Share the post "TRIATHLON – Ironman 70.3 World Championship Nice 2019: Victory for Norway’s Gustav Iden, Yvan Jarrige 12th"
Norway’s Gustav Iden became the 2019 Ironman 70.3 World Champion this morning. On the magnificent Nice course, the 2nd best half-ironman performer of all time delivered a perfect race, finishing ahead of Great Britain’s double Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee (London 2012 and Rio 2016). American Rodolphe Von Berg took 3rd place. The first Frenchman, Yvan Jarrige, finished 12th.
THE RACE UNFOLDS
As in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, the swim was led by Josh Amberger. The Australian had a large group of about fifteen competitors on his feet, including some of the main favorites: Great Britain’s Alistair Brownlee, Spain’s Javier Gomez, Norwegians Kristian Blummenfelt and Gustav Iden, and Americans Rodolphe Von Berg, who won the 70.3 World Championship test event here last year, and Ben Kanute.
1️⃣7️⃣ athletes out of the water in 1️⃣1️⃣ seconds. ?#AnythingIsPossible
?: https://t.co/c0o0SJazex#IM703WC pic.twitter.com/uu6FGZ8dQ6
— IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANtri) September 8, 2019
The 1,900 m were covered in 23'15. One minute behind these 17 leaders, there was a group led by the two-time defending Kona winner, Germany's Patrick Lange, which included Frenchmen Yvan Jarrige and Romain Guillaume, and the five-time Ironman Nice winner, Belgium's Fred Van Lierde. Finally, Germany's Sebastien Kienle exited the water in 41st place at 3'35, and Cyril Viennot, the last Frenchman among the pros, was 45th at 3'46.
Alistair Brownlee attacks
After the first transition, Ben Kanute energized the race for the first ten kilometers in the Var valley. From the first climbs, he was relieved by the double Olympic champion (London 2012 and Rio 2016), Alistair Brownlee, who set a blistering pace towards Vence. Behind, Javier Gomez, Kristian Blummenfelt, Australia's Sam Appleton, and Great Britain's Andrew Bowden tempered the pace of the two escapees.
At the foot of the Col de Vence, the two men had a 30-second lead over Sam Appleton and Rodolphe Von Berg, nearly 1 minute over a quartet composed of Kristian Blummenfelt, his compatriot Gustav Iden, Josh Amberger, and Javier Gomez. Further back, Yvan Jarrige was in 14th position at 1'42, while other big names, Patrick Lange, Sebastian Kienle, and Fred Van Lierde, were at 3'59, accompanied by Romain Guillaume.
At the summit of the Col de Vence, Alistair Brownlee maintained his effort and his lead, but he was now alone in front with 40 seconds on Gustav Iden, who had chosen a traditional road bike, 45 seconds on Ben Kanute, 59 seconds on Rodolphe Von Berg, and 1'32 on Kristian Blummenfelt. Of note was the excellent comeback into 8th position for Frenchman Yvan Jarrige, 2'15 behind the race leader.
#IM703WC - Huge alert for all favorites interested in today’s win: @Rudyvonberg and @AliBrownleetri team up at the front, nailing an insane pace https://t.co/KQLaHvMxUO
— IRONMANLive (@IRONMANLive) September 8, 2019
Apart from a climb in the village of Coursegoules at the bottom of the descent from the Col de Vence, the course then changed in character and became ultra-favorable with more than 50 km of descent or flat. A long descent in which Gustav Iden and Rodolphe Von Berg caught up with the leader, the latter even immediately launching an attack on roads he knows by heart, living in the Cannes hinterland.
Finally, the three men reached T2 together, with Von Berg having the best bike split in 2h17'24. Gustav Iden was the first to start the run, while Alistair Brownlee and Rodolphe Von Berg took the time to put on socks.
#IM703WC - What a fantastic race these guys delivered so far: @AliBrownleetri @Rudyvonberg and Gustav Iden stormed on the bike and as well in transition pic.twitter.com/o6prJV3FQ9
— IRONMANLive (@IRONMANLive) September 8, 2019
Comeback or not?
Behind, Ben Kanute arrived 4th at the bike park with a 3'20 deficit, Kristian Blummenfelt 5th at 4'40. Bart Aenouts closed out the top 10 at 6'05, Sebastian Kienle was 11th at 6'22 just ahead of the first Frenchman, Yvan Jarrige, 12th at 6'40. Javier Gomez was 14th at 6'42. Would the run shake up the hierarchy?
No. At the front, the pace did not drop, except for Rodolphe Von Berg. The American was the first of the trio to be dropped. After 6 km, he was 1'24 behind his former breakaway companions. On the first return on foot, at an average pace of 3'12 per kilometer (18.8 km/h), Norway's Gustav Iden accelerated and dropped Great Britain's Alistair Brownlee, who was paying for his efforts on the bike.
#IM703WC - Gustav Iden is on a mission, Top 5 run km 10.8: Iden 3:19:31, @AliBrownleetri +1:21, @Rudyvonberg +2:44, @kristianblu +5:01, @benkanute +6:30 pic.twitter.com/2WigjQKIEM
— IRONMANLive (@IRONMANLive) September 8, 2019
At 10 km from the finish line, the gap between the two men was 1'21. At 5 km, barring a major collapse, the race was decided, with 2'08 over Alistair Brownlee and 3'33 over Rodolphe Von Berg.
Imperial, Norway's Gustav Iden won his first Ironman 70.3 World Championship title, just one week after his 4th place at the WTS Grand Final in Lausanne won by Vincent Luis and two weeks after his 4th place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Test Event. Alistair Brownlee and Rodolphe Von Berg completed the podium.
#IM703WC - Gustav Iden is your 2019 IRONMAN 70.3 world champion in 3:52:13 pic.twitter.com/kj06uwRy3B
— IRONMANLive (@IRONMANLive) September 8, 2019
TOP 10
1. Gustav Iden (Nor), 3h52’13
2. Alistair Brownlee (Gbr), 3h55’19
3. Rodolphe Von Berg (Usa), 3h56’45
4. Kristian Blummenfelt (Nor), 3h59’21
5. Sebastian Kienle (Ger), 4h00’18
6. Bart Aernouts (Bel), 4h01’14
7. Javier Gomez (Spa), 4h01’30
8. Sam Appleton (Aus), 4h02’15
9. Bradley Weiss (Afs), 4h03’09
10. Ben Kanute (Usa), 4h04’36
…
12. Yvan Jarrige (Fra), 4h05’18
FULL RESULTS HERE
Share the post "TRIATHLON – Ironman 70.3 World Championship Nice 2019: Victory for Norway’s Gustav Iden, Yvan Jarrige 12th"
