2-time Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack ran down local favorite Eneko Llanos in Vitoria-Gasteiz to take the 2012 ITU Long Distance World Championships. Caroline Steffen added the women's title to her already impressive resume.
Defending champions Jordan Rapp and Rachel Joyce were not at the start, but the race promised to be exciting anyway.
Danish Pro Emil Dalgaard was first out of the water in Vitoria-Gasteiz and then put on quite show on the bike. But he had Martin Krnaveek, Dirk Bockel and Eneko Llanos chasing him hard and at the end of the 120k bike segment his advantage was just over a minute. Sudrie was about 1:30 behind the Dane and Macca over 2 minutes.
Macca though looked super fast during the run and reeled in all those who had started the 30k run ahead of him. LLanos and Bockel also pushed past Dalgaard and i the end Chris McCormack had added an ITU Long Distance title to his 1997 ITU Olympic World Championship title and his 2 Ironman World Championship titles.
"It was incredible...there was so many people on run course today and it really made the run fast," said McCormack. "It's a fantastic victory for me, I've won lots of races in my life but this one is very special."
Jodie Swallow led the women out of the water and was in good position all day, but Caroline Steffen took charge of the race during the 120k bike segment and by the time the recently crowned Ironman Europe champion reached the bike-run transition she had a 6 minute lead over the competition.
Steffen cruised to the win in 6:04:17 and Cammila Pedersen past Swallow late in the run to grab the runner-up spot. Swallow though held on to third place.
"Of course I'm very happy, it's another title, my second one, I'm really glad I had a good race today," said Steffen. "I never saw as many people on a race course before. It was unbelievable on the bike and on the run."
2012 ITU Long Distance World Championships
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain / July 29, 2012
4k swim / 120k bike / 30k run
Top men
1. Chris McCormack (AUS) 5:29:47
2. Eneko Llanos (ESP) 5:31:39
3. Dirk Bockel (LUX) 5:34:54
4. Emil Dalgaard (DEN) 5:38:39
5. Martin Krnavek (CZE) 5:44:47
6. Viktor Zyemtsev (UKR) 5:45:49
7. Nikolay Yaroshenko (RUS) 5:46:23
8. Duarte Silva Marques (POR) 5:50:51
9. Pedro Miguel Reig (ESP) 5:52:11
10. Miquel Blanchart (ESP) 5:52:42
Top women
1. Caroline Steffen (SUI) 6:04:18
2. Camilla Pedersen (DEN) 6:09:23
3. Jodie Swallow (GBR) 6:12:48
4. Virginia Berasategui (ESP) 6:20:36
5. Malder Gaztanaga Dorronsoro (ESP) 6:23:52
