October 10 2009
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Craig Alexander defends World Ironman Crown at Kona
Craig Alexander etched his name into the record books today by becoming only the fourth man in history to win multiple World Ironman titles.
The defending champion did it the hard way, showing phenomenal poise and grit to come from ninth place and almost 12 minutes down on the leader at the end of the bike leg before carving out an incredible marathon of 2hr 48min 5sec. His race was tactically superb, passing pacesetter American Chris Lieto to take the lead with eight kilometers to go and eventually win by more than two minutes in an overall time of 8hr 14min 04sec.
Alexander, 36, joins Dave Scott, Mark Allen and Tim DeBoom as the only men to taste success more than once on the infamously tough course in Hawaii that incorporates a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42km run.
Australia was a force to be reckoned with at Kona. Chris McCormack, the 2007 champion, battled cramps to finish a brave fourth and Pete Jacobs surprised more fancied rivals with a wonderfully consistent race to place eighth.
In the women’s field Mirinda Carfrae completed a stunning debut to finish second, breaking the run record in completing a 2hr 56min 51sec marathon. The Queenslander was 20 minutes down overall on the incomparable Chrissie Wellington, of Great Britain, who defended her title comfortably in a time of 8hr 47min 37sec. Rebekah Keat rounded out an astonishing day for Australia by finishing a strong fifth.
“It’s great to win a race when everything goes to plan, but to have to fight and scrap for it . . . to have to dig so deep and come away with a win like that is another feeling again,” Alexander said while being administered with a drip soon after the race.
“That was a massive mental test for me because I didn’t feel comfortable for most of the race. I didn’t feel like I had the smooth, flowing gait that I normally have, so to get through that and defend my title is an amazing feeling. That was a war of attrition.
The Sydneysider, who spends half his time based in Colorado in the US, was happy with his swim, emerging from the water in the top half dozen, but described the pace during the first hour of the bike as “insane”. Once off the bike, he and Germany’s Andreas Raelert mowed
down the field and set their sights on Lieto.
“I was in among a pack of race favourites but one by one it dissolved because the pace was just insane,” he said. “I didn’t quite know what was happening out there but I didn’t really think about anyone else. In Ironman, you simply concentrate on covering the ground as best you can.
“I was right where I needed to be in the run, but it was tough out there. I actually got dropped by Raelert three times during the run but I just kept hanging in there. I thought to myself, ‘This is not it; there is another chapter to write for me here’.
“It’s a mental thing. You just have to tell yourself the pain will come to an end at some stage – that it’s hard and it hurts but it will subside. You have a lifetime to dwell on what you achieve out there, no matter where you come in the race, so you sacrifice yourself to the moment. Maybe I’m just too old and too stupid to roll over and give in.
“I’m thrilled. I’d like to say a massive thanks to the triathlon community in Australia. I hope all of the people that have helped me and supported me can celebrate and share in this victory with me. I’m really struggling to put it into words. The Aussies have blitzed. Hats off to Macca (McCormack); Rinny (Carfrae) is an absolute rock star – what a day!”
WORLD IRONMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kona, Hawaii
Men:
1.Craig Alexander (AUS) 8:14:04. 2. Chris Lieto (USA) 8:16:15. 3. Andreas Raelert (GER) 8:18:17 4. Chris McCormack (AUS) 5. Rasmus Henning (DNK) 6. Timo Bracht (GER) 7. Dirk Bockel (LUX) 8. Pete Jacobs (AUS) 9. Andy Potts (USA) 10. Faris Al-Sultan (UAE).
Women:
1.Chrissie Wellington (GBR) 8:47:37. 2. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 9:07:52 3. Virginia Berasategui (ESP) 9:08:31 4. Tereza Macel (CAN) 5. Rebekah Keat (AUS) 6. Samantha McGlone (USA) 7. Rachel Joyce (GBR) 8. Joanna Lawn (NZL) 9. Sandra Wallenhorst (GER) 10. Dede Griesbauer (USA).
Source: Triathlon Australia www.triathlon.org.au
Video footage available at YouTube.
The defending champion did it the hard way, showing phenomenal poise and grit to come from ninth place and almost 12 minutes down on the leader at the end of the bike leg before carving out an incredible marathon of 2hr 48min 5sec. His race was tactically superb, passing pacesetter American Chris Lieto to take the lead with eight kilometers to go and eventually win by more than two minutes in an overall time of 8hr 14min 04sec.
Alexander, 36, joins Dave Scott, Mark Allen and Tim DeBoom as the only men to taste success more than once on the infamously tough course in Hawaii that incorporates a 3.8km swim, 180km bike and 42km run.
Australia was a force to be reckoned with at Kona. Chris McCormack, the 2007 champion, battled cramps to finish a brave fourth and Pete Jacobs surprised more fancied rivals with a wonderfully consistent race to place eighth.
In the women’s field Mirinda Carfrae completed a stunning debut to finish second, breaking the run record in completing a 2hr 56min 51sec marathon. The Queenslander was 20 minutes down overall on the incomparable Chrissie Wellington, of Great Britain, who defended her title comfortably in a time of 8hr 47min 37sec. Rebekah Keat rounded out an astonishing day for Australia by finishing a strong fifth.
“It’s great to win a race when everything goes to plan, but to have to fight and scrap for it . . . to have to dig so deep and come away with a win like that is another feeling again,” Alexander said while being administered with a drip soon after the race.
“That was a massive mental test for me because I didn’t feel comfortable for most of the race. I didn’t feel like I had the smooth, flowing gait that I normally have, so to get through that and defend my title is an amazing feeling. That was a war of attrition.
The Sydneysider, who spends half his time based in Colorado in the US, was happy with his swim, emerging from the water in the top half dozen, but described the pace during the first hour of the bike as “insane”. Once off the bike, he and Germany’s Andreas Raelert mowed
down the field and set their sights on Lieto.
“I was in among a pack of race favourites but one by one it dissolved because the pace was just insane,” he said. “I didn’t quite know what was happening out there but I didn’t really think about anyone else. In Ironman, you simply concentrate on covering the ground as best you can.
“I was right where I needed to be in the run, but it was tough out there. I actually got dropped by Raelert three times during the run but I just kept hanging in there. I thought to myself, ‘This is not it; there is another chapter to write for me here’.
“It’s a mental thing. You just have to tell yourself the pain will come to an end at some stage – that it’s hard and it hurts but it will subside. You have a lifetime to dwell on what you achieve out there, no matter where you come in the race, so you sacrifice yourself to the moment. Maybe I’m just too old and too stupid to roll over and give in.
“I’m thrilled. I’d like to say a massive thanks to the triathlon community in Australia. I hope all of the people that have helped me and supported me can celebrate and share in this victory with me. I’m really struggling to put it into words. The Aussies have blitzed. Hats off to Macca (McCormack); Rinny (Carfrae) is an absolute rock star – what a day!”
WORLD IRONMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kona, Hawaii
Men:
1.Craig Alexander (AUS) 8:14:04. 2. Chris Lieto (USA) 8:16:15. 3. Andreas Raelert (GER) 8:18:17 4. Chris McCormack (AUS) 5. Rasmus Henning (DNK) 6. Timo Bracht (GER) 7. Dirk Bockel (LUX) 8. Pete Jacobs (AUS) 9. Andy Potts (USA) 10. Faris Al-Sultan (UAE).
Women:
1.Chrissie Wellington (GBR) 8:47:37. 2. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 9:07:52 3. Virginia Berasategui (ESP) 9:08:31 4. Tereza Macel (CAN) 5. Rebekah Keat (AUS) 6. Samantha McGlone (USA) 7. Rachel Joyce (GBR) 8. Joanna Lawn (NZL) 9. Sandra Wallenhorst (GER) 10. Dede Griesbauer (USA).
Source: Triathlon Australia www.triathlon.org.au
Video footage available at YouTube.
Shimano is proud to sponsor Craig Alexander.
Craig chose to ride a Shimano DURA-ACE group with the Di2 electronic shifting system, Shimano DURA-ACE wheels, PRO Missile aerobar & Vibe Carbon stem as well as Shimano Triathlon shoes.
Craig chose to ride a Shimano DURA-ACE group with the Di2 electronic shifting system, Shimano DURA-ACE wheels, PRO Missile aerobar & Vibe Carbon stem as well as Shimano Triathlon shoes.