Laura Zimmermann and Sebastian Norberg claimed brilliant victories in the brutal Norseman Xtreme Triathlon in Norway on Saturday.
As ever it was a gripping renewal of ‘the race that makes triathletes cry’, with 259 competitors making the iconic 5am plunge into the water from a ferry to kick off their tortuous journey of Scandinavian discovery.
They then blasted through a leg-burning bike segment before the run to the finish on the unforgiving Mount Gausta. And it was Zimmermann and Norberg who took the tape for famous victories.
Women – Zimmermann rides clear
German professional athlete Zimmermann seized the lead in T1 and dominated the bike segment with an impressive 5 h 52 minutes split. She crossed the finish line as the first female and the eighth overall finisher, posting a fantastic time of 11 hours 30 minutes.
Speaking afterwards, she said: “It was a great experience and a truly fair race, just how triathlon should be.”
There was a battle for the two last podium spots with British athlete Claire Weller having held second place in most of the race but then being overtaken by Norwegian Kaja Bergwitz-Larsen during the gruelling final ascent up Gaustatoppen.
Last year’s winner Flora Colledge just missed out on a podium as she came home in fourth, and later she revealed in an Instagram post that she had been sick on the day of the race:
“Not ideal preparation and sickness on the day meant a fight from the start. We did absolutely everything we could to get to the mountain top as fast as possible, and I will try to be a little proud of 4th place.
“This doesn’t take anything away from amazing performances of my competitors who raced brilliantly. Yesterday my body just wasn’t ready to follow.”
Men – Norberg ‘beyond thrilled’
As anticipated, Norwegian Jørgen Gundersen quickly surged ahead on the swim and maintained his lead up to the Imingfjell climb, where he was gradually overtaken by the Sweden’s Norberg. From that point, Norberg dominated the race, extending his lead and clinching victory in a time of 10 hours and 10 minutes.
“I have never been so exhausted. The course is absolutely stunning, and I am beyond thrilled,” he said at the finish.
Behind Norberg, there was a fierce battle for the remaining podium spots. The support teams of the German triathlete Lars Wichert and French competitor Aurélien Le Lay did not manage to keep up with their athletes, forcing the athletes to stay waiting at the finish line.
Wichert claimed second in a time of 10 hours 39 minutes, while the support of Le Lay had a sprint finish to claim third in 10 hours 40 minutes, only 15 seconds ahead of Gundersen. Ahead of the race, Wichert had been among the favourites, following his new Age Group world record at long-distance triathlon in June this year.
Norseman Xtreme Triathlon Results
Saturday August 3, 2024
Women
- 1. Laura Zimmermann (GER) – 11:30:39
- 2. Kaja Bergwitz-Larsen (NOR) – 12:13:43
- 3. Claire Weller (GBR) – 12:25:24
- 4. Flora Colledge (SUI) – 12:29:29
- 5. Vilde Elisabet Flatland (NOR) – 12:31:35
Men
- 1. Sebastian Norberg (SWE) – 10:10:16
- 2. Lars Wichert (GER) – 10:39:22
- 3. Aurelien Le Lay (FRA) – 10:40:57
- 4. Jorgen Gundersen (NOR) – 10:41:12
- 5. Sindre Tungesvik (NOR) – 11:08:10
