This Ironman 70.3 World Championship was decided right to the end. It took 3 hours 50 minutes and 49 seconds, and notably a half marathon to crown Hayden Wilde. After an uncertain race and a tough battle, it took the running leg to see the New Zealander win his first Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
The last World Championship in Nice lived up to all expectations. In a competition that was much tighter than the women’s race where Taylor Knibb’s dominance was beyond doubt, 3 hours 50 minutes 49 seconds.
The first part of this triathlon ended after 1.9 km of swimming and just over 23 minutes spent in the turquoise waters of the Bay of Angels. A group of 27 runners, including all the favorites, pulled away and stayed within only 22 seconds of each other. It was American Seth Rider who came out of the water in the lead.
On the bike, the cat and mouse game continued. After 30 kilometers, a group of six runners broke away with Italian Michele Bortolamedi, South African Jamie Riddle, Australian Josh Ferris, followed by a German trio made up of Lasse Nygaard Priester, Jonas Schomburg and Rico Bogen. This surprise group was pushing back the pursuers and the top favorite, Jelle Geens, in 7th place with 43 seconds behind.
In the Vence pass, conquered by sheer leg power that crushed the pedals, New Zealander Hayden Wilde managed to make up his almost one-minute deficit. He thus managed to rejoin the leading group to take the lead in the main peloton. Behind, the gap remained too small to cry victory at this stage of the race. The top 15 were separated by only 1 minute 30, everything was still to play for in the running leg.
The half marathon as the deciding factor
It was on the Promenade des Anglais that the final stage of this World Championship delivered its final verdict. Yet relegated outside the Top 10 at the start of the running leg two minutes behind the leader, Jelle Geens seemed to be flying. At the 6th kilometer, the Belgian, two-time defending champion, was setting an impressive pace of 2min50 per kilometer. Behind, the Norwegian locomotive Kristian Blummenfelt was also on the move at a similar pace to the Belgian.
Last year’s winner and runner-up were launching their crazy comeback. Halfway they had respectively only 52 seconds and 1 minute 12 seconds of deficit on the race leader. Neck and neck with German Lasse Nygaard Priester, the New Zealander shifted into a higher gear to drop his road companion at the 12th kilometer and hope to finish alone.
Despite a crazy comeback and a desire to get his revenge from last year, the Norwegian had to concede and settle for a well-deserved second place, he who was 17th at the start of the half marathon 2 minutes and 35 seconds behind. After a breathtaking duel where only 18 seconds separated first from second at the finish, New Zealander Hayden Wilde triumphs. Kristian Blummenfelt takes second place, while defending champion Jelle Geens completes this world podium in third position.
On the French side
For the French athletes, the day offered fine performances on a course of exceptional caliber. Simon Viain finishes first Frenchman securing 13th place in 3 hours 56 minutes and 50 seconds. After a middling swim, he pulled off a superb climb in the Vence pass before struggling on the return section of the bike. Solid on the half marathon, he records his best result at a World Championship, with mixed feelings. “It was a roller coaster race. I didn’t swim very well, but I had a great climb up the Vence pass before feeling the strain on the way back. The running leg was very steady overall. I’m happy, but it’s also a bit frustrating… That’s part of sport.“
Third French finisher of the day, Casimir Moine crossed the finish line in 25th position with a time of 4 hours 3 minutes. A very encouraging result after a difficult period, “when you see the incredible quality of the field, everyone is strong once they qualify. I’m very happy, after a difficult year and a serious injury that cost me time on the descent, this is my best race of the season. I had a great race and a great half marathon to finish.“
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