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Bart Aernouts 3rd in Challenge Rimini ETU European Half Distance Championship; Will Clarke 8th in Ironman Lanzarote

Today, Bart Aernouts (BEL) of the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team came 3rd in Challenge Rimini, the ETU European Championship Half Distance, his second Championship podium in 2 months. Filip Ospaly (CZE) won the ETU European Half Distance Championship after a strong run, while Giulio Molinari (ITA), who dominated the bike leg, came 2nd.

Yesterday, Will Clarke (GBR: 9:28:31) of the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team came 8th in his debut Ironman in Lanzarote. This extremely tough edition was won by Alessandro Degasperi (ITA: 8:56:49), followed by Christian Kramer who was leading most of the race (GER: 8:59:30), while Mauro Baertsch (SUI: 9:04:45) finished 3rd.

Just like last week, it ended up being another successful weekend for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team with 1 championship podium finish and a decent debut performance on the long distance. This brings our 2015 total already to 7 wins and 16 podium finishes for the Uplace-BMC Pro Triathlon Team.

Bart Aernouts 3rd in Challenge Rimini

Happy with the result

Bart Aernouts had a solid swim. He left the water 3’30” behind the leading group. Giulio Molinari pushed hard during the bike leg and entered T2 with 50” lead on Filip Ospaly and 3’05” on Bart Aernouts and Ruedi Wild. For Bart Aernouts and Ruedi Wild, it became almost a 21km shoulder to shoulder run. In the final sprint, Bart Aernouts won the battle for bronze just ahead of Ruedi Wild.

Motivating result

Bart Aernouts did not have a super day in Rimini, but he is really satisfied with the result: “The sea was rough today, which is clearly a disadvantage for me. I had a decent swim. On the bike, I felt good. At the turning point, I realized that the differences with the leaders were still quite big. But I divided my race well, in the second part of the bike leg, I managed to move up to the 4th position by T2. On the run, I realized after 7km that I didn’t have super legs today, winning was not possible any more. I pushed as hard as I could and after a sprint finish I still got on the podium. It is definitively a motivating result less than 2 months after Ironman South Africa. My next race will be in Belgium; on the 20th of June, I will participate in olympic distance triathlon in Bruges.”

Will Clarke 8th in Ironman Lanzarote

Rough Conditions

Will started off with a solid swim, leaving the water in the leading group with all the favorites (3,9km: 48:19). Based on the bike splits, it was clear that yesterday’s race took place in rough and windy conditions. Only 2 athletes managed to ride a sub 5:10 bike split. Will was always racing in third position, due to a minor mechanical problem, he fell back to the 5th position entering T2 (180km: 5:17:29). During the run, Will uncovered some gastric difficulties after 16km. With the support of the public and his teammate Romain Guillaume, who was sheering alongside him for 20’, Will managed to finish his first full Ironman distance (42,2km: 3:16:36).

Disappointed with the result but learned a lot

Will Clarke was happy to finish the race, but disappointed with the result: “It was a hard day at the office and I am happy I took it to the end. The swim felt like a warm-up, everybody was thinking about the bike leg. After a fast transition, we left T1 with a group of 5 people. Although the strong headwinds, I pushed my numbers and I felt good on the bike. Apart from a minor mechanical problem; the bike leg went according to the plan. During the run, I started off well. After 16km, I didn’t feel well. Thanks to the supporters along the way, I made it until the end. I am happy I finished the race. I got a lot to take away. Now, I take a few days off with my family at Sands Beach. My next race will be Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire (UK). ”

Race results:

Ironman Lanzarote:

http://www.ironman.com/triathlon/coverage/athlete-tracker.aspx?race=lanzarote&y=2015#axzz3awTiW8OF

Challenge Rimini:

http://www.challenge-rimini.it/eng/

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