Andreas Raelert has experienced a moment of disappointment at the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt. The Rostockian had to quit the race during the run. "I am very disappointed that it did not work for me," said the European champion of 2010. He had decided to take part in this high-class race a few days out of the competition in Frankfurt. "I felt ready for this race," said Andreas Raelert, "but unfortunately I could not reach what I personally had hoped for." After 25 kilometers of the marathon Andreas Raelert had to stop his run being in fourth place.
Andy congratulates Sebastian Kienle, Frederik van Lierde of Belgium and Jan Frodeno who could run on the podium at the Römer in Frankfurt. "Especially Sebastian Kienle deserves a huge respect," said Andreas Raelert, "Sebi was able to show a stunning performance on the bike followed by a sensational run. This European title was well deserved, and he blessed himself with a new course record on his birthday. "Sebastian Kienle won the Ironman European Championship in 7:55:14 hours ahead of Frederik van Lierde (8:00:25) and Jan Frodeno (8:07:05). "They all have shown great races in front of a sensational audience," said Andreas Raelert, "I very much would have liked to join in the fight for the podium, but today it should simply not work for me. Already on the bike, the race felt not the way I had hoped for before the start."
During the swim Andreas Raelert was in the leading group. Jan Frodeno exited the water in first position after 45:39 minutes, he was in seventh place (45:51 minutes). Andreas Raelert came off the bike with a split of 4:33:57 hours. He was in eighth position behind the sovereign leader Sebastian Kienle and then tried to launch a comeback in the marathon. Andreas Raelert soon ran into third place, but he could not bring the race to an end as he had planned to do.