Viennot wins as Tim Don’s Kona quest ends at IRONMAN Copenhagen

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Cyril Viennot - IRONMAN Copenhagen
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DNF ends Don’s hopes of return to the IRONMAN World Champs in 2018

Lots of British Age-Group success… and a ‘World Record’ performance too in Denmark

(Photo credits – KMD IRONMAN Denmark Facebook page)

It was always going to be a monumental challenge – and that he was even in the mix to try and make it happen, is truly remarkable. After ninth place recently at IRONMAN Hamburg, Great Britain’s Tim Don was racing at IRONMAN Copenhagen on Sunday in a final attempt to secure the necessary qualification points to race in Kona in October. After what he has been through since his broken neck, it was always going to be a tough ask – but for much of the race, it did look quite possible.

With Jesper Svensson (SWE) at the front of the race out of the swim, with 60km of the bike complete he was leading the race by two minutes, but by 110km, last years IRONMAN Kalmar winner, Clemente Alonso-Mckernan (ESP) had caught him. The Spanish athlete would lead into T2, four minutes up on Denmark’s Kristian Høgenhaug, before Don, Boris Stein (GER), Giulio Molinari (ITA) and eventual winner, Cyril Viennot, arrived another minute and a half later.

Alonso-Mckernan was out of the race within the first 10km, and halfway through the run Don was just 1:10 back from Viennot, but soon after started to struggle and lose lots of time, before eventually having to stop around the 26km mark. Viennot continued on to win, just dipping under the eight hour mark.

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@kmdironmandenmark is an amazing race the venue, organisation and well generally friendliness of everyone here in the city was just awesome , Thank You 🙏. As for my race were do I begin…..10 months ago 😂 a solid swim very ave bike with a few stops (long story 🙄) and a fading run that hurt so bad to an eventful dnf. It’s a brutal sport that has kicked me in the nuts a few times the last 10 months. Alas no @ironmantri Kona for me but in a strange way I loved trying to qualify this year when my backs against the wall I fight, I may have lost this battle but I will win the war and come back stronger, faster and more prepared oh and with slightly more training under my belt for a full Ironman race!!. Thank you Thank you for all the love and support this is what makes our sport the greatest the community the sportsmanship and respect we have for each other 🙏. Time for a physical and mental break for me 😘#trainhardraceeasy #nevergiveup #familyfirst 📸 @jamesmitchell5 👌

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Record breaker?

The women’s event in Copenhagen was Age-Group only (just as Saturday’s race a couple of hundred miles away in Kalmar was Age-Group only for men), and saw home athlete Christina Svejstrup win by almost 37 minutes. Her time? Nine hours EXACTLY.

That, to the best of my knowledge, is the fastest female Age-Group iron-distance performance ever. At the same race last year, Christina clocked 9:17:06, the third fastest time of the day overall, only beaten my the leading two Pro athletes, Michelle Vesterby and Corinne Abraham.

Christina Svejstrup - IRONMAN Copenhagen 2018

IRONMAN Copenhagen, Denmark – Sunday 19th August 2018
3.8km / 180km / 42.2km

PRO MEN

1st – Cyril Viennot (FRA) – 7:59:52
2nd – Kristian Høgenhaug (DEN) – 8:02:53
3rd – Giulio Molinari (ITA) – 8:05:56
4th – Boris Stein (GER) – 8:10:51
5th – Markus Fachbach (GER) – 8:14:32
6th – Johann Ackermann (GER) – 8:15:47
7th – Chris Fischer (DEN) – 8:19:14
8th – Nick Baldwin (SEY) – 8:22:18
9th – Sebastian Norberg (SWE) – 8:25:25
10th – Kristian Hindkjaer (DEN) – 8:36:45

British Age-Group Podiums

2nd – Jennifer Stewart (GBR) – 9:48:35 – F35-39 (4th fastest Female Age-Group athlete)
2nd – Sophie Whitworth (GBR) – 10:21:23 – F45-49
1st – Gill Fullen (GBR) – 10:09:11 – F50-54 (10th fastest Female Age-Group athlete)
1st – Glenda Goscomb (GBR) – 12:45:00 – F60-64
3rd – Patricia Darling (GBR) – 13:43:06 – F60-64
2nd – Pat Atwood (GBR) – 15:33:43 – F65-69

3rd – Alan Semple (GBR) – 8:52:07 – M35-39 (8th fastest Male Age-Group athlete)
2nd – Charles Pennington (GBR) – 8:53:34 – M40-44
3rd – Graham Tye (GBR) – 10:21:09 – M55-59
3rd – Terrence Murphy (GBR) – 14:23:00 – M70-74

In addition to the above, Emma Wardell (10:02:16) finished fourth in the F30-34 division, making her the second fastest GB Age-Group Female and 7th fastest overall Female Age-Group athlete.

Also, Gary Laybourne (8:55:44) went Sub-9 in his first IRONMAN, finishing fifth in the M35-39 category, the third fastest overall Brit and 13th fastest overall Male Age-Group athlete.