Natascha Badmann proved that age is just a number as the six-time Ironman World Champion posted the fastest women’s bike split on her way to 6th place at Kona at age 46. Andrew Starykowicz smashed Andreas Raelert’s world best Ironman-distance bike split by 7 minutes. Marino Vanhoenacker blew away the men’s field on the bike at Kona only to blow up on the run. Lukas Verzbicas suffered career-threatening injuries on a bike training workout in Colorado Springs but seems to be on the road to recovery. Thousands of triathletes enjoyed millions of miles of training and racing their bikes. And these are the best two wheel moments caught by my lens in 2012.
All photographs © Timothy Carlson
Six-time Ironman World Champion Natascha Badmann set the fastest women’s bike split at Ironman Hawaii [5:06:07] at age 46.
Riding in Boulder’s Ironman 70.3.
Elite women ride at ITU World Triathlon Series San Diego event.
Lance Armstrong was second on the bike to Leon Griffin but won it on the run at the unsanctioned Superfrog Triathlon.
A pack of 17 elite men leading at Mile 35 of the Ironman bike course.
An endless string of tightly packed age groupers at Kona.
Andrew Starykowicz set a new world best of 4:04:39 for the Ironman distance bike split at Florida then broke the bike course record at Ironman Arizona.
Sebastian Kienle chases Marino Vanhoenacker at Mile 85 of the bike in Kona.
Luke McKenzie helped push the pace on the bike at Ironman Hawaii.
Two packs at the draft legal WTS race in San Diego.
Riding up towards the Texas state capitol in the CapTex Triathlon in Austin.
You can tell Michael Raelert was having a bad day at Kona – just look at his form.
A physically challenged CapTex competitor rides past the Texas state capitol building.
Danelle Kabush of Canada rides XTERRA Maui.
Leon Griffin rides the Yas Marina circuit on the bike leg at Abu Dhabi.
Riding through the futuristic buildings on the Formula 1 circuit in Abu Dhabi.
A physically challenged competitor rides the Pacific Grove Olympic distance race.
Riding in the woods at XTERRA Maui.
Josiah Middaugh rode hard to second overall at the XTERRA World Championship.
Riding one of the beautiful roads at Ultraman Hawaii.
