Axel Zeebroek of the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team finished fourth in the Ironman UK with a time of 8:53:37. Viennot Cyril (FRA) took the title with a time of 08:44:10, Skipper Joe (GBR; 08:48:12) and Kotsegarov Kirill (EST; 08:53:37) completed the podium.His Uplace-BMC teammate Dirk Bockel participated in Challenge Roth (GER) where he became 6th.In the half-triathlon distance the third Uplace-BMC triathlete in action today, Helle Frederiksen, became 2nd in the Ironman 70.3 Racine (USA).
Axel Zeebroek 4th in Ironman UK
Axel came out the water in first position together with Harry Wiltshire after 46'51" with a lead of 2'43" on a small group with Viennot Ciryl, Skipper Joe and Kotsegarov Kirill. During the bike leg Axel stayed in the first position. At T2, he led with 1'43" on Cyril Viennot. During the run, it was tough for Axel and due to stomach problems; he fell back to the 4th place.
I gave all I could.
"I didn't feel 100% from the start, but I gave all I could today. The swim went well and I could make a good lead together with Harry Wilsthire on the rest of the field. During the bike leg, I was driving alone all the time. The first (out of two) rounds on the bike went well, on the second round I wasn't able to push the same power any more. I slowed down and the chasing group was pushing hard and they came closer. At the start of the run, I had a lead of almost 2 minutes on Ciryl Viennot. The first 5 kilometers went fine. At that moment my stomach problems started to get worse. On the uphill parts of the run, I even had to walk, so I lost a lot of time and I saw three athletes passing me by. I wanted to keep the highest possible position today. I gave it all. I know that I am capable to do better, when I wouldn’t have any health problems. Now I take 2 weeks of recovery and prepare myself to the half triathlon of Gerardmer and hopefully to Kona."
Dirk Bockel becomes 6th in Challenge Roth
Uplace-BMC athlete Dirk Bockel also competed today, he became 6th at Challenge Roth. The winner of last years' edition finished in 08:22:40. The top 3 in Challenge Roth is led by Timo Bracht (GER; 7:56:00), followed by Nils Frommhold (GER; 8:00:39) and Eneko Llanos (ESP; 8:09:29)
On this hot day in Roth Dirk started with a fast swim and came 2nd out of the water behind Nils Frommhold. The top 10 of athletes came out of the water within 1 minute. During the bike leg Nils Frommhold increased his lead on a group of 6 with all the favorites up to 4'45". Dirk Bockel came out of T2 in 2nd position just before Timo Bracht, who succeeded to chase Nils Frommhold successfully. Dirk fell back during the marathon to the 6th position at the finish.
Old injury comes up again
Dirk Bockel has the overall feeling that the result is not a disaster, but he had a "terrible day". "I had a solid swim, I felt warm already. We came out the water with a large group. During the bike leg, the first round was rather slow. It seems that nobody of the big group wanted to pace up. The second round was faster and group got smaller. During the marathon, I started in second position almost together with Timo Bracht. The first 5kms fell ok at a speed of 3'40"/km, this was too fast so I slowed down to 3'50"/km. At that moment Timo Bracht continued his race and chased Nils Frommhold. I was in 3rd position until kilometer 22, I didn't have the legs any more, at that moment the pain from my previous hip inflammation was too strong to keep running so I had to walk several times and I dropped from place 3 to place 6. I knew it would be really hard to repeat my exceptional win of last year, but I definitively wanted to end on the podium. Now, I take a few days off, focus on the recovery of my hip and start to prepare for Kona. I might even do the Challenge Walchsee at the 31st of August.
Helle Frederiksen becomes 2nd in Ironman 70.3 Racine
After last weeks' successful test at the 5150 Boulder Peak Triathlon, Uplace-BMC athlete Helle Frederiksen seemed ready to perform well in the Ironman 70.3 of Racine (US) and she did. In an impressive field of contenders, she became 2nd in a time of 4:16:22. Melissa Hauschildt won in 4:11:51 and Lauren Barnett became 3rd in 4:19:34.
Helle started off the swim fast, she led at T1 with 2'29" on a chase group of 3 triathletes with Hauschildt Mellissa. During the bike leg Helle could ride a very solid pace, nevertheless Melissa Hauschildt was slighty faster and she passed Helle just before T2. Melissa Hauschildt, the former world champion, continued with a strong run and won the Ironman 70.3 Racine. Helle could control her second place until the finish.
It took a lot of me
"Today took a lot of me! I had a solid swim, I felt good on the bike and pushed very hard yet my body seemingly halted my chances of any victory today beyond T2. I suffered hard with cramps in the second transition when getting my race shoes on, it was like all the energy zapped out of my legs. The run was a struggle today. Getting beat by Melissa, a 3 time World Champ, is acceptable but I was looking forward to a foot race. My running needs to be better and will be better in Mt Tremblant."