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As the toughest long distance competition in the world, the Ironman España has again crowned it's winner. The victor of the Ironman Lanzarote 2022 is the Belgian pro-triathlete Kenneth Vandendriessche. Conquering a 2.4 mile (3.9km) swim, 112 mile (180.2km) bike ride, and finishing strong with a 26.2 mile (42.2km) run, every man and woman who crosses the finish line is a clear champion that day.
Race day began with an early swim start for both pro-triathletes and age groupers. The first group, being the male pro-athletes, entered the water at 7:00 AM. The air was still crisp and filled with excitement. Finally, the starter's gunshot cut through the air and the athletes hurried into the ocean with the traditional Hells Bells by ACDC in the background. The swim start at the Ironman Lanzarote has a rolling start which means that competitors set off in one continuous line, based on their swimming abilities. It takes about 30 min to get everyone in the water. The 2.4 mile course is set out with coloured buoys. First following the shore line for a little less than a mile and then making a right turn into deeper water, before making another right, swimming back along the shore but passing the starting point, only to make one last right turn before finishing off. The swimming here is beautiful but also tricky since the tide will continuously pull the swimmers out into the ocean and on the second half are a couple of rocks hidden under waves the swimmers need to keep clear of.
Around 5,000 volunteers were making sure everyone had a great day and was able to reach his/her full potential. Whether it's helping put on sunscreen in the transition zone, or handing out energy drinks, they all did a wonderful job on this extremely hot and sunny day.
The bike ride was a true trip to hell and back. Or so it seemed to many of the athletes although they surely are some of the toughest out there. Riding through black lava fields and climbing a total of 9.517ft (2,046m) of elevation while facing permanent headwind makes this Ironman the toughest in the world. Many triathletes who took on the challenge were forced to drop out of the race because of its rough conditions. Of around 2,000 registered athletes, only 1,311 made it past the finish line. Some were caught by the harsh cut-off times (17 hours for the entire race), some were too exhausted and were forced to give up.
A triathlon is a race against oneself and an individual battle against time, and ones own physical limits. Spectators are not allowed to interfere or help outside the designated areas. No one knows which difficulties they will have to face that day, but that is one of the reasons this sport is so fascinating to many.
The run course on the island was just as challenging as the previous bike course. Dishing up 797ft (228m) of elevation in three loops. Starting at the transition zone in Puerto Del Carmen, the course will take the athletes along the shore line to Arrecife. The run course is known for its merciless sunshine beating down on the competitors and a relentless wind pushing them to their limits.
Kenneth Vandendriessche, the winner of this years Ironman Lanzarote, set a new record for the run course. He broke the old record, set by Gerrit Schellens, in 2005 by four minutes, finishing the marathon in only 2:40:37. A time, most age-group marathon runners won't be able to reach even without the previous biking and swimming.
Although he didn't break the record for the overall time, clocking in at 8:39:56 is still a very impressive finisher time.
The Ironman Lanzarote offered four slots to the Ironman Hawaii in Kona. Two slots for the first two male winners (Kenneth Vandendriessche and Mathias Peterson) and two slots for the female winners (Els Vissar and Elisabetta Curridori).
The Belgian pro-triathlete Kenneth Vandendriessche and his wife after winning the Ironman Lanzarote 2022.
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