Triathlete Laura Jansen took a strong fourth place over the classic long distance at the Ironman European Championships in Frankfurt. After swimming 3.8 km, cycling 180 km and running 42.195 km, the 29-year-old from Heidelberg was 13:18 minutes behind winner Sarah True from the USA.
Top favorite True prevailed in 8:54:53 hours ahead of her compatriot Skye Moench (+2:37), Agnieszka Jerzyk from Poland (+8:00) was third.
Defending champion Daniela Bleymehl (Darmstadt) had to end the race after about 120 km on the bike course due to hypothermia. Carolin Lehrieder (Würzburg), who had led with Moench and Sara Svensk from Sweden after the cycling, gave up on the running course.
The men’s race of the European Championship took place in Hamburg at the beginning of June and was overshadowed by a fatal accident. After a collision with an amateur athlete on a bicycle, the driver of an escort motorcycle died at the scene of the accident.
Olympic champion Jan Frodeno took fourth place in the competition, which nevertheless continued. Victory went to defending champion Denis Chevrot of France.