Anne Haug is the new IRONMAN World Champion

Second again for Lucy Charles-Barclay, as Daniela Ryf fades in Hawaii

Haug completes a German double in Kona

The 2019 IRONMAN World Championship will always be a memorable day for coach Dan Lorang. The day didn’t go as anyone expected – Daniela Ryf finish 13th – but despite the best efforts of Great Britain’s Lucy Charles-Barclay, leading the race from the moment the cannon fired almost seven and a half hours wasn’t enough to take the win – not when the speedy legs of Anne Haug produce a 2:51:07 marathon. Three consecutive second place finishes for Lucy who will surely take this title in the very near future?

How do you feel when your athletes @haug_anne and @janfrodeno just both won the World Championship title? I can’t tell you…ask me again in some days… #nowords #proudcoach #forthewin #thankful #kona2win #makinghistory #dlcoaching

— Dan Lorang 🇱🇺 (@Danlorang) October 13, 2019

The Swim

The swim – of course – was lead by Lucy, who this year had the company of the sport’s other ‘fish’, Lauren Brandon (USA). They exited the water in 49:02, a full five minutes clear of the chasing group, headed by Jennifer Spieldenner (USA) which included most of the pre-race favourites including the defending, four-time champion. Lucy aside, the Brits were further back with Kimberley Morrison (58:58), Susie Cheetham (59:02), Nikki Bartlett (59:14), Corinne Abraham (1:02:46) and Laura Siddall (1:04:34).

.@LucyAnneCharles is first out of the water for the Pro Women with @lb_brandon following close behind!#IMWC #AnythingisPossible #VegaTeam pic.twitter.com/2A93GeiAnE

— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) October 12, 2019

The Bike

A transition error from Brandon meant that Lucy was on her own from the start, a position that she would maintain for the whole 180km. A 4:47:21 bike split returned the 26 year old Brit back to the Kona pier with a lead of almost eight minutes over Daniela Bleymehl (GER), Anne Haug (GER), Sarah Crowley (AUS), Laura Phillip (GER) and Carrie Lester (AUS).

.@LucyAnneCharles clocked a 4:47:21 bike and was first into T2 for the Pro Women.

She's currently in lead on the run, but Anne Haug is making up some time behind her! Catch all the action live on IRONMAN now: https://t.co/Z4ccVy9PqS #IMWC pic.twitter.com/haXPYAK0fE

— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) October 12, 2019

The big surprise was Daniela Ryf. Her expected and typical pace over the second half of the ride never materialised, and she was in a very unfamiliar ninth position and close on 13 minutes in arrears with a marathon to run.

The 4x-Defending Champion Daniela Ryf is in 10th place on the bike right now at the 2019 @VegaTeam IRONMAN World Championship.

Brought to you by Reef to Reef MTB and @visitqueensland. #IMWC #ItsLive pic.twitter.com/kniVNqSn77

— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) October 12, 2019

As they were in Kalmar 2018 and Tallinn 2018, Corinne Abraham and Kimberley Morrison found themselves within a minute of each other at T2 in 11th and 12th, 17 minutes behind, slightly paying for their swim deficits after strong bike splits.

Run

Charles-Barclay had been bold, and with a recent 5km PB, knew she was in good run form too. She looked strong, looked flowing from the start… but Anne Haug looked amazing. The German athlete – third last year – had closed the gap to five minutes at the bottom of Palani Hill and continued to close, the pass coming at around the 25km mark in the Energy Lab.

Anne Haug decisively passes Lucy Charles-Barclay on the run to take the lead at the 2019 @VegaTeam IRONMAN World Championship! #IMWC #AnythingisPossible #VegaTeam pic.twitter.com/epAVg9wRby

— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) October 13, 2019

Lucy could not go with the pace of the speedy Haug, but there were other problems awaiting her, in the form of Sarah Crowley. A few miles later and first had now become third.

.@Sarah_Crowley1 passes Lucy Charles-Barclay to move into 2nd place behind Ann Haug with under 5 miles to go on the @HOKAONEONE Run Course. #IMWC #AnythingisPossible pic.twitter.com/UhCCCjd676

— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) October 13, 2019

Just when it looked as though her race could be unravelling, the Brit fought back and was able to bridge back to Sarah and regain that second place – and maintain it to the finish. It wasn’t the win she craved – but it was a gutsy performance to hold things together. She finished with a 3:06:00 run split.

Corinne Abraham finished very strongly – 2:59:28 for her run – which took her up to seventh place, her best ever finish in Hawaii (and just two seconds ahead of Carrie Lester).

Anne Haug is your 2019 @VegaTeam IRONMAN World Champion in 8:40:10! #IMWC #AnythingisPossible 🏆 pic.twitter.com/22woeYloDB

— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) October 13, 2019

IRONMAN World Championship, Kona, Hawaii – Saturday 12th October 2019
3.8km / 180km / 42.2km

PRO WOMEN

1st – Anne Haug GER) – 8:40:10
2nd – Lucy Charles-Barclay (GBR) – 8:46:44
3rd – Sarah Crowley (AUS) – 8:48:13
4th – Laura Philipp (GER) – 8:51:42
5th – Heather Jackson (USA) – 8:54:44
6th – Kaisa Sali (FIN) – 8:55:33
7th – Corinne Abraham (GBR) – 8:58:38
8th – Carrie Lester (AUS) – 8:58:40
9th – Daniela Bleymehl (GER) – 9:08:30
10th – Linsey Corbin (USA) – 9:09:06