Simple strategy. Have the fastest swim, fastest bike and fastest run … result automatic. Such was the case for Radka Kahlefeldt who made it two wins from two starts since returning after the birth of her daughter Ruby. Her 25:00 swim, 2:16 bike (the only ride under 2:20) and 1:29 run (the only sub 1:30) gave her a 4:14:36 total to clean up at IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam. She won by nine minutes from the indomitable Dimity-Lee Duke (AUS). A further two minutes back was Caroline Steffen, after her own return from the birth of her son, Xander.
Coming off fifth in a lightning quick IRONMAN 70.3 St George, Tim Reed had to dig deep on the run in the scorching heat in Danang to grab his first win of the year. He was at the pointy-end all day but he needed to put down a 1:21 run in the Vietnam sauna to see off his good friend Tim van Berkel by 2 minutes – no doubt Berkel’s fourth placing at IRONMAN Texas counted against him down the stretch. Kiwi Mike Phillips, third last year, could not match the speed upfront on the run but managed his second straight podium in comfortable fashion.
Top 5 Pro Men
1 Reed, Tim AUS 3:45:55
2 Van Berkel, Tim AUS 3:56:51
3 Phillips, Mike AUS 4:00:52
4 Van Arcken, Rodrigo COL 4:11:47
5 Banach, Bartoez POL 4:14:30
Top 5 Pro Women
1 Vodickova, Radka CZE 4:14:36
2 Duke, Dimmity Lee AUS 4:25:35
3 Steffen, Caroline CHE 4:29:57
4 Eberhardt, Anna HUN 4:36:08
5 Wood, Laura NZL 4:39:31