Old champions, new champions

Henry Budgett wraps up an exciting day at Ironman France-Nice

Ironman France is a distinctly European race. The fact that the event takes place in a town steeped in both cultural and triathlon traditions, has a bike course that is regarded as one of the most spectacular in the world and a run that travels the length of the Promenade des Anglais makes it a magnet for European pros and age groupers alike.

Athletes who do well here tend to return, and this year was no exception with the defending champs, Marcel Zamora Perez and Alexandra Louison lined up alongside the cool, blue Mediterranean Sea this morning. As events unfolded through the day, one would be successful and the other not. An old champion would be re-crowned and a new one unveiled - both, in keeping with the spirit of the event, European.

Perez appears to have planned a waiting game, content to let Mike Aigroz take the early bike lead and set a new bike course record. A deficit of 7:18 after the bike was wiped out within 20k and converted into a growing advantage that none of his rivals could hope to control. A new run course record and an 8:34:07 finish were more than enough to secure Zamora Perez his hat trick here and the emotion he showed on the finish line showed that it was all worth it.

Alexandra Louison wasn't in the waiting business and a 6:30 deficit in the swim was quickly wiped out as she outclimbed all her rivals in early part of the legendary bike course, but the the wheels began to come off. From nowhere there was a new bike leader by 120k and, while still in close contact with Martina Dogana, a Italian with more of a pedigree in duathlon and a fondness for cross country skiing, Louison punctured. A strategy of not carrying a spare is a risky one and this was one of those days when it didn't pay off.

While Dogana quite literally ran away with the race, building an ever- increasing gap between herself and Katja Schumacher, Louison could only hold on to third. A finishing time of 9:35:29 gives Dogana the bike, run and course records and she, quite literally, jumped for joy.

Even the age groupers got in on the act today with what looks like eight new course records and a stunning performance from Laurent Jalabert who, on a day when he felt overheated and sick, went from 716th after the swim to 12th over all and rode the second fastest bike of the day.  

Now that's pure class. Just like Nice, really!

Men
1.       Marcel Zamora Perez        8:34:03
2.       Hervé Faure        8:41:55
3.       Patrick Bringer        8:45:15
4.       José Jeuland        8:53:34
5.       Rutger Beke        8:55:11
6.       Mike Aigroz        8:56:43
7.       Jozsef Major       8:57:45
8.       Damien Landon (25-29)       9:10:56
9.       Jef Van Roosbroek (30-34)       9:12:34
10.       Xavier Le Floch       9:12:49

 
Women
   
1.       Martina Dogana        9:35:29
2.       Katja Schumacher       10:00:59
3.       Alexandra Louison       10:03:46
4.       Ulrike Schwalbe        10:16:17
5.       Michaela Schenk        10:23:31
6.       Katya Meyers       10:28:06
7.       Conny Duben (F30-35)       10:34:29
8.       Monika Stadlmann       10:36:13
9.       Aline Choretier       10:38:04
10.       Érika Ellis (F30-35)       10:43:47