in Kona”, said Andreas Raelert.
Winner Jan Frodeno flanked by Andreas Raelert and Timothy O’Donnell
Top men
1. Jan Frodeno (GER) 8:14:40
2. Andreas Raelert (GER) 8:17:43
3. Timothy O’Donnell (USA) 8:18:50
Top women
1. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 8:57:57
2. Rachel Joyce (GBR) 9:10:59
3. Liz Blatchford (AUS) 9:14:52
Some other Castelli athletes had a bad day.
2013 champion Frederik Van Lierde finished 31st and Scotsman Fraser Cartmell fought through to the finish in the mid-range.
Defending champion Mirinda Carfrea had to pull out on the bike and Marino Vanhoenacker abandoned during the run.
All details on Castelli triathlon here.
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