Returning Simmonds and Newcomer Wayaffe Win Hilly Challenge Mallorca
Imogen Simmonds and Jonathan Wayaffe reigned victorious during a hot and hilly Challenge Peguera-Mallorca race on 15 October. Simmonds had a comfortable victory in the professional women’s race thanks to a blitz on the bike leg, while middle-distance newcomer Wayaffe grabbed the lead in the men’s race with just a kilometer to go on the run.
Facing lingering health issues, Simmonds decided to race Mallorca at the last minute. The decision paid off handsomely with a win in 4:20:57 over Anne Reischmann and Fenella Langridge, who had just raced the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii the previous weekend. Simmonds now has her sights on the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in St. George in late October.
Wayaffe, the ITU veteran who began middle-distance racing this season, took a close victory over Andrea Pizzeghella and Thomas Bishop. Wayaffe debuted at 70.3 racing just 5 months ago and it was his first win at the middle distance.
Women’s Race Recap
Sara Perez Sala of Spain led the women out of the water in 24:56, but a few seconds behind was Langridge, who was fresh from leading chunks of the Ironman World Championships on 6 October. Langridge briefly took the lead on the technical and hilly bike leg, but was passed by Simmonds halfway through the 90k ride.
Simmonds had a late start to the 2022 triathlon season thanks to hip surgery in February. But in a tune-up to the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in St. George, Simmonds cruised on the bike leg with the fastest split of the day in 2:26:18. By the end of the ride Simmonds had a 3:22 lead on Langridge. Sala dropped out of the race during the bike leg.
On the run Simmonds cruised to victory with a comfortable 1:25:04 half marathon. However it was Reischmann who had the fastest run split of the day in 1:23:30 and finished in second place.
Men’s Race Recap
A tight pack of swimmers led the professional men out of the water that included Italian Matteo Montanari, Norwegian Jørgen Gundersen and Brit Thomas Bishop. Czech triathlete Lukas Kocar had the fastest bike split of the day and led the field into the run leg along with German Rico Bogen.
But after a consistent swim and bike leg, it was Wayaffe who stormed through the run field. With just 2 kilometers to go Wayaffe saw the leaders and the Belgian made a final push to the line to win the race.
WOMEN’S Top 5
Imogen Simmonds (SUI) 4:20:57
Anne Reischmann (GER) 4:25:24
Fenella Langridge (GBR) 4:26:11
Lucy Byram (GBR) 4:28:02
Alexandra Tondeur (BEL) 4:28:53
MEN’S Top 5
Jonathan Wayaffe (BEL) 3:53:36
Andrea Pizzeghella (ITA) 3:54:07
Thomas Bishop (GBR) 3:54:23
Lukas Kocar (CZE) 3:54:32
Thomas Ott (GER) 3:57:05
