A race 'in the middle of the city', a transition zone in an multi-storey parking lot, a carbo loading party with Swabian ravioli, the inaugural Challenge Heilbronn in Germany presented lots of innovations with Andi Böcherer (GER) and Laura Philipp (GER) taking out the ultimate titles.
A race 'in the middle of the city', a transition zone in an multi-storey parking lot, a carbo loading party with Swabian ravioli, the inaugural Challenge Heilbronn in Germany presented lots of innovations with Andi Böcherer (GER) and Laura Philipp (GER) taking out the ultimate titles.
At one of the toughest races this season Andi Böcherer was first across the finish line in 3:56:06. Böcherer laid the foundation of his victory on the bike course and in the end he had a three min lead on second placed Michael Raelert (GER). Last year's winner Andi Dreitz (GER) went third while local hero Sebastian Kienle (GER) finished fourth. On the swim course, Kienle lost his goggles and swim cap, thus he started with backlog on the bike. On the bike course, Böcherer and Italian Giulio Molinari set the pace at the front, and only Raelert, Dreitz and Kienle were able to follow. On the run Molinari was overhauled by Dreitz and Kienle and finished fifth.
Men's Results
1. Andi Böcherer (GER) 3:56:06
2. Michael Raelert (GER) 3:59:06
3. Andi Dreitz (GER) 4:00:47
4. Sebastian Kienle (GER) 4:01:19
5. Giulio Molinari (ITA) 4:02:07
6. Nils Frommhold (GER) 4:05:01
7. Maurice Clavel (GER) 4:06:02
8. Horst Reichel (GER) 4:13:06
9. Markus Rolli (GER) 4:17:30
10. Julian Mutterer (GER) 4:19:11
In the women's race there were several changes in the lead. After the swim Swiss athlete Celine Schärer was at the top of the field, then followed Svenja Bazlen (GER) and Anja Beranek (GER). On the bike, last year's winner Bazlen took over the lead until Anja Beranek overhauled her. She was followed by Svenja Bazlen, Laura Philipp and Daniela Sämmler. Beranek was leading until the last loop on the run, then she had to pay tribute to her pace on the bike, when youngster Laura Philipp took over and took the win to the finish line. Beranek went second with 3:23 behind Philipp while third was Bazlen.
 Laura Philipp(Photo: Ingokutsche SportFotoGraphie; click to enlarge) |
Women's Results
1. Laura Philipp (GER) 4:29:40
2. Anja Beranek (GER) 4:33:03
3. Svenja Bazlen (GER) 4:35:49
4. Daniela Sämmler (GER) 4:45:30
5. Jenny Schulz (GER) 4:53:11
6= Barbara Scherrer (SUI) 4:54:35
6= Katharina Wolff (GER) 4:54:35
8. Celine Schärer (SUI) 4:56:31
9. Marion Hebding (GER) 5:01:11
10. Caroline Fey (GER) 5:01:48
