For Patrick Lange, the Ironman Frankfurt is slowly becoming personal. In the fifth attempt, he finally wants to win his home race.
“This is a very magical feeling. In your back, the sun is open shortly before the start, you are like electrified. The air, the tension. You feel: This is a very special day.” For world champion Patrick Lange, it will be the fifth of this kind if he is shortly after 6.20 a.m. Livestream and im ticker on hessenschau.de) jumps into the Langener Waldsee. He knows that Ironman Frankfurt And know how difficult it is to win here like no other of the favorites.
For a long time, favorite role is pushed away
In his previous four attempts, it was enough for third place. To mention that the Bad Wildunger native of Frankfurt is still open. “For me as a Hesse, this is the greatest motivation ever. That is my home race.” To win that, he “burn”. “I will do everything in my power,” said Lange in conversation with HR Info.
But even if he can call up his potential, it could be tight against the assembled competition. For a long time, the field even considers the strongest this year to start at the Ironman Frankfurt. That’s why he does not see himself in the favorite role: “I just come from an injury to my leg that worked for two months. This is the first race for me this season, so I have to house expectations with expectations.” He would already be “extremely satisfied” with a podium.
Law felt in pole position
His rivals should also take care of the right expectation management. Above all, Kristian Blummenfelt, who was already at the top of the podium last year, while long after a used day he was eleventh. “So far he has won every race this season, the Olympic champion, has also become Ironman world champion,” says Lange about the Norwegian.
Blummenfeld’s compatriot Gustav Iven also has to have on the note. Last but not least, local hero Paul Schuster. His “buddy from Darmstadt” trusts a lot for a long time. After all, it is just as much a home game for him as for the 38-year-old himself.
The motivation is on the route
Even if no home advantage has yet to be set on the route in and around Frankfurt: it floats in Hesse, it just drives and runs differently. Or as long says: “When the family and close friends are on the edge of the route, this is an additional motivation and one of the main reasons for me to come to Frankfurt. That is simply my home race.”
