Search
shop

Clavel and Frederiksen win IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy

Several British Pro athletes were in action on Saturday at IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy, where Colin Norris secured his second 70.3 podium. Two quality winners at the popular race in central France
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Second place for Colin Norris in France

(All images are copyright and with thanks to Darren Wheeler, a.k.a. That Camera Man (www.thatcameraman.com). Follow Darren via Facebook)

Saturday’s IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of central France, was the first of a double-header, ahead of the popular (Age-Group only) full distance IRONMAN race on the Sunday. It’s a cracking race and venue, one I did myself (slowly!) in 2015. Indeed, that’s the last triathlon I actually raced… about time to get back out there in 2019 I think.

Pro Men

Great Britain’s David McNamee was hoping for a good pre-Kona test, but after a typically good swim and leading, he was soon out of the race with a puncture.

Germany’s Maurice Clavel was only around 20 seconds back through the 1.9km swim, and with his bike prowess he put that to good use and powered his way to a big lead of six and a half minutes at T2, with a 2:04:24 bike split on a course which, from my experience, is actually around 2.5km long. Mattia Ceccarelli (ITA) was through in second, with Alexander Chikin (RUS) and Colin Norris (GBR) starting the run more than eight minutes back on the German.

IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy 2018
Colin Norris

With such a lead, Clavel was unlikely to be threatened for the lead; and certainly not when he produced a 1:13:16 run too. Colin Norris (1:12:32) produced the fastest run of the day, to add a second place finish to his recent third at IRONMAN 70.3 Luxembourg.

Pro Women

A quality women’s field saw reigning ITU Long Distance World Champion, Helle Frederiksen (DEN) and 2012 Olympic Silver medallist, Lisa Norden (SWE), lead out of the water alongside Lena Berthelot-Moritz (FRA). The French athlete was soon distanced by her Helle and Lisa, who would reach T2 still in close order. Despite their impressive speed on the bike, Jocelyn McCauley (USA) and Kerry Morris (AUS) both gained around a minute over the ride, to start the run just two minutes back.

IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy 2018
Helle Frederiksen

The British entry saw Alice Hector (7th, +10:45), Chantal Cummings (9th, +11:43) and Natalie Seymour (10th, 12:34) with the half marathon ahead.

IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy 2018
Natalie Seymour and Chantal Cummings

Frederiksen pulled away steadily through the run en-route to her ninth IRONMAN 70.3 win. Incredibly consistent, her debut at the IRONMAN World Championship in October will be one to take note of. McCauley was able to leap-frog Norden to take the Silver, with the Swede completing the podium.

IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy 2018
Alice Hector

Great Britain’s Alice Hector (1:18:38) produced the fastest run of the day – two minutes quicker than Helle – to jump up to fourth place.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm-4Yfylru9/

Age Group News

British Age-Group athlete, Tara Grosvenor (30-34) was the fastest AG athlete overall (4:36:25), while Katherine Renouf (4:42:25) won the 25-29 division. Lucy Woollacott (4:57:11) was second in F40-44, Emma Bush and Genevieve Freeman securing a British one-two in F45-49.

IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy, France – Saturday 25th August 2018
1.9km / 90km / 21.1km

PRO MEN

1st – Maurice Clavel (GER) – 3:46:17
2nd – Colin Norris (GBR) – 3:53:54
3rd – Mattia Ceccarelli (ITA) – 3:58:42
4th – Alexander Chikin (RUS) – 3:59:34
5th – Horst Reichel (GER) – 4:00:43

DNF – David McNamee (GBR)

IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy 2018

PRO WOMEN

1st – Helle Frederiksen (DEN) – 4:11:27
2nd – Jocelyn McCauley (USA) – 4:15:16
3rd – Lisa Norden (SWE) – 4:17:33
4th – Alice Hector (GBR) – 4:20:10
5th – Manon Genet (FRA) – 4:21:14

9th – Natalie Seymour (GBR) – 4:26:48
10th – Chantal Cummings (GBR) – 4:27:35

IRONMAN 70.3 Vichy 2018

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm_NQSVlkW1/

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.
Discover more
TRI247 podcast
What is it really like to be a professional triathlete? NEW TRI247 x Challenge Family podcast takes you beyond the start lines this race season
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Let’s race… French Riviera T100
TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit review
The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review
Gustav Iden aero position body rocket
How to get better at holding your time trial position – Expert tips from former PRO time trial cyclist Alex Dowsett
latest News
Challenge Barcelona 2023 - Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade
‘It’s going to be an absolute firecracker’ says Cam Wurf after booking IRONMAN World Champs spot
Maya Kingma Karlovy Vary win 2024
Two-time Olympic triathlete joins top pro cycling team – and is set to race in Giro d’Italia
Oliver Conway World Triathlon Cuo win Saidia 2025
Breakthrough World Cup win – and Brownlee Racing spot – in memorable week for British youngster
Lionel Sanders wins 70.3 St George 2025 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
Triathlon superstar Lionel Sanders moving again but taking it step by step in injury battle
Magnus Ditlev - T100 San Francisco 2024 run
“I lost it mentally” – Magnus Ditlev reveals why he was shown red card at IRONMAN Frankfurt
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...