Javier Gomez wins Ironman 70.3 World Champs in Mont Tremblant

Spanish athlete holds off Jan Frodeno to cross the line in 3:41:30, while Britain's Tim Don puts together a solid race to take bronze

Published: September 8, 2014 at 9:48 am

There’s just no stopping this man right now – Javier Gomez picked up gold at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Mont Tremblant, Quebec yesterday, exactly a week after winning the 2014 World Triathlon Series.

Gomez and fellow race favourite Jan Frodeno (GER) quickly moved to the front of the swim and kept the pace moving fast enough to leave the water 3mins ahead of last year’s winner Sebastien Kienle (GER). Kienle left the water more than 3mins adrift of Gomez and Frodeno, then lost time to a huge lead pack that included Gomez, Frodeno, Tim Don (GBR) and Joe Gambles (USA).

The USA’s Ben Collins was first off the bike, but it was Frodeno who broke onto the run course with the early lead. Trailing by 30secs starting the run, Gomez quickly moved into second and within 5km was only three seconds behind Frodeno. Gomez then surged past the German and crossed the line in 3:41:30, 42secs ahead of Frodeno to earn his first Ironman 70.3 World Championship title. Don put together a solid race and rounded out the podium.

Women's race

In the women’s race, Britain’s Jodie Swallow left the water in first place, followed closely by Swiss athlete Daniela Ryf, before the pair were joined at the front of the bike by Annabel Luxford (AUS) and Mary Beth Ellis (USA). Ryf and Swallow drove the pace through the first half before Ryf made her move, and by 66km she had separated herself from Swallow, Ellis, Luxford and the rest of the field.

Once on the run, Swallow, who came off the bike in second, made things exciting as she managed to gain back a bit of time. But, in the end, Ryf was simply too strong as she finished in 4:09:19, more than 2mins ahead of Swallow. The win added to Ryf’s impressive 2014 campaign which has included a win at the 5150 European Championship, a win in her first Ironman race at Ironman Zurich, a win at the Ironman 70.3 European Championship in Wiesbaden and a win at Ironman Copenhagen.

Top 10 elite men:

SWIM BIKE RUN FINISH

1. Javier Gomez ESP 00:22:09 02:06:18 01:09:27 03:41:30
2. Jan Frodeno GER 00:22:10 02:05:48 01:10:36 03:42:11
3. Tim Don GBR 00:22:41 02:05:18 01:12:44 03:44:38
4. Lionel Sanders CAN 00:26:42 02:04:14 01:11:21 03:46:03
5. Nils Frommhold GER 00:22:39 02:05:10 01:14:45 03:46:25
6. Joe Gambles AUS 00:22:58 02:04:54 01:14:55 03:46:34
7. Tim Reed AUS 00:23:02 02:04:52 01:15:12 03:47:07
8. Bart Aernouts BEL 00:24:38 02:06:07 01:13:18 03:48:05
9. Terenzo Bozzone NZL 00:23:02 02:05:00 01:16:47 03:48:20
10. Will Clarke GBR 00:23:02 02:07:12 01:14:48 03:48:44

Top 10 elite women:

SWIM BIKE RUN FINISH

1. Daniela Ryf SUI 00:24:04 02:16:46 01:24:30 04:09:19
2. Jodie Swallow GBR 00:23:59 02:19:28 01:24:10 04:11:43
3. Heather Wurtele CAN 00:26:24 02:21:53 01:22:19 04:14:55
4. Meredith Kessler USA 00:24:36 02:22:32 01:24:12 04:16:03
5. Mary Beth Ellis USA 00:24:01 02:20:04 01:28:45 04:17:03
6. Radka Vodickova CZE 00:24:32 02:25:42 01:23:33 04:17:47
7. Lisa Huetthaler AUT 00:26:26 02:25:24 01:22:24 04:18:16
8. Svenja Bazlen GER 00:24:34 02:25:35 01:24:30 04:18:48
9. Rachel McBride CAN 00:26:33 02:22:30 01:26:39 04:19:52
10. Magali Tisseyre CAN 00:24:37 02:25:32 01:26:31 04:20:38

Full results here.

(Images: Nils Nilsen/IRONMAN)