Two professionals in their rookie year secured breakthrough victories at IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand. Switzerland’s Imogen Simmonds, an age group world champion last year, improved on two runners-up finishes in her 2017 rookie season, taking out the elite women’s race in 4:16:49. She finished five minutes clear of Ireland’s Eimear Mullan, reversing their order from IRONMAN 70.3 Xiamen two weeks previous. The Swiss athlete took control late on the bike with best split of 2:21, and was never tested on the run to finish clear of Mullan and Australia’s Dimity Lee Duke.
There was a local Thailand feel to the podium with Simmonds and Duke based nearby under Jurgan Zack while Mullan spent time at the Thanyapura training centre last year in her recovery from long term injury.
Men’s winner Markus Rolli also moved to the paid ranks this year, finishing runner-up at Kraichgau earlier in the season. After coming out the water with the leaders, the difference was on the bike where his 2:06 was six minutes quicker than anyone else and his 1:15 run was only bettered by Tim van Berkel. Rolli never faltered on a day of unseasonably cool and wet conditions to win in 3:39:32, three minutes clear of van Berkel with Brazilian Fernando Toldi, another rookie, grabbing third, four minutes back.
It proved a truly cosmopolitan day with athletes from eight nationalities among the top five in both male and female elite races.
Top 5 Pro Men
1 Rolli, Markus DEU 3:49:02
2 Van Berkel, Tim AUS 3:52:49
3 Toldi, Fernando BRA 3:56:47
4 Casadei, Alberto ITL 4:01:32
5 Polizzi, Alexander AUS 4:04:03
Top 5 Pro Women
1 Simmonds, Imogen GBR 4:36:39
2 Mullan, Eimear GBR 4:21:38
3 Duke, Dimity Lee AUS 4:22:54
4 Edwards, Parys GBR 4:28:52
5 Pomeroy, Robin USA 4:30:03