IRONMAN 70.3 Maine results 2023: Significant wins for Foley and Priarone

There were two dominant winners at IRONMAN 70.3 Maine on Sunday as American Trevor Foley and Italy’s Giorgia Priarone came out on top.

It was Foley’s second 70.3 success and followed his third place to training partner Lionel Sanders at Oregon last week.

And it was a maiden success for Priarone after three podium places last season.

PRO Men – Foley too strong

It was a downstream swim in the Kennebec River and Greg Harper (USA) took full advantage as he exited the water in a rapid 14:14, 24 seconds ahead of Matt Sharpe (CAN).

Youngster Foley, already ranked #30 in the world, was more than two minutes back at this point but it didn’t take him long to make up the deficit on the bike as he moved to the head of affairs before the halfway point.

Gregory Barnaby (ITA) had eased into second by then and those first two positions wouldn’t change, though the gap would go out.

Starting the run there was 3:27 between them but when the line came Foley was over five minutes clear, with Justin Metzler (USA) claiming third place a further six minutes back.

Sharpe had actually crossed the line in third but received a disqualification due to a rule infringement as his suit was fully unzipped, a decision which he has since told us has left him ‘heartbroken’.

Trevor Foley IRONMAN 703 Maine [Photo credit: Patrick McDermott / Getty Images for IRONMAN] — [Photo credit: Meg Oliphant / Getty Images for IRONMAN]

“I felt great on the bike,” said Foley afterwards. “I made a big move about halfway in to break away and today was my lucky day. I just felt amazing and was able to keep giving it.

“I just knew I had it on the run and was stoked to get to the finish line.”

PRO Women – the Italian job!

Priarone also had some ground to make up after the swim as she was 42 seconds down on a front pack of five.

But she too made the bike leg the decisive one – she led after 20 miles from American Amy Cymerman and as with the men’s race that duo would fill those two places at the finish line.

Starting the run Priarone had a three-minute cushion and it was up to over four-and-a-half minutes at the halfway stage.

She crossed the line 5:27 to the good, with Cymerman second and Nicole Falcaro (USA) rounding out the podium.

🏆 Congratulations to Georgia Priarone, the Women's Champion of IRONMAN 70.3 Maine, for her remarkable victory with an impressive time of 4:11:24! 🏊‍♀️🚲🏃‍♀️#IM703Maine #IRONMANtri #AnythingIsPossible pic.twitter.com/kJAw4wvPnQ
— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) July 30, 2023

“It’s an amazing feeling,” said Priarone after her first 70.3 success. “It was a good day for me and I’m so happy with the win.

“There’s been plenty of travel to get here but I was feeling in good form, the course was great and the support was fantastic.”