Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt celebrates a favorite victory at the Ironman Frankfurt, while local hero Patrick Lange again missed success at his home race – whether the North Hesse will ever start again in Frankfurt is extremely questionable.
Lenker break, withdrawn disqualification, route record: The Ironman Frankfurt 2025 offered a lot of drama. Above all, the curse of the local hero continues. Patrick Lange, the world-class triathlete from Bad Wildungen northern Hesse, could not fulfill the dream of an European Championship victory in his home race. Quite the opposite.
For a long time not only suffered from the heat, but also fought with stomach and foot problems. He ran after 3.8 kilometers of swimming, 180 kilometers of cycling and the final marathon with a deficit of 15:41 minutes as a seventh on the Römerberg. “Something is just right with this race and not me,” said the 38-year-old for a long time disappointed at the HR-Mikro, “I can well imagine that it was the last appearance in Frankfurt.”
The winner after 7:25:57 hours was the top favorite with Kristian Blummenfelt,, The Norwegian impressively defended his title from the previous year. He improved the course record by around a minute and a half. Places two and three occupied Kristian Hogenhaug (Denmark/+2: 35 minutes) and Casper Stornes (Norway/+3: 51 minutes). As the best German, the Butzbacher Jonas Hoffmann was able to look forward to a strong fifth place (+9: 58 minutes). The Darmstadt Paul Schuster (+17: 46 minutes) landed in tenth place.
Quick swimming, more relaxed long
The 55 professional athletes were hopped in the Langener Waldsee on time at 6.20 a.m. The Hatz started. And how! The swimming speed was extremely high. After 3.8 kilometers, the Swiss Andrea Salvisberg as the leading man got out of the water and took exactly 47:32 minutes for the route. In the first chase group, a number of favorites such as last year’s winner Blummenfelt or Magnus Ditlev were represented – of course also for a long time.
The Hesse may have been satisfied with its performance in the wet, it looked easy and relaxed. Last year the 38-year-old had lost the race in this early phase, got some ribs in the crowd and later suffered from it. This time rose out of the water for a long time as 13th of the field.
“Life -threatening” Handlebar drama
He carefully continued the race on the bike. The deficit became larger, but it was not crucial for the time being. His best discipline in endurance trivial, running should come. In the beginning, long compatriots Jonas Schomburg kicked strongly into the pedals. The 31-year-old from Hanover reached the downtown Frankfurt as a leading man and subsequently expanded the lead to more than two minutes.
Just: a real drama should suffer him. At the high -tech machine of Schomburg, the stem of the handlebar actually tore off after almost 25 kilometers. He had to stop, which lasted and lasted and lasted – and Schomburg had fallen out of the top positions. But the German did not give up, with a shaky handlebar stem, it went just under 40 kilometers further before the one was demolished again and irretrievably. A judge took Schomburg out of the race, spoke of a “life -threatening situation”. A fall could actually have ended painfully.
For a long time can be torn down on the bike
For a long time there was nothing from this drama, drove his race in the race. After almost 60 kilometers, however, the triple world champion had to let some fellow favorites go, could not follow the strong cyclists such as Blummenfelt and Ditlev. At the very top, the Dane Hogenhaug had settled, probably the best romper in the field.
Long deficit grew and grew, stomach complaints made the northern Hesse to also work. In the second transition zone, it was more than 14 minutes behind Hogenhaug. To make matters worse, a one -minute penalty was given for a long time because he had not properly put his swimming suit properly early in the day.
Meanwhile, the Butzbacher Hoffmann showed a convincing performance on the bike, always in the front group. The most in the previous year in striking distance as the 13th to the final marathon – his favorite discipline.
The stomach rebelled, the foot hurts
On the banks of the Main, the Dane Ditlev was now really pace, concluded more and more to his compatriot Hogenhaug – until a referee showed him the red card, supposedly a disqualification. The reason: Apparently Ditlev had fallen out of his pocket that was not allowed, he received a warning. Since he does not pick up the object, the red card soon followed. However, the situation became even more strange by the fact that the disqualification was lifted again shortly afterwards, Ditlev was probably not correctly displayed. He was allowed to fly on.
For a long time, it was visible at the same time, basically with his whole body. On the one hand, the ball of the feet hurt after a misstep in the transition zone, on the other hand, the stomach now rebelled so much that the Bad Wildunger had to go to a toilet house for a short time.
Hogenhaug is still cap
At the top of the lead, the leading Hogenhaug came closer, the experienced Norwegian showed an impressive performance, delivered in all sub -disciplines, conquered seven kilometers accordingly Before the finish line, the top position – and no longer gave it. A ultimately deserved EM victory in a partly wild race.
