Rolli, Simmonds take Thailand 70.3
Markus Rolli of Germany and Imogen Simmonds of Switzerland won the elite titles at Ironman 70.3 Thailand at Laguna Phuket.
Rolli combined a first pack swim, a dominating 2:06:07 bike split that gave him a 6:42 lead at T2, and a 2nd-fastest 1:15:45 half marathon to finish in 3:49:02 with a 3:47 margin of victory over Timothy Van Berkel of Australia and 7:45 over 3rd place Fernando Toldi of Brazil.
Van Berkel cinched the runner-up position with a race-best 1:13:25 run.
The victory was first year pro Rolli's first at the 70.3 distance. He was 2nd in his age group at the 2016 Ironman 70.3 World Championship and was second pro at Kraichgau 70.3 this year.
Simmonds came out of the water in 3rd place, 1:16 behind swim leader Manami Iijima of Guam. Simmonds then posted a women's-best 2:21:53 bike split that gave her a 2:39 lead on Dimity Lee Duke of Australia, a 6:16 advantage over Eimear Mullan of Ireland, 7:31 over Magda Nieuwoudt of South Africa, 9:25 over Parys Edwards of Great Britain, 12:45 over Robin Pomeroy of the U.S., and 12:46 over Iijima.
After a women's 2nd-best 1:24:54 run, Simmonds finished in 4:16:49 with a 4:49 margin of victory over Mullan (women's-fastest 1:23:27 run) and 6:05 ahead of 3rd place finisher Duke (1:28:20 run).
Foremost Ironman 70.3 Thailand
Laguna Phuket, Thailand
November 26, 2017
S 1.2 mi. / B 56 mi. / R 13.1 mi.
Results
Men
1. Markus Rolli (GER) 3:49:02 S 23:15 B 2:06:07 R 1:15:45
2. Timothy Van Berkel (AUS) 3:52:49 S 23:16 B 2:12:47 R 1:13:25
3. Fernando Toldi (BRA) 3:56:47 S 23:10 B 2:12:51 R 1:17:32
4. Alberto Casadei (ITA) 4:01:34 S 23:13 B 2:14:26 R 1:19:52
5. Alexander Polizzi (AUS) 4:04:03 S 23:12 B 2:16:03 R 1:20:57
Women
1. Imogen Simmonds (SUI) 4:16:49 S 26:18 B 2:21:53 R 1:24:54
2. Eimear Mullan (IRL) 4:21:38 S 26:33 B 2:27:36 R 1:23:27
3. Dimity Lee Duke (AUS) 4:22:54 S 28:18 B 2:22:02 R 1:28:20
4. Parys Edwards (GBR) 4:28:52 S 30:09 B 2:27:11 R 1:27:33
5. Robin Pomeroy (USA) 4:30:03 S 25:21 B 2:35:24 R 1:25:23
