The 2022 SWISSMAN Xtreme Triathlon
Switzerland is known for its amazing landscape and delicious chocolate, and both could be taken amply in during the 2022 SWISSMAN Xtreme Triathlon. Well, chocolate maybe only in smaller doses, and clearly there is much more to Switzerland than sweet delights and stunning scenery.
This past weekend 213 athletes from 35 countries tackled the challenging SWISSMAN course on a glorious day with beautiful blue skies. In the end the champions were Hans Christian Tungesvik from Norway and Flora Colledge from the UK. Colledge in fact now has won this race 3 times in a row.
But now enjoy these fine pics by Kai-Otto Melau from Norway.
When you come to the SWISSMAN event you better bring your climbing legs, both for the bike and the run.
Nervously awaiting the swim start while still on the ferry, and while the camera might be playing tricks here, this athlete seemingly needs no fins.
Trying to sight in the beautiful Lago di Maggiore with the sun slowly rising.
The swim is done and now off to the bike.
Flora Colledge took charge early on, and she really knows the course well.
As we mentioned earlier, the mountains in this region of Switzerland are majestic and require great will power and stamina.
Flora Colledge pushed hard on the bike too.
Swiss athlete Tim Rulands managed to do the race in 14:12:30 and that meant 15th place overall.
A smile for the photographer but then onward and upwards.
Very little traffic both ways allowed athletes to focus on the task ahead and the stunning scenery nearby.
To capture 3 athletes in the same vicinity during the bike segment is extremely rare.
Hans Christian Tungesvik on the throttle on his way to the 2022 SWISSMAN Xtreme Triathlon.
Jonas Vögtli with his crew man still all smiles early on during the challenging run course.
Tungesvik captured the title in 11:19:00 over an hour ahead of runner-up Urs Müller of Switzerland.
Although Colledge had been here twice before, she was still super thrilled to grab that title and having finished that tough course.
Rulands now almost done smiled brightly.
With full family support up the hill.
French athlete Julien Raimundo on his way to 24th place and looking much more chipper than his crew guy.
All images © Kai-Otto Melau
