Swiss rule Laguna Phuket
Swiss Ruedi Wild recorded a 3:54:45 to win the 2015 Challenge Laguna Phuket and thus bested his 2014 winning time of 4:02:43. Actually all men in the top 5 went under that mark. Fellow Swiss pro Simone Braendli ran down Brit Jodie Swallow to capture the women's title in typically hot conditions. Braendli also won the Laguna Phuket Triathlon, a 1.8k swim, 55k bike and 12k run event that was held a week prior in this same exotic location.
Wild had a very balanced day that included a race best 2:12:17 bike split that even a late charge by eventual runner-up Bart Aernouts could not derail. Luke McKenzie rode even faster and recorded a 2:11:25 bike split, but the Aussie pulled out of the race after running 5k, apparently with Ironman WA on his mind.
Wild swam 21:29 and in the end ran 1:18:21, and the likable Swiss pro was thrilled with his victory.
“It was a tough competition today. We were racing in such a strong field of pros,” said Wild. “I am very happy coming back here again and defending my title at my favorite race of the season.”
Aernouts ran a very fine 1:16:53 to capture second place, about a minute behind the champion. Italian Alberto Casadei who had also raced the Laguna Phuket Triathlon the week before grabbed the final podium spot. American Tim O'Donnell and South African James Cunnama finished 4th and 5th. Belgian Rob Westenboergh had a race best 1:15:42 run and finished in 7th place, one spot behind 6th placed Stuart Hayes from the UK.
Jodie Swallow had a race best 21:56 swim and a race best 2:30:06 bike split, but in the end it was the speedy running legs of Simone Braendli who captured the win. Braendli ran 1:22:46 which was almost 7 minutes better than Swallow, but Swallow and 4th placed Beth Gerdes were in fact the only other female pros who managed to run sub 1:30. Braendli started the run with a pretty big disadvantage but managed to catch the 2010 Ironman 70.3 World Champion late in the run. Radka Vodickova finished third in 4:30:50, and American Beth Gerdes captured 4th place.
“It’s very hot, making it really hard for us. On the run course, I followed [was behind] Swallow by 7 minutes and it was not easy to catch up. I never thought I can win here. But I believe that pain is temporary, glory is forever so I just sprint[ed] until the end. I’m really glad to be standing here with my friend Ruedi from Switzerland,” said Braendli.
Twelve out of fourteen female pros finished the race but only ten out of nineteen male pros recorded a finish time. Among the males who had a DNF were Michael Raelert and Luke McKenzie.
Challenge Laguna Phuket
Phuket, Thailand / November 29, 2015
1.2m swim / 56m bike / 13.1m run
Top men
1. Ruedi Wild (SUI) 3:54:45 (21:29 / 2:12:17 / 1:18:21)
2. Bart Aernouts (BEL) 3:55:41 (23:26 / 2:12:50 / 1:16:53)
3. Alberto Casadei (ITA) 3:58:22 (21:23 / 2:12:24 / 1:22:15)
4. Tim O'Donnell (USA) 4:00:08 (21:10 / 2:12:35 / 1:24:10)
5. James Cunnama (RSA) 4:02:14 (21:48 / 2:19:22 / 1:18:40)
Top women
1. Simone Braendli (SUI) 4:22:42 (23:37 / 2:33:50 / 1:22:22)
2. Jodie Swallow (GBR) 4:23:25 (21:56 / 2:30:06 / 1:29:00)
3. Radka Vodickova (CZE) 4:30:50 (23:39 / 2:33:28 / 1:31:11)
4. Beth Gerdes (USA) 4:39:43 (27:19 / 2:40:50 / 1:28:50)
5. Katy Duffield (AUS) 4:40:15 (26:58 / 2:36:37 / 1:33:42)
