Two-time World Triathlon Champion Vincent Luis of France is back on the winning track as he won his third race in little over a month at the Ironman 70.3 Middle East Championship in Bahrain by a 1:59 margin over Samuel Dickinson of Great Britain.
When race leader Holly Lawrence of Great Britain was misdirected off the bike course when leading by three minutes, she lost her chance for a Bahrain 70.3 four-peat and fell to 4th place at the finish. Thus, Luis’ French countrywoman Marjolaine Pierre took over and won by a 1:17 margin over Natalie Van Coevorden of Australia.
Distraught after finishing 4:40 behind at the finish, Lawrence wrote on Instagram: “Can’t talk about it yet… sorry if you saw me angry out there – was very stressful and honestly scary riding amongst all the cars on the highway and trying to find a way to get back on the course!”
Men’s Race Recap
After the swim, Luis began the bike leg with a 25 seconds lead over a pack of four including Sam Dickinson of Great Britain, Maximillian Sperl of Germany, Andreas Salvisberg of Switzerland and Alessandro Fabian of Italy. Top cyclists Antonio Benito Lopez of Spain, Pieter Heemeryck of Belgium trailed by 49 seconds and just under 2 minutes respectively. Luis, Salvisberg, Sperl, Dickinson and late arriving Gabriel Sandor of Sweden worked well together on the cycling leg without incurring penalties, entering T2 with Felipe Azevedo of Portugal arriving a minute arrears.
Luis, who won Challenge Daytona a week ago, opened up a 40 seconds gap in the first 5 kilometers of the run. By 10 kilometers, he put in an uncatchable surge and stretched his lead to a minute and never looked back on his way to a 3:38:02 finish with a 1:59 margin on Dickinson and 2:33 over 3rd place finisher Maximilian Sperl of Germany.
Women’s Race Recap
Holly Lawrence took advantage of drafting off super swimmer Natalie Van Coevorden of Australia and the duo emerged from the water with a 1:47 lead on Lotte Lucas of the United Arab Emirates. After Lucas, the chasers were a long way behind as Marjolaine Pierre and over 3 minutes back. Lawrence, renowned for her cycling strength, quickly opened a gap over Van Coevorden and a 3-minute lead over Lucas and Pierre.
At the halfway mark, things went south for Lawrence. Her Bahrain Victorious team posted on Instagram that she was “led the wrong way by moto” that saw her ride an extra four miles and come into T2 1:45 down to Diede Diederiks , Pierre and Lucas.
Quickly, Pierre surged to the lead at the 6 kilometer mark, then held her advantage over Van Coevorden and Diederiks to the end. Pierre finished in 4:05:54 with a 1:17 lead on Van Coevorden and 1:49 over Diederiks. Disheartened by her led off course misadventure, Lawrence finished 4th, 4:40 off the winner.
Lawrence capped a stressful week – her bike was held up in transit until days before the race – the Brit summed things up thusly: “This race was doomed from the start for me!”
IRONMAN 70.3 Bahrain
Bahrain, United Arab Emirates
December 9, 2022
S 1.9k / B 90k / R 21.1km
Pro Men
1. Vincent Luis (FRA) 3:38:02
2. Samuel Dickinson (GBR) 03:40:01
3. Maximillian Sperl (GER) 03:40:35
4. Antonio Benito Lopez (ESP) 03:41:15
5. Gabriel Sandor (SWE) 03:41:50
6. Andreas Salvisberg (SUI) 03:42:46
7. Pieter Heemeryck (BEL) 03:45:25
8. Marcus Herbst (GER) 03:48:04
9. James Scott-Farrington (GBR) 03:49:45
10. Alessandro Fabian (ITA) 03:52:43
Pro Women
1. Marjolaine Pierré (FRA) – 04:05:54
2. Natalie Van Coeverden (AUS) – 4:07:11
3. Diede Diederiks (NED) – 04:07:43
4. Holly Lawrence (GBR) – 04:10:34
5. Lottie Lucas (UAE) – 04:17:01
6. Tiina Pohjalainen (FIN) – 04:17:58
7. Shiva Leisner (DEN) – 04:39:52
8. Frankie Sanjana (GBR) – 04:56:03
