Mignon, Riveros Eek Out Wins at Pays d’Aix 70.3
Clement Mignon, a runner-up in his two previous starts this year, broke through to a definitive home-country win at Pays d’Aix-en-Provence 70.3 on the strength of a 1:10:14 half marathon. Mignon trailed long-time leader Scott Steenberg of Denmark until he surged away halfway through the half marathon and crossed the line in 3:50:50, 3:56 ahead of the Dane.
Barbara Riveros, a Chilean who won her home country Pucon 70.3 five times, came from behind to top Frenchwoman Alexia Baily by 51 seconds at Pays d’Aix-en-Provence 70.3.
Men
Clement Mignon of France began his day with a 7th-best swim that left him a minute behind a lead group of five. Mignon battled hard to work with a chase group that left him two minutes behind Steenberg at T2. But once on the run, Mignon showed Steenberg and the rest of the field who was boss with a race-best 1:10:14 half marathon that brought him to the finish in 3:50:50 with a 3:56 lead on Steenberg and 4:37 on third place finisher Mattia Ceccarelli of Italy.
Mignon’s win came after runner-up finishes at Challenge Gran Canaria and Ironman 70.3 Mallorca last month.
Women
Alexia Bailly engaged in a close battle with Riveros through the swim and bike legs, starting the run with a 43 seconds lead on Riveros. Riveros gradually cut away from that lead until she passed Bailly one third of the way through the run.
Bailly held tough for a while, holding the margin to 30 seconds, but Riveros finally drew away to finish in 4:23:27 with a 51 seconds margin on Bailly. Anne Reischmann of Germany drew closer with a women’s-fastest 1:21:46 run split, which brought her to third place, 45 seconds behind Bailly.
Ironman 70.3 Pays d’Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence, France
May 22, 2022
S 1.9 k / B 90k / R 21.1k
Men's Results
1. Clement Mignon (FRA) 3:50:50
2. Scott Steenberg (DEN) 3:54:46
3. Mattia Ceccarelli (ITA) 3:55:27
4. Simon Viain (FRA) 3:56:32
5. Erwan Jacobs (FRA) 3:56:49
Women's Results
1. Barbara Riveros (CHL) 4:23:27
2. Alexia Bailly (FRA) 4:24:18
3. Anne Reischmann (GER) 4:25:03
4. Justine Guerard (FRA) 4:26:00
5. Charlene Clavel (FRA) 4:27:29
