The Challenge Philippines awaited the participants with extreme heat. With temperatures around forty degrees, everyone had to be careful with their own reserves.
Rasmus Petraeus, Chris McCormack and the man from Cologne were among the men Till Schramm reported well-known starters. As expected, the Dane Petraeus led the pros out of the water. However, the Australian armada that was to determine the further course of the race had already formed up behind him.
On the bike, Mike Murphy and Greg Bennett managed to take the lead. However, both also benefited from a tire defect of Petraeus. A similar fate befell Schramm, while Matt Burton pushed his way forward from behind. The Australian had conceded just under five minutes in swimming, but he had largely made up for this by the second change. Burton started the final half marathon just under sixty seconds behind Murphy, who had now detached himself from his companion. Behind them, Petraeus and Schramm put on their running shoes together with McCormack.
In the end, Murphy couldn't resist the powerful Bennet and had to settle for second place at the finish. Burton, meanwhile, won with a time of 4:26:53 hours. Third place went to Sweden's Frederick Croneborg, who set the fastest time of the day on the Philippine asphalt. Our professional blogger Till Schramm finished the race in seventh place.
In the women's category, Melissa Hauschild was the big favorite. The Australian was still behind after the swim Laura Bennett (USA) and Challenge Melbourne winner Annabel Luxford (Australia). Halfway through the bike course, however, she had taken the lead.
She then managed to continuously expand on this right up to the finish line. Second and third places went to Annabel Luxford and former World Time Trial Champion Emma Pooley.
result men
1. Matt Burton (Australia) 4:26:53
2. Mike Murphy (Australia) 4:28:41
3. Fredrik Croneborg (Sweden) 4:29:42
4. Greg Bennett (Australia) 4:32:34
5. Mitchell Anderson (Australia) 4:36:41
result women
1. Melissa Hauschildt (Australia) 4:39:26
2. Annabel Luxford (Australia) 4:47:04
3. Emma Pooley (UK) 4:47:43
4. Radka Vodickova (Czech Republic) 4:52:30
5. Laura Bennett (Australia) 5:17:55