Photos: courtesy of Club La Santa
South African professional athlete James Cunnama broke the Club La Santa IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote record this Saturday, reducing the 2015 record set by Spaniard Eneko Llanos by almost 17 minutes. As expected, the new bike course produced faster turns, which, together with cloudy skies and a light breeze, promoted the perfect conditions to set the new record.
The first to emerge from the water was the Spanish 70.3 rookie, Emilio Aguayo (00:22:31) with just 3 seconds ahead of the first female leader Lucy Charles and the Dutchman Martin Dekker. Aguayo led until the first turning point when Markus Rolli caught up with him along with James Cunnama, hot on their heels. The South African increased his pace and moved into first place after 30 km on the bike, dominating in this way until he rampantly crossed the finish line.
Cunnama's first visit to Lanzarote did not start in the best way. His bicycle arrived late on the eve of the race: "It's a great circuit, honest and demanding, so it's my kind of circuit and I really enjoyed it. I worked hard to leave the rest of the competitors behind during the first 30 km on the bike, in order to try to tire their legs before dedicating myself to taking the lead during the second bike turn".
Spaniard Emilio Aguayo had a fantastic race in his 70.3 debut, finishing second behind the 2017 Hamburg IRONMAN champion. "This fast circuit is ideal for me, the conditions were perfect, cloudy and with a light breeze. My best results usually occur when I don't have much pressure and I wasn't really focusing on reaching the podium. I am very happy with my performance today" said Aguayo.
Third place went to the German Markus Rolli, who was disqualified during the race stage, thus giving up his place on the podium to the 2016 runner-up, the Belgian Kenneth Vandendriessche "I had a good performance in swimming, but the rest of the guys put a lot of pressure on the bike today in such a way that I couldn't handle them. I really liked the new circuit. There are some perfect small climbs and I achieved an average of 40.5 km per hour, compared to what I did last year of 36 km. Here the half marathon is underestimated, it is very hard, so today was a very difficult competition" he told us.
The specialist in Sprint and Olympic distance, Ricardo Hernández Marrero, was the best Canary Islander, finishing in ninth place.
The women's competition was led until the second lap of the race by the British phenomenon, the swimmer Lucy Charles. "I have been training very hard for the last four weeks in preparation for Kona, and I will continue to do so tomorrow. I knew I had to push myself a lot during the competition, but the pace I maintained is exactly what I need for Kona, so I am generally pleased with today's result."
The Olympic distance specialist, Anne Haug, also debuting in the IRONMAN half distance, took a second wind on the second lap. Haug took the victory, breaking Jodie Cunnama's circuit record with an incredible time of 01:18:15 and eight minutes ahead of Charles. "I didn't really expect this, being my first 70.3. Running is my best discipline, but I've never done half a marathon after 90 km! But I have trained a lot at Club La Santa during this year, so I am in excellent condition, I am very happy!".
Third place Michaela Herlbauer (GER) completed the last place on the podium almost 17 minutes behind Haug and nine minutes after second place Charles. The Spanish Anna Noguera finished in fifth place about 25 minutes behind the winner.
Alessandro Degasperi (ITA) and Svenja Thoes (GER) did not finish the competition. Degasperi retired during the middle of the half marathon, fatigued and having noticed a low heart rate. Degasperi attributed this to his rigorous training period for Kona, while Svenja Thoes suffered a puncture and had to withdraw from the race.
RESULTS:
MALE:
1. James Cunnama (ZAF) 03:47:07
2. Emilio Aguayo (ESP) 03:50:20
(Markus Rolli (DEU) – Disqualified) 03:50:50
3. Kenneth Vandendriessche (BEL) 03:57:15
4. Thomas Strange (DNK) 04:00:15
5. Alberto Moreno Molins (ESP) 04:00:31
FEMALE:
1. Anne Haug (GER) 04:12:38
2. Lucy Charles (GBR) 04:20:32
3. Michaela Herlbauer (GER) 04:29:34
4. Alexandra Tondeur (BEL) 04:33:05
5. Anna Noguera (ESP) 04:35:39
