Dreitz obliterated his 40 seconds deficit after the swim within 20 kilometers of the bike and created a 3:19 lead at T2 with a race-best 2:16:18 bike split. Dreitz then held off a superb 1:09:20 half marathon by Canadian Lionel Sanders with a 7th-best run to finish in 3:59:05 with a 1:18 margin of victory on Sanders and 1:37 on 3rd-place Boris Stein.

"I was surprised that everything worked out so well,” Dreitz told Ironman Media. “In the past, I didn’t really show my personal best in this race. I learned to love this course today. It was my goal to keep a gap to Boris and Lionel, I’m full of respect for Boris and Lionel – they had huge results this year. It was a very emotional finish for me."

Two-time Ironman 70.3 World champion Hauschildt overcame a 2:34 deficit to Jodie Swallow of Great Britain after the swim with a women’s-best 2:36:48 bike split that gave her a 1:41 lead on Anja Beranek of Germany and 1:59 advantage on Swallow at T2. Hauschildt then sealed her victory with a women’s-best 1:18:46 half marathon that was 3:30 better than the efforts of runner-up Swallow and 3rd-place Laura Philipp of Germany. Hauschildt crossed the line in 4:27:35 with a 5:28 margin on Swallow and 6:30 on Philipp.

Hauschildt gave a succinct summary: “This is my first time to Europe, and I think I really like it." Swallow had high praise for the winner: “I’m really happy with my second place, and I do think Melissa is totally underrated.”