Billard and Collonge capture IRONMAN 70.3 Pays d’Aix, Just under 1,700 athletes started IRONMAN 70.3 Pays d’Aix, enjoying perfect weather conditions for the race in France’s triathlon training mecca.
Men’s race
Leding out of the water was Georgi Kaurov, Manuel Kung and Jérémy Jurkiewicz, followed about a minute later by defending IRONMAN world champion Frederik Van Lierde, Bertrand Billard and Anthony Pannier. On the bike Jurkiewicz quickly moved to the front, but Van Lierde, Billard and Pannier were able to keep the gap to about 1:15 for the first part of the ride. Heading up the Col du Cengle Billard made his move and joined Jurkiewicz up at the front of the race. The two rode into T2 together, about 1:15 ahead of the chasers.
On the run Billard was able to stay clear of Jurkiewicz, while Albert Moreno Molins managed to run his way to the final spot on the podium ahead of Van Lierde.
Women’s race
Gina Crawford and Emma Bilham came out of the water just over a minute ahead of Susie Hignett and almost two minutes up on Tine Deckers and Jeanne Collonge. Out on the bike course Deckers eventually moved to the front and got to T2 about three minutes ahead of Crawford and 4:30 up on Tamsin Lewis and Collonge.
Once on the run course, though, Collonge was unstoppable and moved through the field and into the lead with four km to go. Deckers hung on for second with Crawford rounding out the podium.
Top 4 Men
1 Bertrand BILLARD 3:58:27
2 Jérémy JURKIEWICZ 3:59:14
3 Albert MORENO MOLINS 3:59:44
4 Frederik Van Lierde 4:00:19
Top 4 Women
1 Jeanne COLLONGE 4:27:11
2 Tine DECKERS 4:28:38
3 Gina CRAWFORD 4:30:30
4 Tamsin LEWIS 4:33:26