Ironman Worlds: Laura Philipp takes title after duel with Britain’s Kat Matthews

Germany’s Laura Philipp put in a career-defining performance to take her first Ironman world title in Nice, as Kat Matthews held on resiliently for second place for the second time in her career.

The two were inseparable for a large chunk of the race after Philipp caught Matthews on the bike towards the top of the course’s biggest climb, but the 37-year-old who finished third in Hawaii last year, pulled away in the second half of a blistering 2:44:59 marathon to take the tape in 8:45:15.

USA’s 2022 champion Chelsea Sodaro secured the final podium place, but there was a shock early end to the day for 2019 champion Anne Haug, who had barely left transition before a blown tyre destroyed her chances.

There was also an early celebration for Nikki Bartlett, who is due to be married next weekend. Bartlett produced a 2:57:24 marathon to run herself into fifth place and second Brit. Elsewhere the GB athletes didn’t have the results they were hunting with Fenella Langridge the next best placed in 16th.

What happened in the swim?

The absence of Lucy Charles-Barclay changed the swim dynamic for the opening 2.4-mile leg, but it didn’t mean the pace wasn’t on from the start as the field headed out on the same M-shaped loop as the men contested last year.

Although a relatively straightforward course to follow, the current had shifted direction from the acclimatisation swims earlier in the week and it caught out a couple of the weaker swimmers who lost their line.

There was an early break with a group of 12 women opening a gap to the chasers. One of the major contenders, Haug, was caught just the wrong side of the split, but that was just the start of the German favourite’s woes.

Much of the swim was led by Spain’s Marta Sanchez, but Fenella Langridge, New Zealand’s Rebecca Clarke and USA’s Lauren Brandon were never more than a stroke back, with Matthews and home hope Marjolaine Pierre tucked in exactly where they’d want to be.

As the front group took the midway turn close to the shore, it looked as if there could be a significant split, with Sodaro clinging on at the back. But while it yo-yo’d for a few hundred metres, it was ultimately only India Lee who was cut adrift and faced a lonely final swim into T1.

Langridge led the pack out of the water in a sharp 49:13, with Lee solo and 3mins adrift, followed by the pack containing Haug and compatriot Philipp and USA’s Jackie Hering.

USA’s Lewis, who was leading the Ironman Pro Series, swam 1:01:18 to lose 12min to the leaders, but as a strong bike-runner was by no means out of the race. For the other Brits, Bartlett swam 55:30, Ruth Astle (56:23), Simone Mitchell (57:47) and Rosie Wild (1:09:55).

What happened on the bike?

There was drama immediately on the bike leg as within 200m of transition Haug pulled up with a flat tyre. With no ability to change it and no mechanical support in the vicinity, it was sadly game over for the 2019 champion. It meant the only former Ironman world champion left in the event was Sodaro.

USA’s Rachel Zilinskas also saw her day cut short, as after exiting the water in seventh place, she crashed out on the bike and needed medical attention for what was quickly diagnosed as a broken collarbone.

But there was better news for Pierre, who looked like she’d taken a lead from her partner Clement Mignon’s efforts in the same race last year, when she took off early on the climbs.

On her home roads, Pierre blasted through the opening miles and had almost a 3min advantage over Matthews as she attacked the day’s biggest ascent to the Col de L’Ecre, a 18.9km grind with 911m of elevation.

Pierre was the 2023 World Triathlon long course world champion and had not only trained with Charles-Barclay in the run-up to the event, but is also coached by Lucy’s husband, Reece.

Further back in the field, Philipp was the early mover and the second fastest on course behind the Frenchwoman, while Astle in 14th was also making solid headway on a course she was looking forward to. Mitchell, who dropped out of her last appearance at the Ironman World Championship in 2022, suffered more misfortune with a puncture.

Philipp caught Matthews at the top of the Col de l’Ecre at around 1,200m above sea level, moved past her into second place and set about trying to both open the gap to the Brit and close the gap to Pierre upfront.

With one-third of the 112-mile route complete, the course changed to rolling terrain level with Sanchez, Netherlands’ Lotte Wilms and France’s Julie Iemmolo, at 24 years old the youngest qualifier for the event, all cementing their front pack swims by staying in contention just over 3min back alongside Sodaro.

Philipp took the lead on the flatter out-and-back section just after the halfway point, but Matthews wasn’t relenting and quickly chased back on before making her own move to the front.

It was the only section on the one-lap bike course that triathletes could gauge their advantage on the chasers and while it would give the lead trio a boost to see the buffer already established on the field, it was their descending skills in the latter part of the bike leg that would become all-important.

While it was three women out front, further down the field a trio of other strong bikers, Astle, Bartlett and Germany’s Anne Reischmann were making inroads as they worked their way into the top 10. Unfortunately, Reischmann’s day was over when she hit a drinks bottle on the road and ended up on the tarmac.

Phillip seized the opportunity of a 9km climb at Coursegoules to gain around 45sec on Matthews, but once more the Brit reeled her back in to drive the pace at the front.

It was still the German who clocked the fastest bike split of the day at a rapid 5:02:25, but the bigger loser on the descent was Pierre, who slipped to almost 7min adrift by the time she reached transition. Behind them, Sodaro was clear in fourth place but losing more time to the front, and Sanchez was still having a great race in fifth, followed by Wilms and then Astle and Bartlett.

What happened on the run?

Philipp and Matthews ran stride-for-stride for the first part of the run before Philipp broke clear around the 7-mile mark to open a 30sec advantage, but there was plenty of running still to go.

Sodaro was making a bid to be on the podium and moved ahead of Pierre into third spot, with Bartlett – who had only raced two Ironman 70.3s this year, winning in Swansea and finishing runner-up in France – also starting the marathon with a flourish to move up to sixth.

Jackie Hering, who returned to Ironman racing for the first time in almost a decade, was one of the fastest runners on course as she tried to fight her way into the top 10.

But there was disappointment for Astle who was reduced to a walk-run as she looked to be once again troubled by the calf problem that had kept her out of races for most of the year.

Philipp powered through halfway in around 1:20, but with Matthews just a minute back there could be no letting up if she wanted to take her first title.

However, the German continued to build on her advantage and as she turned to start the fourth and final 10km loop knew it was hers to lose. Matthews was clearly suffering but held tough for second, with Sodaro also showing her mettle to hold strong for third.

2024 Ironman World Championship women’s results – top 10

1. Laura Philipp (GER)
2. Kat Matthews (GBR)
3. Chelsea Sodaro (USA)
4. Marjolaine Pierré (FRA)
5. Nikki Bartlett (GBR)
6. Marta Sanchez (ESP)
7. Penny Slater (AUS)
8. Lotte Wilms (NL)
9. Jackie Hering (USA)
10. Hannah Berry (NZL)