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Vanhoenacker garnered $20,000 for the win in a men pro only race that paralleled the women pro-only contest at Ironman 70.3 Augusta earlier in the day.
The performance was Vanhoenacker’s 14th career Ironman victory and second in 2016 after his 8th win at Ironman Austria.
Race recap
Barrett Brandon led the swim with a 41:23 split that gave him a 3 seconds lead on Eric Limkemann of the U/S., 3:44 on Matt Hanson, 3:45 on Vanhoenacker and Clint Kimmins of Australia, 3:47 on Jeff Symonds of Canada, 3:49 on Justin Daerr of the U.S., 3:50 on Viktor Zyemtsev of Ukraine and 3:52 on Matt Russell of the U/S.
Venturing into high heat and humidity and a strong dose of climbing on the bike leg, Brandon held the lead for 32 miles until Eric Limkemann of the U.S. passed him. Vanhoenacker followed Limkemann past Brandon at Mile 38 and Matt Russell of the U.S. made the leading trio at Mile 50.
Between Mile 60 and 70, Vanhoenacker sailed out front. By Mile 80, the Belgian achieved a 50 seconds lead on Russell, 54 on Limkemann, 6:53 on Matt Hanson, 6:59 on Zyemtsev, and 7 and a half on Justin Daerr, Brandon and Symonds.
After a race-best 4:27:28 bike split, Vanhoenacker had a 3:35 lead on Russell, 4:25 on Limkemann, 10:47 on Daerr, 11:45 on Matt Hanson, 11:51 on Symonds and 12:04 on Zyemtsev.
While history indicates that Zyemtsev and his sub-2:40 Ironman marathon capability remained a threat for the overall despite his deficit, the Ukrainian was devastated by the heat and started walking soon into the run.
The performance was Vanhoenacker’s 14th career Ironman victory and second in 2016 after his 8th win at Ironman Austria.
Race recap
Barrett Brandon led the swim with a 41:23 split that gave him a 3 seconds lead on Eric Limkemann of the U/S., 3:44 on Matt Hanson, 3:45 on Vanhoenacker and Clint Kimmins of Australia, 3:47 on Jeff Symonds of Canada, 3:49 on Justin Daerr of the U.S., 3:50 on Viktor Zyemtsev of Ukraine and 3:52 on Matt Russell of the U/S.
Venturing into high heat and humidity and a strong dose of climbing on the bike leg, Brandon held the lead for 32 miles until Eric Limkemann of the U.S. passed him. Vanhoenacker followed Limkemann past Brandon at Mile 38 and Matt Russell of the U.S. made the leading trio at Mile 50.
Between Mile 60 and 70, Vanhoenacker sailed out front. By Mile 80, the Belgian achieved a 50 seconds lead on Russell, 54 on Limkemann, 6:53 on Matt Hanson, 6:59 on Zyemtsev, and 7 and a half on Justin Daerr, Brandon and Symonds.
After a race-best 4:27:28 bike split, Vanhoenacker had a 3:35 lead on Russell, 4:25 on Limkemann, 10:47 on Daerr, 11:45 on Matt Hanson, 11:51 on Symonds and 12:04 on Zyemtsev.
While history indicates that Zyemtsev and his sub-2:40 Ironman marathon capability remained a threat for the overall despite his deficit, the Ukrainian was devastated by the heat and started walking soon into the run.
