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An Austrian Gallery: Kienle, Wutti win Challenge Walchsee

There was Middle distance racing this past weekend outside of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships. We've got some great images from the stunning Austrian Challenge Walchsee, where Sebastian Kienle took the win and there was British Pro interest too...
Chief Correspondent
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Race images from Challenge Walchsee, Austria

Despite all of the (justified) hype of the past weekend’s IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in South Africa, there was still professional middle distance racing going on elsewhere around the world.

In Austria, the stunning surrounds of Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee also included Sebastian Kienle, a two-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion who early this year confirmed that in order to focus on his preparations of the IRONMAN World Championship, he wanted to avoid adding more long-haul flights from Europe to his schedule. After recently winning at Challenge Turku in Finland, the Challenge Walchsee race was a perfect for for him.

Once again we on TRI247 get to benefit from the travels and lens of Photographer José Luis Hourcade (www.joseluishourcade.com), who has certainly clocked up some miles this year while covering many of the most stunning races around Europe.

As with Turku, British interest again at Walchsee where always busy Laura Siddall added another second place to her C.V. (at a race she won last year), while Thomas Davis (who was fourth in Finland), was sixth this week, coming out with the leaders on the swim and then producing the second fastest run of the day too, to make up for a “struggle” on the bike. Thomas was part of two National Championship winning Race Hub teams last week at the Club Relays in Nottingham

Check out some great images from the race below

Challenge Kaiserwinkl-Walchsee, Austria – Sunday 3rd September 2018
1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

PRO MEN

1st – Sebastian Kienle (GER) – 3:48:39
2nd – Frederic Funk (GER) – 3:51:27
3rd – Daniel Bækkegård (DEN) – 3:54:44
4th – Manuel Küng (SUI) – 3:58:00
5th – Niclas Bock (GER) – 3:58:18
6th – Thomas Davis (GBR) – 3:59:38

PRO WOMEN

1st – Eva Wutti (AUT) – 4:18:11
2nd – Laura Siddall (GBR) – 4:20:54
3rd – Margie Santimaria (ITA) – 4:24:07
4th – Lisa Roberts (USA) – 4:27:29
5th – Bianca Steurer (AUT) – 4:28:03

Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Kienle pre-race
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
The swim starts
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Quite a view

Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade

Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Daniel Bækkegård (DEN) lead the swim, with only Thomas Davis (GBR) for company
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Sebastian Kienle (25:53) was three minutes off the lead through the swim
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Defending Champion, Thomas Steger (AUT)
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Time to make up? Sebi is used to that…
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Out on the bike course
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Julian Erhardt
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Lots of green on this course
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Frederic Funk
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
No race number on this one!
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Kienle in his comfort zone – on the bike
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Thomas David looking aero
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
It’s picture postcard stuff at times at Walchsee
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Fastest bike split – but still not leading at T2
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
It’s green, it’s clean
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Daniel Bækkegård (DEN) lead the swim and biked well too
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Frederic Funk (GER) was second only to Sebi on the bike splits in Austria
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Kienle on the run
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Funk ran 1:16:55 for second place
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Daniel Bækkegård earned third place with a strong all-round performance
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Austria’s Eva Wutti on the run
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Laura Siddall is no stranger to a Challenge Family event
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Another podium, 3rd, for Margie Santimaria (ITA)
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Just in case you forget where you are…

 

Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Fastest run split to add to the best bike split
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
The men’s podium
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Wutti takes the win
Challenge Walchsee - Photo Jose Luis Hourcade
Second for Great Britain’s Laura Siddall today
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
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