Craig Alexander destroyed his opposition in the Hawaii Ironman World Championships with a well planned and executed race. He stayed around 10th place through most of the bike, and even though he hit the run some 9 minutes back, he quickly moved into contention.
The huge Viking Torbjorn Sindballe lead off the bike, but soon lost the lead to Normann Stadler through the early part of the run. Stadler cramped and faded from the scene, as Eneko Llanos moved into the lead. But all the time Alexander was flying. Initially he had Cameron Brown for company, but this early pace eventually put paid to Brown's challenge.
Early in the bike section defending champion Chris McCormack quit when be broke a cable.
But this was Alexander's day. He coasted through the last few miles making it look effortless, and as he got closer to the finish the smile on his face got bigger and bigger.
He savored the finishing stretch stopping to walk, turned and saluted the crowd before hovering at the finishing tape. He crossed the line and fell to the ground clutching his young daughter.
"It's a big dream, a big goal. I can't believe it," he said as the enormity of his achievement started to sink in.
He became the third Australian man to win the race after Greg Welch and McCormack.
Eneko Llanos finished second, with Rutger Beke taking the bronze.
Provisional Results
1 8:17:45 Alexander, Craig AUS 51:43 1:41 4:37:19 2:04 2:45:01
2 8:20:50 3:05 7 Llanos Burguera, Eneko ESP 51:39 1:48 4:33:27 2:10 2:51:49
3 8:21:23 3:38 41 Beke, Rutger BEL 54:44 1:50 4:34:45 2:16 2:47:49
4 8:21:46 4:01 31 Schildknecht, Ronnie SWI 54:56 1:58 4:34:26 2:08 2:48:20
[5 8:23:04 5:19 15 Bracht, Timo GER 52:25 1:37 4:35:25 2:30 2:51:09]
5 8:26:17 8:32 25 Brown, Cameron NZL 51:50 2:04 4:36:47 1:59 2:53:39
6 8:30:23 12:38 10 Vernay, Patrick NCL 51:58 1:52 4:42:49 2:06 2:51:40
7 8:33:50 16:05 36 Potts, Andy USA 48:38 1:50 4:46:00 2:51 2:54:31
8 8:34:02 16:17 53 Hecht, Mathias SWI 51:42 1:46 4:36:55 2:28 3:01:13
9 8:34:47 17:02 9 Lovato, Michael USA 52:58 1:52 4:45:21 2:27 2:52:12
Update: Timo Bracht was removed from the above results for failing to complete a penalty stop
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