Search
shop

Hell of the West 2023 results: Gentle and Neumann dominate

Aussie duo Ashleigh Gentle and Max Neumann began their seasons with emphatic home victories in the 'Hell of the West'
News Director
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Ashleigh Gentle and Max Neumann underlined their status as favourites with clear-cut wins in the middle-distance Hell of the West event in Queensland on Sunday.

Gentle starts the season as the number one female in the PTO world rankings and she kicked off her campaign in perfect style.

As did Neumann, who is at #7 in the men’s standings after a stellar 2022 culminating with his fourth-placed finish at the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona and then victory at IRONMAN Western Australia.

Advertisement

PRO Women – Easy does it for Ashleigh

Ashleigh Gentle PTO Canadian Open 2022 finish
Ashleigh Gentle – the PTO’s number one (Photo by Darren Wheeler / That Cameraman)

Gentle’s main rival appeared to be fellow Aussie Ellie Salthouse and so it proved as the pair dominated from start to finish.

Salthouse exited the water a handful of seconds ahead but Gentle soon moved into the lead on the bike and at the halfway point after 40km she held an advantage of just over a minute.

That was up to 2:49 by T2 and the pattern continued on the run as she stopped the clock in 3:42:45 to win by nearly four minutes.

PRO Men – Cruise control for Neumann

In the men’s event it was Gentle’s partner Josh Amberger, the defending champion, who produced his customary impressive swim to exit the water first.

max-neumann-kona-2022-bike
Max Neumann (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images for IRONMAN)

But he was only a few seconds ahead of the next four, which included Neumann who took control on the bike.

By T2 he’d opened up a lead of nearly five minutes from Kieran Storch and Amberger in an all-Aussie one-two-three.

And those gaps went out on the run, Neumann crossing the line in 3:20:11 for his third win in the event after back-to-back successes in 2018 and 2019.

Hell of the West 2023 results

Sunday 26 March 2023 – 2km / 80km / 20km

PRO Women

  • 1. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) – 3:42:45
  • 2. Ellie Salthouse (AUS) – 3:46:30
  • 3. Kylie Simpson (AUS) – 4:00:33

PRO Men

  • 1. Max Neumann (AUS) – 3:20:11
  • 2. Kieran Storch (AUS) – 3:28:15
  • 3. Josh Amberger (AUS) – 3:30:56
Jonathan Turner
Written by
Jonathan Turner
Jonathan Turner is News Director for both TRI247 and RUN247, and is accustomed to big-name interviews, breaking news stories and providing unrivalled coverage for endurance sports.  
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
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!)
latest News
The PTO's CEO Sam Renouf
PTO reveal ambitions of matching Roth and Kona as French Riviera T100 triathlon course details unveiled
Sam Long St George 2024 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
‘No No No’ – Sam Long says he felt ROBBED by swim cancellation at ‘69.1 Chattanooga’
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
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...