Germany's Stadler proves cyclist can win world title
By Ron Staton
Associated Press
KAILUA, Hawai'i — Normann Stadler of Germany seized the lead in the bike ride and held on in the marathon for a 10-minute margin of victory yesterday at the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.
Stadler, a 33-year-old professional triathlete, won the grueling race in 8 hours, 33 minutes, 29 seconds.
He took the lead at about the 30-mile mark of the 112-mile bicycle ride, passing countryman Jan Sibbersen, a 29-year-old former Olympic swimmer who led after the 2.4-mile ocean swim.
Stadler took command of the race and was never challenged. Last year, he led after the bicycle ride but faded in the run and finished fourth.
"I was told before the race that a cyclist can't win in Hawai'i, but I won," said Stadler, who joins 1997 champion Thomas Hellreigel as the only Germans to win the event. "It's my biggest dream come true."
Fellow German Nina Kraft, 35, won the woman's race in 9:33:35. She was the third woman out of the water, but quickly moved into the lead in the bike ride.
In the men's competition, defending champion and three-time winner Peter Reid of Victoria, Canada, was 13th after the bike ride and used a strong performance in the marathon to finish second in 8:43:40.
Faris Al-Sultan, a student and professional triathlete also from Germany, was third in 8:45:14.
Natascha Badmann of Switzerland was second in the women's division in 9:50:04 and Heather Fuhr of Canada was third in 9:56:19.
The bicycle ride took the competitors through barren lava fields and rolling ranchlands to the turnaround at the village of Hawi, at the northeast tip of the island. The cyclists had to battle headwinds of up to 25 mph and temperatures in the high 80s for most of their ride on the sunny, cloudless day.
The 26.2-mile run began at the pier in this resort town on the Big Island's Kona Coast, and ended on the adjoining road.
About 1,740 athletes from 50 states and 48 countries, ranging in age from 20 to 80, were registered for the 140.6-mile endurance test.
Most of the sport's top professionals were vying for $480,000 in prize money. The first male and female each get $100,000.
Luc Van Lierde of Belgium, who set the course record of 8:04:08 in 1996, dropped out during the bicycle ride. Paula Newby-Fraser of Encinitas, Calif., who established the women's record of 8:55:28 in 1992, did not compete.
