– Germany’s Patrick Lange and Denmark’s Magnus Ditlev take second and third spots on the podium in the first VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon held in Europe – Laidlow becomes youngest winner of the VinFast IRONMAN World Championship and first Frenchman to earn the coveted title after a second place IRONMAN World Championship finish in 2022 Photo Credit: Bartlomiej Zborowski/Activ’Images
HISTORY IN THE MAKING: The professional men kick off the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship. Nice, France becomes the first ever dual host of the pinnacle event in triathlon (Photo Credit: Bartlomiej Zborowski, Active Images for IRONMAN)
A COURSE WITH A VIEW: Frenchman Clément Mignon works his way to the front of the pack while tackling the challenging climbs and beautiful terrain on the stunning 112-mile FULGAZ Bike Course at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Champion in Nice, France. (Photo by Bartlomiej Zborowski/Activ’Images)
RUNNING AWAY WITH IT: After producing the fastest bike split among the professional men, Sam Laidlow maintains his lead on the HOKA Run Course on home soil in Nice, France. (Photo by: Donald Miralle for IRONMAN)
Sam Laidlow crosses the finish line at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France (Photo by Bartlomiej Zborowski/Activ’Images for IRONMANNICE, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 10: Finsh line scenes during the 2023 Men’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship on September 10, 2023 in Nice, France. (Donald Miralle for IRONMAN)NICE, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 10: Finsh line scenes during the 2023 Men’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship on September 10, 2023 in Nice, France. (Donald Miralle for IRONMAN)
1. Sam Laidlow (FRA) – 8:06:22
2. Patrick Lange (DEU) – 8:10:17
3. Magnus Ditlev (DEN) – 8:11:43
4. Rudy von Berg (USA) – 8:12:57
5. Leon Chevalier (FRA) – 8:15:07
6. Arthur Horseau (FRA) – 8:18:36
7. Bradly Weiss (RSA) – 8:20:54
8. Gregory Barnaby (ITA) – 8:21:15
9. Robert Wilkowicki (POL) – 8:21:23
10. Clement Mignon (FRA) – 8:24:10
NICE, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 10: Finsh line scenes during the 2023 Men’s VinFast IRONMAN World Championship on September 10, 2023 in Nice, France. (Donald Miralle for IRONMAN)
A FOND FARWELL FOR FRODENO: Olympic Gold Medalist, three-time IRONMAN World Champion, and two-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion Jan Frodeno salutes the crowd and soaks it all in following a disappointing final result but one of the most storied triathlon careers in finishing his “last dance” at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN World Championship triathlon (Photo credit: Bartlomiej Zborowski/Activ’Images)
最後に。
ヤン・フロデノの “ Last Dance ”となった。2008年の北京五輪金メダリストで、同年にKONAに招待されステージでスピーチしていた時、もう決めていたのだろうか。
– Frederic Funk and Jan Stratmann finish second and third respectfully to complete the first ever German podium sweep in the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (Photo by: Nigel Roddis / Getty Images for IRONMAN)
RICO BOGEN TAKES TOP STEP IN GERMAN SWEEP AT THE 2023 VINFAST IRONMAN 70.3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN LAHTI, FINLAND
LAHTI, Finland (Aug. 27, 2023) – Today in Lahti, Finland, 22-year-old German Rico Bogen took the crown at the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship with a time of 3:32:22—a new IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship best time, topping Michael Raelert’s 3:34:04 set in 2009. He swam 22:52 over the 1.9 km (1.2-mile) ROKA swim course in Lake Vesijärvi’s crystal-clear waters, biked the 90km (56-mile) FULGAZ bike course in 1:56:17 on the day’s calm and cool conditions, and ran a 1:11:02 on the 21.1km (13.1-mile) HOKA run course to finish among cheering crowds.
Completing the podium was fellow Germans Frederic Funk (03:33:26) and Jan Stratmann (03:34:11), making it the first ever German podium in a IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship.
On the shores of Lake Vesijärvi in Lahti, Finland today, triathlon fans worldwide witnessed the return of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship to European soil. Male professionals and age-groupers alike took to the mild waters of Teivaa Harbour, ready to test themselves not only against the world’s best, but the region’s beautiful swim, bike, and run courses.
Americans Ben Kanute and Mark Dubric were among the early leaders in the water, setting the tight swim up from the get-go. The front group of 15 to 20 athletes formed a long stream, all in contact with one another until the second half of the swim. Defending IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Kristian Blummenfelt was farther back than most expected, with the company of American Sam Long.
A frantic swim exit featured a steady stream of men all within 2:20 of each other. Justus Nieschlag (DEU) was first out of the water in 23:43 with Jorgen Gunderson (DEN), Marc Dubric, Rico Borgen, Kanute and others out of the water just seconds behind the leader.
Blummenfelt exited the water 1:29 back, with Matt Hanson (USA) and Jackson Laundry (CAN) on his heels. It was a great swim for Lionel Sanders (CAN) and Sam Long as well, in close proximity to each other out of the water, setting them both up well to work together on the bike.
It was a true European showcase over the 90 km (56 mile) bike course through the Finnish countryside. With very low winds and a sprinkling of rain, weather wasn’t a huge factor as the men began to power through the rolling course.
Reminiscent of the era in Kona when German cyclists dominated the sport (circa 1990’s), five Germans drove the front of the bike, with Frenchman Mathis Margirier holding his own in the mix. Frederic Funk (DEU) moved up early in the bike to join Bogen, Nieschlag, Jan Stratman (DEU), and Maximillian Sperl (DEU), joined by Brit Joshua Lewis held steady in the front group, which continued to put time into the chase group behind them.
Funk moved through the field in the opening kilometers of the bike, with Long and Sanders putting in solid moves on the bike as well; until Sanders was delivered a penalty, he’d moved into tenth. The front pack continued to put time onto everyone behind them, however.
Funk was off the bike in 1:55:13 and out of transition in the lead. Margriere was hot on his heels, with Bogen, Nieschlag, Stratman, and Lewis all chasing.
Margriere and Funk ran out onto the two-loop, 21.1 km (13.1 mile) HOKA run course stride for stride, with Bogen, Stratman, Nieschlag and Lewis ready to put the chase on all within a minute back.
Sperl and Long lead the second group out of transition, starting the run approximately 3:30 back of the leading six men.
At just two kilometers in, 22-year-old Rico Bogen, who won IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau earlier this summer, made a surprisingly aggressive move to the front. He held onto his lead, running a blistering average pace in the low 3-minute range and putting more time into Margriere with every passing kilometer. Funk passed the Frenchman for second at 14 kilometers, and Stratmann passed him near the 20-kilometer mark.
Bogen soared across the finish line with a run split of 1:11:02 and a finish time of 3:32:22, a relative fresh face in the sport taking an astonishing win on the world stage. His countrymen and fellow bike powerhouses Funk and Stratmann were across the line within minutes of the leader, making for an all-German podium and all-European top-five.
“I think I’m the youngest world champion maybe, it’s really unbelievable,” Bogen said at the finish line. “The bike was really hard, but I had my running legs.” Bogen, 22 years of age, indeed has become the youngest to claim the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship title, surpassing Gustav Iden (NOR) who was 23 when he won the event in 2019.
Frederick Funk said after his race, “My goal was to be better than last year. I tried a few times to get away from the group, but the race dynamics were really high level on the bike. I tried to conserve as much energy as possible on the bike and play my cards well. On the run I surprised myself—I’ve never run that well. I think the run really suited me,” .
LAHTI, FINLAND – AUGUST 27: Rico Bogen (C) of Germany 1st, Frederic Funk (L) of Germany 2nd and Jan Stratmann of Germany 3rd on the podium of the 2023 Ironman World Championships on August 27, 2023 in Lahti, Finland. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
Top five professional men’s results:
NAME
SWIM
BIKE
RUN
FINISH
1. Rico Bogen
DEU
0:22:52
1:56:17
1:11:02
3:32:22
2. Frederic Funk
DEU
0:23:10
1:55:14
1:12:21
3:33:26
3. Jan Stratmann
DEU
0:23:02
1:55:56
1:12:40
3:34:11
4. Mathis Margirier
FRA
0:23:01
1:55:43
1:13:59
3:35:05
5. Joshua Lewis
GBR
0:23:03
1:56:14
1:15:12
3:36:45
For more information about the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event, please visit www.ironman.com/im703-world-championship-2023. To learn more about the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and series of events, please visit www.ironman.com.
LAHTI, FINLAND – AUGUST 26: Taylor Knibb of USA reacts after winning 2023 Ironman Women’s 70.3 World Championships on August 26, 2023 in Lahti, Finland. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
BACK-TO-BACK: UNITED STATES TAYLOR KNIBB DEFENDS HER TITLE AT THE 2023 VINFAST IRONMAN 70.3 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIATHLON IN LAHTI, FINLAND
LAHTI, Finland (Aug. 26, 2023) – American Olympian Taylor Knibb captured her second VinFast IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship title in Lahti, Finland, on Saturday. After exiting the ROKA swim course in the top-3, Knibb quickly gained the lead on the FULGAZ bike course and never looked back. Putting in a dominating performance, Knibb successfully defended her title as World Champion and did so with a new IRONMAN 70.3 best time of 3:53:02, beating out the previous best time of 3:53:03 set by Germany’s Laura Phillip in 2022.
On the shores of Lake Vesijärvi in Lahti, Finland today, triathlon fans worldwide got to witness the return of the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship to European soil. Female professionals and age-groupers alike took to the waters of Teivaa Harbour, ready to test themselves not only against the world’s best, but the region’s beautiful swim, bike, and run courses.
Pre-race conversations were dominated by two women: The fast-rising American star Taylor Knibb, and the sport’s reigning Queen—Daniela Ryf of Switzerland. Knibb is the youngest woman to ever represent the U.S. in triathlon at the Olympics (Tokyo 2020) and has wowed fans in each one of her appearances in triathlon since—yet she hasn’t had the chance to race an “on” Ryf (the five-time IRONMAN 70.3 World Champion and five-time IRONMAN World Champion). Both Knibb and Ryf have enjoyed considerable success this year and came into this race flying high.
Taylor Knibb took off out of Teivaa Harbour, with a group of about six others forming behind her in a lead pack. Lucy Buckingham (GBR) took over the lead about a third of the way into the 1.93 km (1.2-mile) ROKA swim course in Lake Vesijärvi, with Knibb staying hot on her feet. Brazil’s Pamela Oliveria was in the mix at the front of the swim as well.
Behind the lead pack of about seven, many of the pre-race favorites all formed the chase pack: Holly Lawrence (GBR), Kat Matthews (GBR), Paula Findlay (CAN), Daniela Ryf, Emma Pallant-Browne (GBR), and Laura Phillip. Lawrence swam aggressively, trying to bridge the gap to the lead swimmers, but they remained up front.
Buckingham was out of the water first in 24:43, with Knibb and Oliviera close behind her, just two seconds back. The second pack exited the water a minute and a half back, including Lawrence, Salthouse (AUS), Matthews, Ryf, Pallant Browne, Findlay, and Tamara Jewett (CAN).
After a lightning-fast transition, Knibb surged to the front almost immediately in her newly confident TT bike position. She continued to put on a show on the rolling, rural bike course taking in Lahti’s pastoral countryside. Imogen Simmonds surprised with her aggressive move to the front and ability to hold second for much of the bike course. Ryf, Findlay, Matthews, and Pallant-Browne stayed together as a chase pack, but all began to lose time to the hard-charging Knibb as the 90 km (56 mile) bike course unfolded.
Simmonds held her own, but it was Knibb at the front of the race all day long. The chasers’ gap only increased as the kilometers clicked by, to well over three minutes at the end of the bike. As Knibb began to repeat just what she did in St. George last year, fans began to wonder how large her buffer would be this year.
Knibb jumped off the bike with a split of 2:07:52, with Simmonds 2:09 back and Matthews, Pallant Browne, Ryf and Findlay rolling in at just over 5 minutes back.
Knibb made short work of T2 and was off in under 40 seconds—almost 30 seconds faster than Simmonds, next in line. She demolished the first 5 kilometers of the two-loop, 21.1 km (13.1-mile) HOKA run course in under 19 minutes, setting a blistering pace from the get-go. Her run form was spot-on, despite having struggled with a foot injury late last year.
With only Matthews and Pallant-Browne running in Knibb’s ballpark, the two Brits battled it out for third. Matthews held her own and then, with her strong, consistent pace, was able to overtake Simmonds late in the run for second.
Knibb surely knew the crown was hers long before she turned towards the famous Salpausselka Ski Jumps. The final taste of victory was sweeter though as she entered the finish chute knowing a repeat title was hers. On the heels of a 1:18 half marathon split, Knibb finished with an impressive 3:53:02 (her fastest IRONMAN 70.3 finish time yet) and heaps of pride on a day that rewarded her hard work, patience, and determination.
LAHTI, FINLAND – AUGUST 26: Taylor Knibb of USA (C) 1st, Kat Matthews of Britain (L) 2nd and Imogen Simmonds of Switzerland 3rd on the podium of the 2023 Ironman Women’s 70.3 World Championships on August 26, 2023 in Lahti, Finland. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for IRONMAN)
Top five professional women’s results:
NAME
SWIM
BIKE
RUN
FINISH
1. Taylor Knibb
USA
0:24:45
2:07:52
1:18:05
3:53:02
2. Kat Matthews
GBR
0:26:06
2:11:42
1:16:38
3:57:05
3. Imogen Simmonds
CHE
0:24:53
2:10:00
1:20:29
3:57:56
4. Emma Pallant-Browne
GBR
0:26:17
2:11:47
1:17:52
3:58:35
5. Paula Findlay
CAN
0:26:12
2:11:45
1:19:58
4:00:32
“It’s a long day, it’s an IRONMAN 70.3 and I’m just grateful to make it to the finish line and grateful to be here,” Knibb said at the finish line. “Some people were questioning my decision to race, but racing excites me and I’m just happy to be here.”
“I had a really good day. They don’t come always,” said Kat Matthews. “I’m a little disappointed that Taylor just ‘ticked off’ this race. I’m excited to see what she does next! I had full focus on this race, but all I’m thinking about now is [IRONMAN World Championship] Kona next month.”
The men take to the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Sunday. The racing gets underway at 7:30 a.m. EEST with the professional men taking to the water first followed by the PC/ID and Handcycle division at 7:32 a.m. then the age-group athletes will begin at 7:40 a.m. Live race day coverage of the professional men will air on Outside Watch starting at 7:00 a.m. EEST (12:00 a.m. ET). Be sure to also follow along all of IRONMAN’s official social media channels.
For more information about the 2023 VinFast IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship event, please visit www.ironman.com/im703-world-championship-2023. To learn more about the IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 brands and series of events, please visit www.ironman.com.
