SUBIC BAY - For the second straight year, Australian three-time world champion Crowie Alexander got the better of Tim Reed in the Century Tuna 70.3 Ironman race.
However, none of that mattered here Sunday, as a wild finish stripped Alexander of his title.
Switzerland's Ruedi Wild set up an epic comeback in the final third of the race to win the 2017 edition of the Century Tuna-sponsored event.
Behind by almost two minutes at the end of the 90-kilometer bicycle course, the Swiss Olympian pushed through in the last 21-kilometer run, crossing the finish line after 3 hours, 48 minutes, and 24 seconds.
It was 33 seconds better than Alexander's 3-hour, 48-minute, and 57-second effort as the Aussie's bid for back-to-back titles came to a not so pleasant end.
Reed, second in 2016 to Alexander, dropped to third after crossing the finish line less than two minutes after Wild. His official time was 3 hours, 50 minutes, and 17 seconds.
Sven Riederer and Kevin Collington came in seven seconds apart to finish fourth and fifth respectively.
In women's pro, Czech Republic's Radka Kahlefeldt took her revenge on 2016 champion Caroline Steffen to win the title.
Just like Wild, last year's runner up pulled away in the run portion of the three-part race before finishing with the final time of 4 hours, 22 minutes, and 13 seconds. Steffen came in over three minutes later to clock in at 4 hours, 25 minutes, and 55 seconds.
Australia's Dimity Lee Duke kept her spot at third after crossing the finish line after 4 hours, 41 minutes, and 57 seconds.
The third 70.3 Ironman race in Subic started early Sunday morning with the swimming portion taking off at ACEA Beach. Triathletes then had to go through SCTEXT all the way to Floridablanca, Pampanga for the bike course before coming back to Subic for the finish. (Paul Lintag, ABS-CBN Sports)
PHOTOS:
[1] Swiss national Ruedi Wild celebrates after crossing the finish line during the CT Ironman 70.3 triathlon held in Subic Bay Freeport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)
[2] WINNERS. Triathlon men's elite champ Ruedi Wild (center), shares the podium with runner-ups Alexander Craig (left) and Tim Reed after crossing the finish line during the 2017 Ironman 70.3 triathlon held in Subic Bay Freeport. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)
http://sports.abs-cbn.com/generalsports/news/2017/03/12/wild-stages-epic-comeback-win-subic-ironman-race-23142
0 comments:
Post a Comment