Tissink, Wellington in South Africa
Raynard Tissink smashed his own record by 20 minutes on his way to win his 3rd Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa. As expected, 3-time Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington dominated the women's race and finished up high among the Pro men, but even she did not think that she would break the World Record. Wellington broke the World Record in a time of 8:33:57 and annihilated the course record. Along the way, her 2:52:54 marathon time was in fact faster than anyone else on course that day.
The men
Andreas Bocherer led the men in the swim and was first out of the water. Local favorite and 2-time champion Raynard Tissink was next about a minute down, but he led a fairly large pack into transition.
Bocherer is known as a strong cyclist, but Tissink managed to reel him in after 30k. Luke Bell and Marino Vanhoenacker also rode well and a few miles later the fast Belgian was with Tissink. The two were together for most of the segment with Bocherer not far behind, but late in the bike Vanhoenacker managed to gain a slight advantage. Vanhoenacker reached T2 first with a very fast 4:18:14 bike split, which is apparently the new course record. Tissink reached T2 next about 2 minutes down with a 4:19:41 split.
Vanhoenacker held on to his lead to just under 20k, but Tissink caught him and soon after moved into the front. Bocherer also was within striking distance and went past the now struggling Vanhoenacker, who not much later withdrew from the race. James Cunnama was now running in third position but was not able to narrow the gap. Tissink recorded a 2:53:21 marathon and earned his third Ironman South Africa title. Bocherer held on to second place and Cunnama took the final podium spot.
"The final 2km were torture, but being back into the crowded section of the course helped carry my broken body to the finish in a personal best time of 8:05:36. It was another 3 minutes until Andi Bocherer crossed the line, and a few more minutes until James Cunnama came across for 3rd. It was only then that I found out that Marino had pulled out at about the 25km mark, and it was then that I realized what a dark place I must have been in to believe I was being chased by a ghost," said Tissink. "This was my 8th Ironman title, and definitely a very special win on home soil in front of nearly 40,000 spectators. The support out there was tremendous."
The women
Amanda Stevens had a great swim and was first out of the water. Rachel Joyce was next, about a minute later, but all eyes awaited the arrival of Chrissie Wellington. Wellington reached T1 just under 3 minutes after Stevens and soon was in hot pursuit on her bike.
It didn't take Wellington very long to move into the lead and from their she steadily built her advantage. By the 120k mark, she had an almost 10 minute lead over Rachel Joyce and about 12 minutes on Belinda Granger and Stevens. Eventually she recorded a time of 4:45:23, 17 minutes faster than Joyce. A bit further back, Diana Riesler managed a 4:55:16, but the German Pro had started the bike 10 minutes down on Wellington and thus reached T2 in fourth place, behind Stevens.
Wellington, closed out her day with a fantastic 2:52:54 marathon (faster than any male Pro) and annihilated the old course record. Joyce crossed the line in second about 35 minutes later and Diana Riesler finished third, almost 47 minutes later.
Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa
Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa / April 10, 2011
2.4m swim / 112m bike / 26.2m run
Top 10 men
1. Raynard Tissink (RSA) 8:05:36
2. Andreas Boecherer (GER) 8:08:36
3. James Cunnama (RSA) 8:13:18
4. Daniel Fontana (ITA) 8:18:51
5. Cyril Viennot (FRA) 8:30:42
6. Eduardo Sturla (ARG) 8:32:52
7. Uwe Widmann (GER) 8:33:39
8. Petr Vabrousek (CZE) 8:40:36
9. Trevor Delsaut (FRA) 8:41:57
10) Balazs Csoke (HUN) 8:43:06
Top women
1. Chrissie Wellington (GBR) 8:33:56
2. Rachel Joyce (GBR) 9:08:23
3. Diana Riesler (GER) 9:20:37
4. Silvia Felt (GER) 9:24:31
5. Amanda Stevens (USA) 9:25:50
6. Belinda Granger (AUS) 9:28:59
7. Simone Benz (SUI) 9:31:21
