At 36 years old, with five Ironman world titles, five Ironman 70.3 world titles and two Challenge Roth victories already to her name, it might have seemed that there was little left for Daniela Ryf to achieve in triathlon.
But the Swiss superstar showed she is far from finished in the sport by not only breaking British legend Chrissie Wellington’s previously untouchable 8:18:13 time on this course from 2011, but smashing it by a full 10mins.
“I knew it would be a now or never,” explained Ryf to 2016 Roth winner Jan Frodeno at the finish line. This record has been there for so long, I just wanted to go for it.”
Ryf set up the day perfectly, emerging first out of the water with GB’s Fenella Langridge in 50:15, and once she set to work on the bike the only time her rivals would see her for the rest of the day were on out and back sections on the run.
Having showed strong form in winning Ironman 70.3 Switzerland for the eighth time a fortnight ago, Ryf also explained how she used a mental image of Wellington to keep pushing as the race neared its final stages. “You [Jan] were an inspiration and Chrissie was my shadow today,” Ryf continued. “In my head, I thought she was catching me! It’s probably my best race ever and it’s surprising to me too!”
While Ryf posted a career-best 2:51:54 marathon (her previous best being 2:56:51 in Hawaii in 2016), it was the new bike record of 4:22:56 that really did the damage, proving to be 17mins faster than eventual runner-up and defending champion Anne Haug.
“I don’t know how it was possible,” Ryf added. “I didn’t really train for a full Ironman (sic) and I was so scared I’d blow on the run. I just hoped to make it to the finish line, I am so happy, but it did hurt.”
Wellington paid tribute to her successor on Twitter saying: "The record was never mine to keep. I treasured it, until the time came that it was broken (or rather, obliterated) by the greatest athlete the sport has ever seen."
Ryf's win adds to her triumphs in Challenge Roth from 2016 when she clocked 8:22:04 and 2017 when it was an 8:40:03 finish. Her focus now will be on trying to pick up a sixth Ironman world title and fifth victory in Hawaii in October. On current form, few would be against her.
Top image credit: Simon Fischer, Challenge Family
