Heat battle in Carinthia: Local triathletes shine at the Ironman!

Heat battle in Carinthia: Local triathletes shine at the Ironman!

Krems an der Donau, Österreich - A hot summer day in Carinthia was the right framework for the 26th edition of Ironman Austria, which was launched on June 15th in bright weather in Klagenfurt. At temperatures of up to 35 degrees, the triathletes not only had to demonstrate their fitness, but also their endurance. Around 2,000 helpers ensured that the event went smoothly and over 100,000 spectators cheered on the athletes in the backdrop of Lake Wörthersee. This impressive event generates around 40,000 additional overnight stays annually and has an economic benefit of around nine million euros, reports HD Sports.

The participants of the URC SPK Renner Langenlois were also at the start. Alexander Rauscher, who had the fastest legs of his team with a remarkable bike time of 05:02:50, finished the entire route in 09:42:17 and took 15th place in the M25 age group, while he reached a total of 104th. Barbara Kiener also shone: she ran the marathon in 03:29:52, so she ended the entire event after 10:35:35 hours and secured the silver at the Austrian championships in the W45 age group. That also meant second place in the age group and a 15th place in the entire women's field. Their achievements ensured cheers and pride in the team, even if they did without the World Cup qualification.

challenges and perseverance

The route initially put the athletes on the rehearsal with the swimming phase of 3.8 km in Lake Wörthersee, which was described for many as the most pleasant discipline of the day. After the swimming round, the demanding bike route of 180 km followed, which was divided into two loops of 90 km. Despite the heat, the entire team was able to successfully master the swimming route, with Barbara Kiener mastering the bike route in the good midfield with 05:38:38. Dagmar Pfadenhauer was less lucky due to stomach problems and finished the entire event in 13:44:55 - which meant the 5th place in the Austrian championship W50. Rainer Egetzberger could not achieve his goal this time.

In the team ranking, the Urc Trium Virat Rauscher, Kiener and Frühwirth disappointed that the bronze medal only escaped them by 30 seconds. This increased the competitive spirit and gave incentive for future competitions.

triathlon in the upswing

Ironman Austria has developed into one of the most attractive triathlons in the world in recent years. According to IRONMAN , the sport overall shows positive growth signals. In the latest survey, various trends among athletes were found: more and more younger athletes, especially women, can be found in the long -distance area. The proportion of women in this magnificent sport is growing, which is not least due to new initiatives to promote female athletes.

Overall, the event not only attracts people from Austria, but also internationally. Over 200,000 athletes have participated in Ironman events worldwide, which shows how high the triathlon is in tourism and the fitness scene. With the offer of 40 slots for the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, another highlight in Klagenfurt is set.

The popular event in Carinthia not only remains a challenge for athletes, but also shows how important shared experiences and the team spirit are in this sport. With over $ 75,000 prize money for professionals, the hard work is definitely worth it, as is shown by the numerous participants from a wide variety of age groups.