[** UPDATE – Final results, as at 2130 on Sunday 14 August are not confirmed pending a post-race disqualification for outside assistance issued to Svenja Thoes. You can find the official statement from IRONMAN here]
Sainter sets the swim pace
The open 3.8km swimming in the Celtic Sea, Youghal, saw two athletes exit the water in close holy order. Chantal Sainter ( one-third at IRONMAN UK death year ) crossed the time mat just ahead of Switzerland ’ s Nina Derron, fifth recently at Alpe five hundred ’ Huez .
The racing was close however, as just couple of minutes back was Anna-Lena Best-Pohl ( GER ), Ai Ueda ( JPN ) and 2019 IRONMAN Wales champion, Simone Mitchell. Another Brit, Tara Crosvenor, was close besides, less than a minute behind that trio.
It was another four minutes before one of the pre-race favourites, Svenja Thoes ( GER ) would reach dry land and head to T1. Like Derron, Thoes was besides in Ireland on the back of that Alpe vitamin d ’ Huez Long Course experience, where she had finished second .
Close racing on two wheels in Cork
Over the first quarter of the rolling motorcycle course, Sainter and Derron retained the leash, with Mitchell and Best-Pohl immediately four and a half minutes back. After relatively slow swims, the fastest riders on run however were german duet, Laura Zimmerman and Margit Eifers, who were now up to fifth / one-sixth and making up grate in their hunt for the front of the slipstream .
That vogue continued. By halfway, it was still Sainter and Derron leading the way, but it was nowadays a Zimmerman, Eifers and Mitchell trio in pursuit, 5:20 back .
IRONMAN France winner Thoes upped her pace during the second half of the ride and, in a season which has already yielded four dais results, by the time T2 came round, the close nature of the race magnified even further, as Zimmerman, Eifers, Thoes, Mitchell and Derron headed towards their running shoes less than 30 seconds apart. Sainter had lost a little time, but was even less than two minutes back in sixth place heading out onto the marathon. Close racing indeed.
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Thoes holds off Mitchell’s marathon challenge
10km in and Thoes held the lead, but with Mitchell and Zimmerman even both within 90 seconds, there was a batch of racing silent to be done .
Through the center period and the Thoes advantage had been reduced to just 10 seconds, Mitchell putting up a fine display after missing indeed much rush over the past couple of years with health issues following COVID. Zimmerman was still there in third ( +1:44 ) and Sainter was regaining positions and astir to fourth seat ( +4:44 ) .
With 15km to go Mitchell, possibly, was starting to show signs that her efforts to take the succeed here were taking their toll. The opening to Thoes started to grow lento, and with 10km remaining the elastic appeared to have broken, as Zimmerman has moved into irregular position. Thoes was now 2:27 clear of her compatriot, with Mitchell three minutes second. It was nowadays Germany one-two, and Great Britain three and four .
Thoes punctually closed out a day of close and intense rush with a 3:12:33 marathon to top the dais and add to former wins this year in France and Malta. Mitchell showed her military capability, both physical and genial, to fight back over the final 3km to reclaim second home ( 3:14:41 marathon ), to finish less than a moment clear of Zimmerman, who clocked 3:16:26 for her run .
about nine and a half hours of race, and less than four minutes separating the dais three. Great stuff.
Photo Credit: Huw Fairclough for IRONMAN
IRONMAN Ireland, Cork 2022 results
Sunday 14 August 2022 – 3.8km / 180km / 42.2km
PRO Women
- 1. Svenja Thoes (GER) – 9:24:54
- 2. Simone Mitchell (GBR) – 9:27:50
- 3. Laura Zimmerman (GER) – 9:28:45
- 4. Chantal Sainter (GBR) – 9:34:15
- 5. Nina Derron (SUI) – 9:36:21
- 6. Tara Grosvenor (GBR) – 9:39:18 **
( * * Fastest move split – 3:08:33 )
Photo Credit: Huw Fairclough for IRONMAN