Daniela Ryf (SUI) has taken out the top title at her first Challenge Roth with the third fastest women’s time ever achieved over triathlon’s long distance.
The current world champion dominated from start to finish, taking the win in 8:22:04 and achieved the third best time ever on the long distance of 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike and a 42.195 km marathon.
She almost achieved the fairy-tale ending, but couldn’t quite beat the incomparable Chrissie Wellington’s world record time of 8:18:13, set in 2011. Wellington, who was spectating on the sidelines during the race, did however have some concern for her world record. Daniela Ryf was nearly ten minutes faster on the bike course than the British athlete but she failed to match Wellington’s blistering marathon pace. “I hope to come back again” she said at the finish line and gave everyone the impression that she just finished running a casual 10km with her energetic finish line dance!
Just how dominant Ryf was is illustrated by the time she had over her competitors. Carrie Lester (AUS) delivered a second-place finish with a personal best of 8:42:13 which was still 20 minutes behind the Ryf. Lester claimed the same position as last year, despite being 11 minutes faster, and demoted defending champion Yvonne van Vlerken (8:49:35) to third place. British athlete Laura Siddall rounded out the top four women coming in under nine hours with a time of 8:51:59.
1. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 8:22:04 (49:10 / 4:31:29 / 2:57:40)
2. Carrie Lester (AUS) 8:42:13
3. Yvonne van Vlerken (NED) 8:49:35
4. Laura Siddall (GBR) 8:51:59
5. Anja Beranek (GER) 9:00:20
