A few hours after their feats, world champion Taylor Knibb and her pursuers reflected on their race management, the technical difficulty of the course and their ambitions.
Facing journalists and cameras from around the world gathered in the press room, the top 5 women of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship analyzed today’s race, marked by American Taylor Knibb’s fourth world title, who dominated the event. The American emphasized the demands of the cycling segment and the serenity necessary to win at this level.
Imperious throughout the race, Taylor Knibb primarily built her success on a highly demanding cycling section. Asked about this key sector, the American stressed the technical commitment necessary to master this course. « This course required you to be a true cyclist, to be very precise in the turns. There’s no secret, you had to be really well prepared and pilot with precision to succeed here », she analyzed to the media.
Despite one or two sometimes borderline trajectories, the winner managed to keep her composure to avoid making a mistake. « I just told myself to refocus on the present moment, to concentrate on the trajectory and to remind myself that the race was far from over », explained the race winner.
This management of effort and pressure, Swiss athlete Julie Derron pushed to its peak as well, to go after second place. Author of a supersonic comeback on foot with a half-marathon completed in 1h13, the silver medalist spoke about her great clarity when the breakaway formed on the cycling section. « When someone breaks away ahead on the bike, you absolutely must not try to follow at all costs if it means you’ll explode. I preferred to focus on my own pace and run my own race to preserve my legs. » An effort management that paid off and allowed her to approach the running portion with the freshness needed to reach the second step of the podium.
Strong emotions
Behind this duo, tactics gave way to the present moment and emotions. Alanis Siffert, the second Swiss athlete at 24 years old, third at the finish line, showed her emotion when talking about this first podium at the highest level. « Being seated here alongside the best athletes in the world gives meaning to the difficult wake-ups and daily training. It’s the culmination of months of hard work. »
A sense of pride shared by Norwegian Solveig Løvseth who finished just off the podium after pushing herself, particularly in the first few kilometers on the bike: « Every time it was hard, I kept telling myself not to give up. Just yesterday, I was thinking that if I made a top 5, I would be very happy. »
As for the Nice local Marjolaine Pierré who crossed the finish line in 5th position, the disappointment of the result gave way to satisfaction at having been supported throughout the course. Galvanized by the French public, the local of these World Championships preferred to focus on the pure pleasure of competition rather than the final ranking. « I really dreamed of this podium and finishing 5th, that’s still a disappointment. I would really have liked to give more, here in Nice, and mark this city that I love so much and that has given me so much. Hearing the public shout my name throughout the course carried me to the end. I’m still satisfied that I crossed the finish line», she concluded.
All were already looking ahead. The five triathletes have scheduled a meeting on October 10 in Kona to face off again at the legendary Ironman World Championship.
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