Belgium’s Frederik Van Lierde and Great Britain’s Ironman 70.3 World Champion Jodie Swallow prevailed on a cold, rainy and windy day at Ironman 70.3 South Africa.

Van Lierde biked away from the field with a 2:18:18 that was 6:11 faster than his nearest pursuer, then held on against the race-best 1:14:22 half marathon of runner-up James Cunnama to hit the line with a 2:11 margin of victory.

Van Lierde broke out of the water in 25:00, 2 seconds back of Balazs Csoke, 5 seconds up on Brad Storm, 8 seconds ahead of Richie Cunningham, 30 seconds ahead of Hendrik DeVilliers, 42 seconds ahead of Alessandro Degasperi, and 74 seconds ahead of Cunnama. In stinging cold rain, Van Lierde aced the field with a 2:18:18 bike split that was 6:18 better than the next-best effort, Cunnama’s 2:24:29. Van Lierde then held on for dear life for the victory with a fifth-best 1:19:21 half-marathon against Cunnama’s brilliant 1:14:22 run.

“I would not have dreamed of a better way to start the season,” Van Lierde wrote on his blog of his 4:06:30 win which improved by one place on his runner-up finish at this race three years ago. Van Lierde also has chops at the full Ironman distance – he placed 2nd at Nice last year and 2nd at Taupo in 2008.

The win was Van Lierde’s first at the 70.3 distance and underscored the value of his new coach – fellow Belgian, two-time Ironman Hawaii champion, Ironman World Record holder (and no relation) Luc Van Lierde.

Jodie Swallow apparently has not lost a step since her Ironman 70.3 World Championship triumph last November but this time she owed her victory entirely to the swim.

When Swallow exited the water in 25:16, she had 58 seconds on South African ITU star Mari Rabie, 2:23 on Lucie Zelenkova of the Czech Republic, and 6:47 on Tine Deckers of Belgium. From then on, Swallow was on the defense against the hard charging Deckers, who picked up 3:12 with a sizzling 2:37:48 bike and 49 seconds with a second best 1:28:06 run to finish in the runner-up position.

Swallow hit the finish line in 4:39:19 with a 3:06 margin of victory on Deckers and 6:26 on 3rd place Mari Rabie of South Africa.

ITU star Rabie lost all chance of a win with her third-best 2:47:32 bike but held tough with her third-best 1:28:07 run for third place, 4:06 ahead of 4th place Lucie Zelenkova. Sonja Tajsich of Germany had a miserable 33:26 swim, but advanced to 5th place with a third-best 2:47:10 bike and sparkling, race-best 1:26:17 run.

Spec-Savers Ironman 70.3 South Africa
East London, South Africa
January 23, 2011
S 1.2 mi./ B 56 mi./ R 13.1 mi.

Results

Men

1. Frederik Van Lierde (BEL) 4:06:30
2. James Cunnama (RSA) 4:08:41
3. Alessandro Degasperi (ITA) 4:15:16
4. Richie Cunningham (AUS) 4:18:12
5. Balazs Csoke (HUN) 4:18:51
6. Toby Jameson (GBR) 4:19:31
7. Swen Sundberg (GER) 4:22:50
8. Erik Strijk (NED) 4:23:17
9. Hendrik DeVilliers (RSA) 4:24:44
10. Brad Storm (RSA) 4:26:2 8

Women

1. Jodie Swallow (GBR) 4:39:19
2. Tine Deckers (BEL) 4:42:25
3. Mari Rabie (RSA) 4:45:45
4. Lucie Zelenkova (CZE) 4:49:51
5. Sonja Tajsch (GER) 4:51:26
6. Diana Riesler (GER) 4:56:15
7. Natasha Gorrie (RSA) 5:05:10 * W25-29
8. Claire Horner (RSA) 5:06:57
9. Samantha Ferreira (RSA) 5:10:35
10. Samantha Spong (RSA) 5:11:03 * W35-39