The field may have been small – only five athletes started the women’s race even – but it was Pamella Oliveira who took off with a beautiful home victory at today’s Ironman Brazil. Just like Reinaldo Colucci did in the men’s race. With Igor Amorelli (+4:42) and Fernando Toldi (+11:12) taking second and third, the men’s race even had a Brazilian clean sweep. In the women’s race, Swiss’ Joanna Ryter took second (+12:03) and Brazil’s Beatriz Neres (+20:43) finished in third.
Men’s race
Being only five seconds down to the leader – Brazil’s Eduardo Lass – Colucci was right in the front after that first discipline. He reached his bike in second place, amidst a big group of approximately ten athletes. It didn’t take long before Colucci found the lead on the bike. Together with Amorelli he rode to the front. About halfway through the bike part, the two enjoyed a 30-second advantage to third: France’s Arnaud Guilloux. In the final kilometers, Guilloux managed to join Colucci and Amorelli in front.
Once on the run, Colucci was off. After a half-marathon, he was already five minutes in front of second place, which was still Amorelli. With a 2:45-hour marathon in the legs, it was Colucci who took the victory, Amorelli claimed second and Toldi ended up passing Guilloux to take the final podium spot.
Women’s race
There wasn’t much excitement in the women’s race, as Oliveira led from the start to the finish. She exited the water nearly ten minutes in front of the second-fastest swimmer: Mahn. During the bike part, Neres tried to catch up with Oliveira. She may have managed to do so, but it didn’t take long before she had to let Oliveira go again. Once she hit T2, Oliveira already had a 15-minute buffer. All that was left to do was maintain her lead during the marathon. She did so by running a 3:04:05-hour marathon.
