Romain Guillaume (04:03:01) claimed 2nd place at IM70.3 Staffordshire yesterday. The Frenchman was in contention for the win all day long but it was eventually Italian Guilio Molinari (04:01:10) who was able to outrun the BMC-Etixx athlete in the final kilometers of the half marathon. Elliot Smales (GB; 04:05:59) clinched the last podium spot.
What a year it has been so far for Emma Pallant. After victories in IM70.3 Barcelona, Challenge Gran Canaria, Mallorca Olympic distance and the British National Championship Duathlon, Pallant went on to take her 5th win of the season in dominating fashion at Windsor Triathlon yesterday.
Strong performance
Romain Guillaume put in a strong performance throughout. He exited the water (swim 00:23:51) in the lead group of five. In the first kilometers on the bike Guillaume took the lead and dominated the first 60K. in the final part Molenari and Graves joined Romain in the front of the race and theleading trio entered transition together (bike 02:13:04) with a healthy margin of 4'30 on the first chaser. During the run Guillaume and Molenari ran side by side for 15K. But it was the Italian who had that little extra in the final kilometers of the run. Romain settled for a very solid 2nd place (run 01:21:40). Only a few weeks after Lanzarote, a strong performance for the Frenchman and a confidence booster leading up to Ironman UK next month.
Very happy
Afterwards Romain Guillaume was happy with his 2nd place finish: "My race today was good. I felt good during the swim. I then tried to brake away on the bike. The first 50-60K I was leading. When I was joined by Molenari and Graves after 60K, I decided to stay with them and to wait for the run. I started the run with Molinari. We ran the first 2 loops together, but at the start of the final loop he managed to speed up and I had to let him go. Molenari was just stronger today. But I am happy with my result. After Ironman Lanzarote and all the training for that, I haven't been able to do that much speed. So to come away with second is definitely a confidence booster ahead of Ironman UK next month. I am happy."
Emma Pallant dominates Windsor Triathlon and takes her 5th victory of the season
Emma Pallant won Windor Triathlon for a 4th time in her career. The race was the pinicale of a big training block for Pallant. Afterwards Emma reflected on her 5th win of the season: "I felt really good today. It was a great day today. The race came on the back of a big training block. From now on all focus is on the build up to the World Championship IM70.3 in the second half of the season. This race was a perfect opportunity for a hit out on the back of all the training I have done over the last few weeks. I am very pleased to take my 4th title here in Windsor and to do it in BMC colors makes me even more proud".
Bad luck for Patrik Nilsson at European Championship IM70.3 in Elsinore
Sometimes things just don't go your way. You can be prepared and in the best possible shape, at the end of the day you still need some luck on your side. Unfortunately yesterday was one of those days for Patrik Nilsson at the European Championship IM70.3 in Elsinore. Patrik had a good start of the day exiting the water in the leading group. On the bike Nilsson was right in contention until a puncture at the 40k mark on the bike brought a stop to his ambitions. Nevertheless his performance yesterday showed his shape is right up there to play an important role at the Ironman Championship in Frankfurt next month.
