Search
shop

Jan Frodeno “speechless” after powering to record

Jan Frodeno was left "speechless" after overcoming a fall and poor conditions to set a new iron-distance best time in Germany on Sunday.
Editor-In-Chief
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Jan Frodeno was left “speechless” after powering to a new record iron-distance time in Sunday’s Zwift Tri Battle Royale in Germany.

Frodeno overcame the pain of a fall during the closing run to storm home in a new best of 7:27:53. He was more than 15 minutes clear of rival Lionel Sanders, who himself clocked a personal best of 7:43:28.

Everything pre-event had been set up with the aim of chasing a new iron-distance record – Frodeno already owned the previous standard with 7:35:39 at Challenge Roth back in 2016.

The weather did not play ball however, with cold and wet conditions in the Allgäu region hampering the two combatants.

Advertisement

Unbelievably hard – Jan Frodeno

Frodeno admitted afterwards: “That was hard, so unbelievably hard. You haven’t done an ironman for two years and you race it like a 70.3, that’s a mistake in the beginning.

“Massive thank you to everybody who came out It was so tough because it was cold and it was rainy. Everybody was out and It was really quite something. I’m speechless but I’m a broken man right now.

“The truth is, it’s not exactly what’s referred to as Frodeno weather – so I’m sorry to everybody who came out and endured the conditions – it’s amazing. I have to say it got quite cold on the bike, but really it was just amazing to do this kind of thing.”

While the physical pain was significant for Frodeno, he also recounted the mental stress of constantly calculating where he was from a time perspective.

Jan Frodeno Zwift Tri Battle Royale 2021
A moment of reflection for Jan Frodeno after clocking 7:27:53 (Photo Credit: Joern Pollex)

Doing the math

“It was so clinical because you never had to look up, you could just try to go as fast as possible,” he said.

“I was doing the maths in my head, I don’t think I’ve ever calculated so much – 1 minute 20s, one kilometre at 45km/h. I don’t know how many times I’ve worked that out.

“Same thing on the run, trying to keep the time as fast as possible of course. We dreamt of this but I didn’t have a time in my head. Lionel said he wanted to go 7:29 and I’m like ‘I’ve gotta go faster than that if he’s going 7:29’.”

Frodeno also paid tribute to his valiant opponent, saying: “Lionel is a great athlete who has pushed me further and further over the last two years and who was on for a world record here for a long time, which many people certainly did not expect of him.”

Graham Shaw
Written by
Graham Shaw
Graham has been involved with TRI247 & RUN247 since the summer of 2021. Since then he has provided strategic direction for all news and is passionate about the growth of triathlon as a fan sport.
Discover more
Dave Ellis / Luke Pollard - World Para Triathlon Championships Pontevedra 2023
Golden opportunity – British Triathlon launches search for LA2028 paratriathlon guides
IRONMAN Lanzarote 2024 - Anne Haug on run course
Best marathon shoes for Ironman – the ‘legal’ super shoes you CAN wear to level up your run split
Challenge Sanremo 2024 - Photo: Jose Luis Hourcade
How to fuel your triathlon training: Expert nutritionist tips to help you nail every session
swim start IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2024 photo credit Tony Svensson IRONMAN
Level up your Ironman swim split – must-read tips from an expert swim coach
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
latest News
Richard Varga Jonny Brownlee Arzachena
Triathlon legend Jonny Brownlee reveals ‘Last Dance’ motivation behind latest challenge
IRONMAN Kona 2022 Age Group Results
How will “re-imagined” IRONMAN World Championship at Kona actually look for Age Groupers?
Lucy Charles-Barclay IRONMAN World Championship Kona 2023 Finish
IRONMAN World Championship goes ALL IN on Kona again with men and women to race on same day from 2026
Laura Philipp and Kat Matthews on the run at the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship
Nice gets consolation prize of 70.3 Worlds after IRONMAN World Championships return to Kona
Kona scenic 2022 photo credit Getty Images for IRONMAN
The survey results which prompted IRONMAN’s dramatic Kona U-turn
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...