Sebastian Kienle zipped through the city of Frankfurt to win the IRONMAN European Championships in Frankfurt, Germany in 7hours and 41 minutes, before the locals could even say ‘Achtung’.

Compatriot Lukasj Wojt (GER) led out of the water after 3.9km, with Kienle trailing a few minutes behind but he more than made up the gap once he got on his bike. Storming through the German city for 180km, Kienle clocked 4:02:22 and had opened up almost three minutes on fellow German, Andi Boecherer.

Showing no signs of fatigue, Kienle clocked the third fastest 42km marathon split of 2:45 to clock a supremely fast win. Four minutes later, Boecherer and Patrik Nilsson (SWE) ran the fastest marathon split of the day of 2:40:58 to complete the podium. Watch out world, Kienle has signalled that he’s a major contender for the IRONMAN World Championships at Kona, Hawaii this year.

Women’s Race

In the women’s category, Lucy Charles (GBR) was first out of the 3.9km swim in Frankfurt in 48 minutes. She’s been on fire recently, winning Ironman Lanzarote and also winning the Challenge Championship in Samorin, Slovakia.

However, once Sarah Crowley got on her bike, she made up her 8-minute deficit on Charles and took another 5 minute through the German city, finishing 180km in 4 hours and 40 minutes. No other ladies could close up on the two, and Crowley continued her sterling performance by clocking the second fastest 42km marathon split of the day at 3 hours and 5 minutes to reap the IRONMAN European Championships.

Charles managed to close the gap and finished 4 minutes behind Crowley while Belgian Alexandra Tondeur rounded up the podium 8 minutes later.

Source: Triathlonworld.com