Lovato, Benz take Cozumel
Michael Lovato recorded the fastest bike split on his way to the 2011 Ford Ironman Cozumel title, on a day that saw a high attrition rate. In the women's race Simone Benz stormed to her first Ironman win.
Lovato finished second in 2010 but this year he methodically worked his way to the win. Lovato started his day in 13th place after the swim with a 3-minute gap to the swim leaders Francisco Ferreira, Brandon Marsh, Mathias Hecht, Christian Ritter and Balazs Csoke.
Hecht set the pace on the bike with fellow Europeans Reichel and Axel Zeebroek right with him. But Lovato was coming through the field and by the time the leaders reached the bike-run transition the Austin / Boulder resident was right with them.
Lovato closed out his day with a 3:01:41 marathon as all the other front leaders slowly faded away. He crossed the line first in 8:23:52, almost 7 minutes quicker than Patrick Evoe who used a 2:59:23 run to move himself into the runner-up position. Spaniard Alejandro Santamaria rounded out the podium.
"The race in Cozumel is absolutely one of my all-time favorites. The conditions are very challenging, the community is unbelievably supportive, and the low key vibe is conducive to my Lovato style. Yesterday's race was one of the toughest I've endured in all my years. I was very pleased to finish on top," said Michael Lovato to slowtwitch. "And I must give a huge gracias to my sponsors, friends and family, especially my wife, without whose support I never would have made it!"
Tami Ritchie was first out of the water for the women in 48:53, with Simone Benz right on her heels. All the other female Pros were almost 6 minutes down.
Benz then had the fastest bike split in 4:45:20 and that gave her a massive lead starting the run. Sophie De Groote was the only other female Pro who managed to ride faster than 5 hours and that allowed the Belgian to reach T2 in second place, but well behind the Swiss Pro.
Benz closed out her day with a 3:25:10 marathon and crossed the line in 9:14:08 for her first Ironman title. Sonja Tajsich ran past De Groote to take second place, about 9 minutes behind the winner.
"To be the first person to cross the finishing line in an Ironman is much more than I ever hoped or imagined before Ironman Cozumel. I am speechless and unbelievably overjoyed, said Simone Benz to slowtwitch. "This win means an indescribable amount to me, especially because in the last 2 years I was finally able to run pain free."
Simone Benz recently married cyclist Reto Brändli and now goes by the name Simone Brändli. But that might not show up in race results that fast.
Ford Ironman Cozumel
Cozumel, Mexico / November 27, 2011
2.4m swim / 112m bike / 26.2m run
Top men
1. Michael Lovato (USA) 8:23:52
2. Patrick Evoe (USA) 8:30:36
3. Alejandro Santamaria (ESP) 8:32:50
4. Zach Ruble (USA) 8:34:51
5. Andrey Lyatskiy (RUS) 8:43:05
6. Trevor Desault (FRA) 8:44:03
7. Brandon Marsh (USA) 8:45:43
8. Bruno Clerbout (BEL) 8:47:07
9. Markus Thomschke (GER) 8:51:23
10. Axel Zeebroek (BEL) 8:54:06
Top women
1. Simone Benz (SUI) 9:14:08
2. Sonja Tajsich (GER) 9:23:15
3. Sophie De Groote (BEL) 9:26:07
4. Terra Castro (USA) 9:39:35
5. Kristin Andrews (USA) 9:42:14
6. Sara Gross (CAN) 9:56:29
7. Sarah Piampiano (USA) 9:57:58
8. Christine Kenney (USA) 9:57:59 * AG W30-34
9. Sonja Wieck (USA) 10:00:33 * AG W30-34
10. Francesca Tibaldi (ITA) 10:01:39
