German Frederic Funk is on an impressive run; after already finishing second at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship last week, he has just prolonged his title at Ironman 70.3 Zell am See. Germany’s Daniela Bleymehl won the women’s race.
For Funk, the victory is undoubtedly a confirmation that he is doing really well. The German, who is clearly working on a long-term plan – in which he consciously chooses to focus only on Middle Distance races and not yet make the switch to Long Distance racing – sees himself assured of a top ranking in just about every race he is in. After the swim, Funk was still 1:11 minute behind compatriot Magnus Männer, but once he got on the bike, he not only made up that deficit quickly, but also advanced from fourth place to the lead position.
Männer did try to hang on for a while, but in the closing stages of the bike leg he still lost the connection to überbiker Funk. When the cycling was done, Männer followed at 2:39 minutes behind and Jan Stratmann at 4:40. During the run, Funk was actually able to easily speed to victory, which he claimed in 3:49:56. Stratmann – one place behind Funk last week as well – was second in 3:54:46 and Belgian Stenn Goetstouwers third in 3:55:19.
Daniela Bleymehl also strikes during the bike
In the women’s race, the win went to Daniela Bleymehl. Like Funk, the veteran came out of the water with a deficit – more than two minutes and in ninth position, in Bleymehl’s case – but on the bike her deficit was turned into a lead. From the moment she hung her bike in T2 and had a 2:16 minute lead over first chaser Lisa Perterer, her victory was not in jeopardy anymore. Bleymehl won the race in 4:19:18, while Daniela Kleiser eventually finished second in 4:21:52. Franziska Reng completed the German podium by finishing third in 4:26:50.
