Germans Anja Beranek and Andi Böcherer won the sixth Challenge Fuerteventura half distance Saturday in a race marred by a bike crash that sent men’s race leader Frederik Van Lierde to the hospital with a broken collarbone.

Beranek finished in 4:29:57 with a 1:02 margin on Bilham and 12:29 over an off-form Emma Pooley of Great Britain, who took the final spot on the women’s podium.

The 2013 Ironman World Champion wrote on Twitter: “Today I got hit by someone crossing the road at the last aid station during the bike course in Fuerteventura. An unfortunate accident while I was feeling strong from the start of the race. After the swim I could immediately break away, at 70 km my lead was over 4 minutes and I was ready to take the victory. It leaves me with a broken collarbone and a lot of motivation. Starting with surgery tomorrow.”

Böcherer prevailed in a tight duel with Will Clarke of Great Britain, finishing the hilly course beset by strong winds in a time of 3:59:00 with a 35 seconds margin of victory over Clarke and
1:47 over 3rd-place Timo Bracht of Germany.

Challenge Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura, Canary Island, Spain
April 23, 2016
S 1.2 mi. / B 56 mi. / R 13.1 mi.

Results

Men

1. Andi Bocherer (GER) 3:59:09
2. Will Clarke (GBR) 3:59:35
3. Timo Bracht (GER) 4:00:56
4. Andreas Dreitz (GER) 4:01:40
5. Henrik Hyldelund (DEN) 4:02:14

Women

1. Anja Beranek (GER) 4:29:57
2. Emma Bilham (SUI) 4:30:59
3. Emma Pooley (GBR) 4:42:26
4. Catherine Jameson (GBR) 4:43:17
5. Carolin Lehrieder (GER) 4:55:40