Farewell to Florida's flat and fast record-setting triathlon speedway after five groundbreaking Ironman 70.3 World Championships at Clearwater. By choosing not to graduate to the full Ironman distance, Germany's Michael Raelert became the first man to repeat at Clearwater and continued his dominance of the distance. By focusing on regaining her ITU long course World Championship form under famed coach Brett Sutton, Great Britain's Jodie Swallow dominated another talented field. Thanks to a rough ocean swim, smaller elite fields, a windier bike, and a more cautious pace at the front of the bike, this year's race was seven minutes slower but higher in competitive drama.

All photos © Timothy Carlson

The hottest point of the duel -- Mile 6 -- as Michael Raelert (1:09:57) bides his time before cracking the Czech Republic's Filip Ospaly (1:11:24) withn a surge at Mile 7.

Leanda Cave stretches before the swim. She felt happy and confident after a win at Miami 70.3 two weeks before, and was happy with her best-ever 2nd at Clearwater.

Putting the men's elite swim start first eliminated swamping the women's top contenders in the men's pack. But Jodie Swallow said she felt lonely at the front. But not lonely enough to let her rivals catch up.

Balazs Csoke of Hungary sticks his tongue out while grinding up the causeway bridge.

Jodie Swallow led by 90 seconds after the swim (24:20) and never relinquished her advantage with a 3rd-best 2:16:57 bike and race-best 1:21:59 run.

Magali Tisseyre of Canada overcame a 27:22 swim and 2:19:25 bike with a second-best 1:22:28 run that allowed her to repeat her third place finish of 2009.

Talita Saab (not a Swedish car) of Brazil rides over the bridge.

Age group pack rides past Timex banners.

Bonnie Karas contends in W45-49.

The first mile of the bike leaves behind the beachfront hotels along a palm-lined road.

Age group men charge downhill on the causeway bridge.

Joe Gambles gambled on a late bike breakaway and arrived in T2 with a 2:02:24 race-best split and 80 seconds in hand over Raelert and Ospaly. But his brave charge sucked energy and a 1:14:39 run left him 4th.

Raelert leads the chase pack nearing T2.

Defending champ Julie Dibens posted a second-best women's bike (2:16:19) split behind Heather Jackson's 2:16:03. But it still left her a minute down to Swallow at T2. Tired after Kona and Maui, Dibens faded to 8th with a 1:35 run.

Leanda Cave (2nd) passed Amanda Stevens (4th) \early on the run.

Tim O'Donnell's third-best 1:12:43 run brought him home on the final spot on the podium.

Michael Raelert showed the strain of defending his world crown on Mile 8 of the run. Looking like nothing so much as triathlon's version of Edward Munch's classic painting, "The Scream."

Michael Raelert shares a warm hug with his brother-coach Andreas after the win.

Jodie Swallow basks in her victory, as Leanda Cave follows her out of the finish chute.

Daniel Fontana, the Argentine-born Italian Olympic triathlete, lost all hope of matching or beating his 2009 second place finish when he suffered a flat. He finished 7th.