Riveros Sets Record, Heldoorn Ekes Out Win at Embrunman
Embrunman Long Distance is widely known as one of the toughest triathlons in the world. Set in the High Alps, the 188 km bike route demands 3,600 meters of climbing and the 42k run asks exhausted runners to master 400 meters of climbing to make the finish.
Monday’s classic race rewarded fans and brave triathletes with two great performances.
Women
Barbara Riveros of Chile, coming off a win two weeks ago at the equally challenging L’Alpe d’Huez, finished Embrunman in 10:39:28, breaking Carrie Lester’s 2016 record by 6:58. Meanwhile, Riveros smashed her nearest rival on the day, Justine Mathieux of France, by 17 minutes. While destroying the Embrunman women’s record, Riveros did not come close to Daniela Ryf’s dazzling 2019 L’Alpe d’Huez record time of 6:15:57. Riveros ascended the 21 hairpin turns of the L’Alpe d’Huez bike course as well as the swim and run in a respectable winning mark of 6:35:00.
Men
On the men’s side, the thrills came from a close fought battle rather than a new record.
Niek Heldoorn broke out to a one second lead in the swim – 49:36 to Tristan Bossaert’s 49:37 and another second over Bastien Copetti of France’s 49:38. Setting up the battle to the finish, Kennett Peterson of the U.S. was 1:43 arrears coming out of the swim in Lac de Serre-Ponçon, the largest water reservoir in the Alps.
After the big climbs on the 188k bike leg, Thomas Huwiler of France took the lead with a race-best 4:12 split, with Heldoorn and Peterson riding together just one second back of the leader.
Facing the first of the 5-part grueling run, Heldoorn took a 2-minute lead over Peterson. After the second leg, Heldoorn increase his lead to 3 minutes over Peterson. On the third leg, maintained that 3 minute lead ads Andrej Vistica of Croatia and Thomas Huwiler of France lurking 8 minutes back. On Lap 4, Heldoorn could only maintain his 3 minutes advantage as Vistica crept a little closer to a 6 minutes deficit.
In the final chapter, Peterson gave his last full measure of energy but fell 41 seconds short of the gold. Heldoorn finished in 9:30:00 to Peterson’s 9:30:41 and Vistica took 3rd just 2:58 back of the winner.
While Heldoorn gave a stellar effort, he fell just 1:42 short of the record 9:28:18 set by Leon Chevalier.
Embrunman Long Distance
Haute-Alpes, France
August 15, 2022
S 4k / B 188k / R 42k
Women's Results/Splits
Swim
Justine Mathieux (FRA) 53:40
Barbara Riveros (CHL) 53:42
Mathilde Serodon (FRA) 53:42
Jeanne Collonge (FRA) 56:04
Lena Berlinger (FRA) 58:09
Bike
Barbara Riveros (CHL) 4:42
Jeanne Collonge (FRA) 4:44
Justine Mathieux (FRA) 4:56
Lena Berlinger (FRA) 5:11
Maelle Deruaz (FRA) 5:11
Run Leg One
Barbara Riveros (CHL) 7:26
Jeanne Collonge (FRA) 7:33 +7min
Justine Mathieux (FRA) 7:44 +18min
Lena Berlinger (GER) 8:04 +38min
Maelle Deruaz (FRA) 8:07 +41min
Run Leg Two
Barbara Riveros (CHL) 8:32
Jeanne Collonge (FRA) 8:40 +8min
Justine Mathieux (FRA) 8:50 +18min
Lena Berlinger (GER) 9:13 +41min
Maelle Deruaz (FRA) 9:14 +42min
Run Leg 3
Barbara Riveros (CHL) 9:36
Jeanne Collonge (FRA) 9:48 +12min
Justine Mathieux (FRA) 9:56 +20min
Maelle Deruaz (FRA) 1:09:20 +44min
Lena Berlinger (GER) 10:22 +46moin
Finish
1. Barbara Riveros (CHL) 10:39:28 * New women’s race record
2. Justine Mathieux (FRA) 10:56:09 +17min
3. Jeanne Collonge (FRA) 10:59:29 +21min
4. Maelle Deruaz (FRA) 11:23:06 +55min
5. Lena Berlinger (GER) 11:51:57 +1hr12min
Men's Results/Splits
Swim
Niek Heldoorn (NED) 49:36
Tristan Bossaert (FRA) 49:37
Bastien Copetti (FRA) 49:38
William Mennesson (FRA) 51:18
Kennett Peterson (USA) 51:19
Bike
Thomas Huviler (FRA) 4:12
Niek Heldoorn (NED) 4:13
Kennett Peterson (USA) 4:13
Andrej Vistica (CRO) 4:19
Thomas Navarro (FRA) 4:20
Run Leg One
Niek Heldoorn (NED) 6:38
Kennett Peterson (USA) 6:40
Andrej Vistica (CRO) 6:46
Thomas Huwiler(FRA) 6:46
Thomas Navarro (FRA) 6:52
Run Leg Two
Niek Heldoorn (NED) 7:35
Kennett Peterson (USA)7:38 +3min
Andrej Vistica (CRO) 7:43 +8min
Thomas Huwiler (SUI) 7:43 +8min
Thomas Navarro (FRA) 7:52 +17min
Run Leg Three
Niek Heldoorn (NED) 8:33
Kennett Peterson (USA) 8:36 +3min
Andrej Vistica (CRO) 8:39 +6min
Thomas Huwiler (SUI) 8:47+14min
Thomas Navarro (FRA) 8:52 +19min
Finish
1. Niek Heldoorn (NED) 9:30:00
2. Kennett Peterson (USA) 9:30:41 +41sec
3. Andrej Vistica (CRO) 9:32:58 +2:58
4. Thomas Huwiler (SUI) 9:44:43 +14:43
5. Felix Pouilly (FRA) 9:46:28 +16:28
