New Champions Crowned at Spec-Savers Ironman South Africa 2008
Sunday, 13th April 2008
It's a double celebration for Stephen Bayliss (GBR) and his fiancee Bella Comerford (GBR) who have won the Spec-Savers Ironman 2008 in the mens and women's races respectively.
Stephen Bayliss (GBR) has deservedly taken his first Ironman title with a course record time of 8:18:23, breaking the previous course record of 8:21:25 set in 2005 by Port Elizabeth favourite, Raynard Tissink. Tissink crossed the finish line in second place for the third time in three years in a time of 8:23:09.
Chabaud started his run before Tissink had entered the second transition and kept a healthly lead for most of the run. Tissink now had to play catch-up, being 5 minutes behind, with Marcel Zamora Perez (ITA) breathing down his neck.
Around the 4km mark Chabaud's lead started diminishing with Tissink now 00:04:20 behind. Perez was closing in, 00:01:30 behind Tissink with Bayliss in fourth place, 00:02:44 behind Perez.
The four frontrunners Chabaud, Tissink, Perez and Bayliss stayed relatively close together for the majority of the race. Around the 18km Mark Bayliss passed Perez to move into third place with Peter Schoissengeier (GER) closing in on the leaders in fifth place.
The Frenchman's lead was drastically reduced around the 28km mark when he slowed down and started walking. Chabaud started running again but Tissink was only 00:02:34 behind.
The lead changed for the first time in the run around the 32km mark when Tissink eventually managed to pass the leader. Soon after, Bayliss also passed Chabaud and was now 00:00:08 behind Tissink.
The 34km mark was where the real race began with Bayliss taking the lead for the first time. He started to pull away from Tissink, with Chabaud falling further behind.
With Bayliss having an almost untouchable lead, and Tissink far ahead of third place, it was a race for bronze. Schoissengeier finally came in view of the finish line, 00:00:29 ahead of former race leader Chabaud.
In a touching gesture, Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Nondumiso Maphazi gave an obviously disappointed, and visibly exhausted Raynard Tissink a warm hug to welcome him across the finish line.
The women's race was one made for Hollywood. It was a sprint for the finish with Bella Comerford (GBR) clocking 00:00:07 ahead of Edith Niederfriniger (ITA). Comerford won with a time of 09:27:48 with Niederfriniger a few steps behind in 09:27:53.
Lucie Zelenkova (CZE) started the run ahead of Niederfriniger and had a massive lead. By the bike transition Zelenkova had a 10km advantage over Niederfriniger and had passed the 4km mark before the first of the chasers left the second transition.
Kathryn Cronje (SA), who was in fourth position, had moved up to second, 00:15:26 behind the leader with Comerford and Niederfriniger not far behind.
Comerford moved into second soon after, and by the 6km mark had reduced the gap from the leader to 00:14:17. At this stage, Zelenkova started slowing down.
By the 20km mark Comerford had closed the gap to 00:09:14, with Niederfriniger right behind her, and Cronje at 00:08:09 behind the leader.
32km into the race, Zelenkovas lead was only 00:00:51. Comerford and Niederfriniger started running side by side. They soon overtook Zelenkova and the battle was on for the finish.
Lucie Zelenkova, who was looking strong for most of the race, finished 00:07:00 after Comerford and Niederfriniger in a time of 09:34:09.
Provisional results:
Men:
- Stephen Bayliss (GBR), 08:18:23
- Raynard Tissink (RSA), 08:23:09
- Peter Schoissengeier (AUS), 08:33:24
Women:
- Bella Comerford (GBR) 09:27:48
- Edith Niederfriniger (ITA), 09:27:53
- Lucie Zelenkova (CZE), 09:34:09
Source: Press Release
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