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Triathlon

Triple treat for Diana Riesler at Ironman Malaysia in Langkawi

Diana Riesler wins Ironman Malaysia three times in a row.
Diana Riesler wins Ironman Malaysia three times in a row.

Diana Riesler likes to challenge herself, trying for her third consecutive win in the heat and humidity of Malaysia, which has never been done before. The German was handily placed third out of the water, a minute down on Japan’s Maki Nishiuchi but ahead of the key competitors Laura Siddall (GBR) and Mareen Hufe (GER).

Riesler worked her way quickly to the lead on the bike, and by the 70km mark she had already stretched her advantage to 3:41 on Siddall and Hufe; 5:30 by 120km and she was off the bike with a 6:31 buffer on Siddall and 6:57 on Hufe.

The German gradually built on that considerable advantage to be 6:42 ahead of Siddall at 10kms of the marathon and eight minutes over Hufe at 25kms. She ran a 3:21:38 marathon in the heat and then through rain to arrive home for her third straight win in Malaysia with 9:25:34.

Diana Riesler (right) tops the Pro Female podium at Ironman Malaysia 2016.
Diana Riesler (right) tops the Pro Female podium at Ironman Malaysia 2016.

“I think I was third after the swim, and then I took over the lead on the bike after 30 kilometres. From then on, I stayed at the front. I’m just happy that I could win, and come back to Malaysia,” said Riesler.

Hufe continued her impressively consistent career with another podium to go with her runner-up at Brazil earlier this year and seventh in New Zealand. It was her seventh podium in the last four years.

Siddall enjoyed a solid day throughout – fourth out of the swim, second off the bike and just edged back to third overall for an excellent day in the office. It was her first podium in a full IRONMAN event.

Pro Women results

1 Diana Riesler GER 9:25:34
2 Mareen Hufe GER 9:35:24
3 Laura Siddall GBR 9:37:51
4 Tine Holst DNK 9:41:48