Ironman Hawaii 2019 / Triathlon News: He actually made it! Jan Frodeno is crowned Ironman World Champion for the third time in Kona. With an incredibly dominant performance early in the race, the 38-year-old left no doubt that victory would be his. Defending champion Patrick Lange was also doing well before he had to give up due to illness. Sebastian Kienle also showed a strong performance and was able to celebrate third place in the end.
Frodo has done it again! After his double victory in 2015 and 2016 and a lot of bad luck and injury worries in recent years, he is again at the top of the Ironman throne this year. He crossed the finish line in 7:51:12 - exhausted but happy - and with a new course record in his pocket. He already set the course for victory on the bike when he took over the lead and was even able to afford a few tactical games. Timothy O'Donnel (USA) and Cameron Wurf (AUS) were hot on his heels at the beginning of the run, but neither of them reached Frodeno's level over the 42,195 km.
But first things first: At the end of the swim, about ten athletes got out of the water in a group. Josh Amberger (AUS) was at the very top, along with Jan Frodeno and Patrick Lange. Just behind this leading group, Sebastian Kienle also got on his bike, who was also doing well in the race. After only a short time on two wheels, Frodeno picked up the pace and took the lead in the field. Defending champion Patrick Lange was able to keep up well at first, but then ran into problems and lost minute by minute. After about 2:30 he got off the bike exhausted and gave up. According to information from the organizer, he has been plagued by fever since last night and has repeatedly blacked out during the race.

2x-Defending IRONMAN World Champion Patrick Lange abruptly stopped when he saw his coach and has officially dropped out of the race. #IMWC pic.twitter.com/CnB68dlRKW
- IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANTR) 12 October 2019
This put Jan Frodeno's toughest competitor out of the race. The cycling specialists Cameron Wurf and Timothy O'Donnell were able to keep up with the pace of the German as far as possible, but they would have had to start the final run with a clear lead to still challenge Frodeno for victory. Sebastian Kienle maintained his pace on the bike – a good tactic: it was a little more than five minutes to the top, but the reserves in the tank should still come in handy.

The lead and the considerable lead seemed to inspire the already strong Jan Frodeno even further. With a relatively relaxed facial expression and almost stoic composure, he rewound his running program. The lead over the competition grew with every step - O'Donnell was the only one of the original pursuers who could almost match Frodo's pace - but the American lost minute by minute. Meanwhile, Sebastian Kienle rolled up the field from behind and collected runner after runner. After less than ten kilometers of running, the 2014 Ironman World Champion was in third place.

In this constellation - Frodeno, O'Donnell and Kienle - the leaders stayed until the end of the race. The distances grew a little more, especially Kienle got some problems towards the end, but still managed to finish third. O'Donnell rewarded his outstanding performance with second place and Frodeno – well – what more is there to say about that? Simply sensational: Third Ironman Hawaii triumph and new course record. More is not possible.
.@janfrodeno is yours 2019 @VegaTeam IRONMAN World Champion in a world best 7:51:13. This is Frodeno's third World Championship victory! 🏆#IMWC #AnythingisPossible #VegaTeam pic.twitter.com/FdCckimOew
- IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANTR) 13 October 2019
Anne Haug flies to victory with a great running performance
Anne Haug decisively passes Lucy Charles-Barclay on the run to take the lead at the 2019 @VegaTeam IRONMAN World Championship! #IMWC #AnythingisPossible #VegaTeam pic.twitter.com/epAVg9wRby
- IRONMAN Triathlon (@IRONMANTR) 13 October 2019
In the women's race, Anne Haug completed a sensational race and was rewarded with the world championship title. At first everything looked like a sovereign victory for the favored Briton Lucy Charles-Barclay. The runner, who was actually so strong, got off her bike with a lead of more than six minutes. Apparently, however, she had overpaced a bit, because after almost 10km of running, the 26-year-old collapsed extremely. Anne Haug, on the other hand, continued to grow - the result: the deficit of the Germans shrank ... and shrank ... and shrank. 16 km before the finish line, the time had come: Haug passed Charles-Barclay, who was meanwhile on the very last groove.
The 36-year-old Haug from Pegnitz did not miss this opportunity and was the first runner to cross the finish line. Double triumph for Germany!