There was simply no stopping Lizzie Rayner today. The British pro athlete delivered a commanding performance at Ironman 70.3 Cascais, taking the win in dominant fashion at the women’s professional-only race.
Rayner stayed within striking distance during the swim, comfortably sitting on the feet of compatriot Molly Savill, with fellow Brit Kate Curran also part of the leading trio. But once on the bike, Rayner wasted no time launching her attack. Within moments, she dropped both Savill and Curran and began to open up a gap that would only grow as the kilometers ticked by.
By the 23-kilometer mark, Rayner already enjoyed nearly a two-minute advantage. By the time she hit T2, her lead had ballooned to more than four minutes over the first chaser, France’s Aurelia Boulanger.
Behind her, the battle for the podium spots continued to shuffle, but all eyes were on Rayner out front. She maintained her relentless pace on the half marathon, extending her lead even further on her way to a dominant victory.
Rayner crossed the line in 4:08:18, sealing an almost wire-to-wire triumph that showcased both power and composure. Kate Curran eventually claimed second in 4:15:36, with Aurelia Boulanger rounding out the podium in 4:16:50.