A Cairns Gallery
Eric Wynn sent us up some crackerjack photos from Cairns, Australia.
Cairns sits at upper right hand corner of the continent. It's tropical. Cairns is practically neighbors with Port Moresby, New Guinea. Brisbane is twice as far away and Sydney three times the distance.
This makes the Ironman in Cairns unlike those in otherwise temperate Australia. It also makes it a popular tourist destination.
When you race an Ironman you're in with 2000 people, but your thoughts are all your own.
This was the kind of race Aussies appreciate, or anyone growing up next to a beach with true surf conditions.
If you race in Australia, be prepared for a fast swim. Rumor is that Australian doctors receive the baby out of the womb and throw it into the pool in one movement.
David Dellow is one of those Aussies who will give you fits in the swim and bike. David kept it going in the run as well, with a 2:50:03, third best run split on the day and good for second place overall.
Romain Guillaume finished a creditable 8th, but this Frenchman probably did not have the race he wanted.
Luke Bell was right there off the bike, but when your run split is larger than your bike split that means you had a rough day.
Cameron Wurf came to triathlon from professional cycling, and already has an Olympic medal. In rowing! Cameron has experience riding Cannondales and he rode this Slice to a 4:23:59, 6 seconds slower than Clayton Fettell's best split of the day.
Tim Burkel has his day. Solid swim and bike, and then a 2:46 marathon that put everyone else away.
Michelle Bremer of New Zealand was 4th on the day, with a solid performance throughout.
Linsey Corbin gave up 26 minutes on the swim and bike to eventual winner Jodie Swallow, but she got most of it back in the run with a 3:02 marathon.
Jodie Swallow captured her second Ironman victory. She ran away and hid on the swim and bike, and her 3:21 run was safe, controlled and more than enough for the win.
