In the break of dawn thousands of people made their way to the swim start at the Wörthersee. Well-rested and full of enthusiasm approx. 20.000 spectators cheered for the 2281starters and sent them on the 3.8 km swim course.
The Lendkanal was lined with a lot of people when Australian Paul Ambrose came out of the water first in 0:47:25, nearly at the same time as South African Brad Storm (0:47:27). Frederik Van Lierde (BEL) finished the first discipline on third place (0:47:31). The first woman, Lucie Zelenkova (CZE), came into transition area on fourth place with a sensational time of 0:47:32. Second best woman out of the water and best Austrian woman was Eva Dollinger (0:51:05), followed by Bella Bayliss (GBR) in 0:54:04.
Marino Vanhoenacker left the water on seventh place but after a very quick transition he is the first on the run course. The chasing athletes Bernhard Hiebl, Paul Ambrose, Frederik Van Lierde and Stephen Bayliss change their places several times, but Vanhoenacker extends the lead and does not lose it again. The Belgian finishes the 180 km in 4:20:12. Björn Andersson (SWE) comes second, followed by Stephen Bayliss (GBR) after 4:32:32.
In the women's race, it is Zelenkova who heads the field on the bike. Bella Bayliss, Sonja Tajsich (GER) and Eva Dollinger change their places and at km153 it is Bayliss who takes the lead.
In the marathon race Vanhoenacker cannot be caught and runs the 42.2 km to the finishline all by himself. With an unbelievable margin and the second best finish time ever in the IRONMAN Austria race (Peter Reid 1999 in 7:51:56) he celebrates his fourth victory in a row in 8:01:38! Youngster James Cunnama from South Africa comes in second in 8:14:18 and third place is taken by Stephen Bayliss in 8:17:06.
Best Austrian athlete is Bernhard Hiebl on fourth place (8:22:08). Belgian Frederik Van Lierde finishes fifth in 8:26:58.
Bella Bayliss finishes first in 8:50:13, which is the second best IRONMAN finish time worldwide (world best time: Sandra Wallenhorst 8:47:26, IRONMAN Austria 2008). Sonja Tajsich comes in second in 8:59:45, followed by Lucie Zelenkova in 9:07:24. Best Austrian woman is Eva Dollinger in 9:23:17.
The registration for the 12th Kärnten IRONMAN Austria on July 4th 2010 opens tomorrow at 9.00 a.m on the spot at the IRONMAN sports EXPO. The online registration is open from Tuesday 0.00 a.m.
MEN
| 1. Marino Vanhoenacker | BEL | 8:01:38 |
| 2. James Cunnama | RSA | 8:14:18 |
| 3. Stephen Bayliss | GBR | 8:17:06 |
| 4. Bernhard Hiebl | AUT | 8:22:08 |
| 5. Frederik Van-Lierde | BEL | 8:26:58 |
| 6. Mika Luoto | FIN | 8:28:53 |
| 7. Norbert Langbrandtner | AUT | 8:29:37 |
| 8. Dejan Patrcevic | CRO | 8:29:45 |
| 9. Hannes Hempel | AUT | 8:30:39 |
| 10. Daniel Niederreiter | AUT | 8:38:23 |
WOMEN
| 1. Bella Bayliss | GBR | 8:50:13 |
| 2. Sonja Tajsich | GER | 8:59:45 |
| 3. Lucie Zelenkova | CZE | 9:07:24 |
| 4. Eva Dollinger | AUT | 9:23:17 |
| 5. Nicole Woysch | GER | 9:29:37 |
All results available on IronmanAustria.com.
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