Vikings can fight. This is what we learned in our history at school—and this is what you need to do if you want to win at IRONMAN 70.3 Haugesund. Although he knew that he was a marked man, two-time champion Filip Ospaly flew away from his competition early in the race and never looked back.
When Britain’s Mark Threlfall led the men’s race out of the water in 21:53, the favorite from Czech Republic was only eight seconds behind in third place, with Australian Todd Skipworth in between. Ospaly didn’t wait for anyone on the bike and broke away with Skipworth. After 50 km Ospaly finally made his move, while Skipworth got caught by the chase group. Ospaly led by 3:42 starting the run, with a strong group on his tail including German Andreas Dreitz, Skipworth and two-time IRONMAN world champion Chris McCormack. Thanks to his outstanding running strength, Ospaly took his third consecutive Viking victory in 3:50:43 ahead of Dreitz (3:52:02) and Skipworth (3:53:01).
In the women’s race Rebeccah Wassner (USA) set the pace in the water (25:09) ahead of Britain’s Susie Hignett (26:27), but once Hignett was on the bike she made her way to the front. When she jumped off the bike, Hignett was already 8:38 ahead. At the half-way point of the run, Wassner was 9:25 behind and still in second place. Hignett ran home to take the victory in 4:22:31, while Wassner was runner-up in 4:31:53. Kristin Lie from Norway rouned out the podium (4:37:35).
Top 5 Women
1 Susie Hignett (GBR) 4:22:31
2 Rebeccah Wassner (USA) 4:31:53
3 Kristin Lie (NOR) 4:37:35
4 Louise Rundqvist (SWE) 4:40:18
5 Nicole Klingler (LIE) 4:45:20
Top 5 Men
1 Filip Ospaly (DZE) 3:50:43
2 Andreas Dreitz (GER) 3:52:02
3 Todd Skipworth (AUS) 3:53:01
4 Little-Georg Potrebitsch (GER) 3:56:27
5 Gudmund Snilstveit (NOR) 3:57:43