Great Britain’s Caroline Livesey starts Kona 2016 campaign with third in Turkey

While it won’t replace his disappointment from Kona two weeks ago, 2013 Ironman World Champion Frederik Van Lierde can at least end his year on a winning note, with a comfortable victory at the debut edition on Ironman 70.3 Turkey, based at the Gloria Sports Arena in Belek, Antalya today. Belgium’s Alexandra Tondeur, third recently at Ironman Mallorca, took the ladies title.

Exiting the swim just ten seconds back on Great Britain’s Harry Wiltshire, Van Lierde quickly took the lead on the bike and would not be headed for the rest of the race. His 2:11:50 bike split gave him a comfortable lead at T2, and combined with a 1:17:27 half marathon was more than sufficient for a clear winning margin of four minutes over Germany’s Paul Schuster. Harry Wiltshire would finish seventh (4:03:47), as he continues his return to fitness and form after recovery from both injury an completing his legal studies this summer.

While neither Tondeur or Gurutze Frades (ESP), the eventual top two finishers were fastest out of the water, they would be closely match throughout the race, with Tondeur extended her small lead at T2 to two minutes by the finish line. The battle for the final podium spot was a close one, with Caroline Livesey trying to hold on to the advantage she gained on the swim and bike legs, being chased down by Elisabeth Gruber (AUT) and Anna Halasz (HUN). There were just second between Livesey and Gruber with 2km remaining, but the Brit was able to dig deep and hold off what looked like a certain pass, “I had to dig so deep to stay on the podium - and I was only there because I wanted it more. It hurt - but hell was it worth it!”

The first two Age-Group women were Brits, with Sarah Lewis (6th overall, 4:37:25) and Linda Evans (8th overall, 4:39:02), winning 30-34 and 25-29 respectively.

We’ll have more from Turkey soon.

Gloria Ironman 70.3 Turkey – Sunday 25th October 2015
1.9km / 90km / 21.1km