With the race run alongside the Castle of Kronborg, where Shakespeare set Hamlet, a day of high drama would have seemed appropriate for the KMD IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship, Elsinore.
Instead, two champions, Michael Raelert and Annabel Luxford, grabbed wire-to-wire wins and despite stellar fields of quality and depth, no serious challengers emerged.
Raelert, the 2010 and 2011 IRONMAN 70.3 world champion, added his second IRONMAN 70.3 European title. He was fastest out of the water, rode with fellow Germans Andi Boecherer and Nils Frommhold to break away from the pack on the bike, and then calmly ran clear straight out of T2. His 1:14:36 was third fastest on the day and paved the way for an imperious 4:07 victory, more than 2:30 clear of Bocherer with Fromhold a further minute back.
Luxford, who has fashioned success across the range of triathlon distances, seems at her best at the IRONMAN 70.3. The Australian has gained nine IRONMAN 70.3 wins in four years plus five podiums including the world championship in 2013.
As usual she was first out of the water in 23:34, enjoyed some company from local Danish hopes Camilla Pedersen and Helle Fredriksen as the trio distanced themselves from serious threat on the bike, and like Raelert, strode away purposefully from the start of the run. Her 1:21:42 was easily best on the way to a 4:07:00 victory. She was simply in command throughout to win by 2:34 from Fredriksen with Finland’s Kaisa Sali third another minute back.
Top 5 Pro Men
1 Raelert, Michael DEU 0:21:45…2:01:51…1:14:36…3:42:52
2 Boecherer, Andi DEU 0:22:00…2:01:14…1:16:09…3:44:26
3 Frommhold, Nils DEU 0:21:48…2:01:46…1:17:01…3:45:25
4 Heemeryck, Pieter BEL 0:21:51…2:05:07…1:14:54…3:46:47
5 Von Berg, Rodolphe USA 0:22:02…2:07:08…1:13:23…3:47:00
Top 5 Pro Women
1 Luxford, Annabel AUS 0:23:34…2:16:47…1:21:42…4:07:00
2 Frederiksen, Helle DNK 0:23:41…2:16:35…1:24:17…4:09:34
3 Sali, Kaisa FIN 0:24:45…2:17:29…1:23:07…4:10:28
4 Pedersen, Camilla DNK 0:23:36…2:16:33…1:26:00…4:11:24
5 Jerzyk, Agnieszka POL 0:24:43…2:21:41…1:25:26…4:17:02