Normann Stadler’s race-best 2:09:34 bike put 10 minutes on runner-up James Cunama and the two-time Ironman Hawaii champion held on for a 2:36 margin of victory at the Challenge Kraichgau half Ironman distance race Sunday.

Stadler’s 10 minute margin off the bike afforded him the luxury of a leisurely 1:17:02 run to finish the job in 3:54:22 and avenge his defeat last summer at Challenge Roth to fellow German Michael Goehner – who finished third this day, 4:11 back of the Normannator.

Cunama, a South African, slashed past three contenders with a race-best 1:09:37 run to take second place in 3:56:58.

The legendary Thomas Hellriegel had the best swim of the top 10 finishers (23:51), the fourth best bike (2:16:38) and a 1:21:02 run to finish 10th in 4:04:45, 22 seconds in front of Ironman star Rutger Beke of Belgium.

Aussie Rebekah Keat raced Finland’s Tiina Boman virtually even through the swim (26:04 to 26:37) and bike (2:34:54 to 2:34:11) then broke the race open on the run (1:23:29 to 1:25:00) to hit the line in 4:27:28 with a 1:34 margin of victory. Fastest run among women belonged to amateur Silvia Balbach who used a 1:22:50 split to finish 3rd overall.

Challenge Kraichgau
Kraichgau, Austria
June 6, 2010
S 1.2 mi./ B 56 mi. / R 13.1 mi.

Results

Men

1. Normann Stadler (GER) 3:54:22
2. James Cunama (RSA) 3:56:58
3. Michael Goehner (GER) 3:58:33
4. Francois Chabaud (FRA) 3:59:48
5. Felix Schumann (GER) 4:00:04
6. Mika Luoto (FIN) 4:01:38
7. Jarmo Hast (FIN) 4:01:53
8. Aaron Farlow (AUS) 4:03:25
9. Nils Goerke (GER) 4:04:09
10. Thomas Hellriegel (GER) 4:04:45
11. Rutger Beke (BEL) 4:05:07

Women

1. Rebekah Keat (AUS) 4:27:28
2. Tiina Boman (FIN) 4:29:02
3. Silvia Balbach (GER) 4:33:03 * W30-34
4. Monika Lehmann (SUI) 4:34:43
5. Jenny Schulz (GER) 4:35:37
6. Susanna Skylv (FO) 4:37:33
7. Sonja Jaarsveld (NED) 4:41:41
8. Nina Kuhn (GER) 4:42:08 * W25-29
9. Camilla Lindholm (SWE) 4:43:40
10. Julia Wagner (GER) 4:44:58