Renewing his rivalry on the swim-bike-run course, Byron Bay resident Tim Reed came from behind to beat defending champion Josh Amberger and win Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie title in Australia.

Reed made up about three and a half minutes on the run on his way to victory, and he didn’t waste any time eating into it. He had taken more than a minute off the deficit three kilometres into the half marathon which finished the race and led by the eight kilometre mark. Amberger faded to finish eighth while Reed won in a time of three hours, 50 minutes and 34 seconds.

“I’ve raced Josh three times this year, and we’ve had the same situation. Each time I’ve been able to run him down. He’s had a bit of bad luck with injuries, which has probably held his running back a little bit,” said Reed.

Reed had pushed hard on the bike so as not to give Amberger too much of a lead. Reed said he knew his opponent would have a solid race plan.

“I’ve got so much respect for the way Josh races,” Reed said of Amberger.

While some athletes struggled with the heat, Reed said he wasn’t too concerned.

“It was just nice on the bike, and it started to warm up a bit on the run. Nothing too extreme.” continued Reed.

It was an uneventful race throughout, with no real issues affecting Reed’s race.

“Everything was great. The course was clear, really well organised. Just a really smooth event.”

Former Port Macquarie local, and a good mate of Reed’s in Tim Berkel interviewed him after the race.

“That was nice. He’s the king of this town when it comes to triathlon. It was good to have a chat with him.”

Ironman Busselton is the next event on Reed’s radar. It will be in December before he takes a break.

Double delight for Radka Vodickova

RADKA Vodickova had to work hard for her second straight Ironman 70.3 Port Macquarie title on Sunday.

The Czech professional overcame a spirited race from Australian Andrea Forrest to defend her 2014 crown in a race she described as much harder than last year’s. Fast-finishing Anna Russell, from New Zealand, rounded out the podium at Westport Park.

Vodickova entered the run 19 seconds behind Forrest, and won by just over a minute. She clocked four hours, 26 minutes and 39 seconds in hot conditions.She led by about a minute after the 1.9 kilometre swim in the Hastings River, but Forrest fought back to take the lead in the 90km bike leg. Vodickova took first place back about halfway through the 21.1km run leg.

“I had to push so hard on the run in the first 10k. I had to push really hard and she (Forrest) ran so fast,” said Vodickova.

Given the adversity, the win was even more satisfying for Vodickova this year than in 2014.

“I had to stay focused the whole way, and it feels great,” she said.

Vodickova is engaged to fellow professional Brad Kahlefeldt. He was racing on Sunday in the Yarrawonga Olympic distance triathlon. She planned to give her flowers to Kahlefeldt’s sister Rochelle for her birthday today.

It’s a big month for Vodickova, who will head to Wagga Wagga next weekend for her engagement party. The week after that is a triathlon at Noosa, then Shepparton.

Source: Macquarie Port News