Yvonne van Vlerken: nieuw parcours record en goud op het EK Ironman 70.3  te Wiesbaden.

The weather conditions could not have been more record-hostile. In the morning athletes were greeted with a violent downpour at the start area. Especially difficult the bike-course promised to be in these conditions. Already tough with more than 1500 metres vertical climb the numerous difficult departures would be extra-challenging in wet version. Nevertheless, the titleholder Yvonne van Vlerken looked very much determined before the start and exactly this determination was later the key to success. The starter field was in the women´s and men packed with world-class names and promising newcomers under it the extremely run-strong Hawaii 2nd of 2006 Desiree Ficker/USA, Rachel Joyce/GBR (6. Ironman Hawaii in 2009), Nicole Leder/ GER, Andrea Steinbecher/GER, the former Duathlon world champion Ulrike Schwalbe as well as 2nd of the Ironman 70.3 Switzerland 2010 Nicoles Hofer.
It was strong biker Nicole Hofer 2. Out of the water that pushed hard on the bike. Yvonne van Vlerken followed with only a good 4min gap, with her Desiree
Ficker and the German surprise newcomer Diana Riesler who had posted the quickest ladies-bicycle time at the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt 6 weeks ago. Hofer was 40 seconds quicker on the bike than van Vlerken who only was 3 minutes slowler than in the year before in the nasty conditions. Nicole Hofer took 5:10 min advantage on the selective run distance, behind her one bitter hunt from unfolded. Desiree Ficker had come out of T2 just behind Yvonne van Vlerken from T2 and together both world class runners struck a crazy run-speed. After 6 km they had only more 3:30 min gap, had already edged out the German Julia Wagner of the 2nd place. Then Yvonne van Vlerken pulled away from Ficker an opened to 10 seconds. Then dramatically Hofer´s lead melted away. With km 13 these were only 1:20min, then with 17.5 km Nicole Hofer faced the inevitable destiny and Yvonne van Vlerken and Desiree Ficker passed her. Then full of suspense the last kilometre between the turbo-duet started, however, Yvonne van Vlerken was not letting her her hard fought lead go any more and defended as the first lady in the history of the Sparkassen Finanzgruppe Ironman 70.3 Wiesbaden with a new on this day impossibly looking course- record her last year's title and crowned herself to the first Ironman 70.3 European Champion. In the men´s World Champion Michael Raelert was a little quicker than Sebastian Kienle (both GER). Tragic death of an athlete overshadows European Championship
Unfortunately, the race was overshadowed by the tragic death of a 55-year-old athlete who had to be rescued on the swimming distance by the safety-team from the Schiersteiner harbour. Unfortunately, all immediately initiated revival measures on site and furthermore in the clinic were unsuccessfully. The athlete was a good swimmer, closer details are not published yet.

Quote Yvonne van Vlerken: „I am very happy with my performance and am glad that I´m, after I returned to my former coach Frank Senders again, on the right way. Especially on the mental side I could turn things straight and the cooperation of Frank and Thomas (Vonach) formed a valuable basis for my latest development. It was a very tough race, I had big fear o the decends and had to lay it all on the table in the run. I am very happy about this title. But to me it is a big concern to epxress my condolences to the family of the athlete that lost his life today. We triathletes are a big family, no matter whether you are a top-pro or amateur-athlete. We are in the same boat, and if such a thing happens, one of us leaves. I dedicate my title to this sportsman!“

Zilver voor Yvonne van Vlerken op de de ITU lange afstand

Yvonne van Vlerken (Tri Team Lustenau/Endurance Team Austria) takes the silver medal at the ITU Long Distance World Champioship after an incredible chase on the run and officially anounces the return to her long-time coach Frank Senders/NED (www.stapsport.com) (see statement after racereport). Thomas J. Vonach (Tri Team Lustenau/Endurance Team Austria) takes the amateur- world title.

Extremely successful weekend for Yvonne van Vlerken and Thomas J. Vonach at the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championship in Immenstadt/GER. Yvonne van Vlerken takes the silver-medal, after bronze in 2008, in impressive manner.After the swim and the loss of her swim-cap Yvonne van Vlerken took 6min. gap to reigning Europan Champion on this distance and 2009 Hawaii 3rd Virginia Berasategui/ESP and to Caroline Steffen on the extremly selective bike-course. There she succeeded first to outdistance her "favorite rival" Erika Csomor/HUN who had lost already 6min. after 45 km on the Dutchwoman. Berasategui on her side opened to 8 minutes. The Swiss Caroline Steffen could increase her performance since the Ironman European Champioship in Frankfurt obviously further and rode away from Virginia Berasategui and Yvonne van Vlerken to gain 7 minutes. Yvonne van Vlerken could chase down the Spaniard with the fastest run by far (2:07:37) in the ladies' field who lost another 6min. until the finish. Carolina Steffen won the women´s title. In the elite men Frenchmen Sylvain Sudrie took the crown. Thomas J. Vonach got a perfect day only 8 months after the implantation of an artificial intervertebral disc. The 38-year-old Austrian began the race with a respectable swimming performance (59:00) and exited the water as 45th of 750 amateurs from 20 nations. On the bike he showed that his preparation was perfectly pointed to the day. He could catch up on the amateur world champion of 2008 and 4. of the long distance in Cologne ´09 Heiko Tewes/GER. Tewes retreated in the last segment of the bike. With a one minute gap to Tewes Thomas Vonach went on the 30 km, caught up the German at km 18 who lost further 7 minutes until the finish. But Vonach had to defend the obviously secured World Championship Title again. At km 29 and 1000 metres before the finish-line German Heiko Stalzer closed in on the leader of the class M35. Thomas Vonach had to rais the tempo and could outdistance Stalzer again about 50 seconds. In 7:06:52 hours he took his second amateur world championship- title in one year after his amateur victory at the Xterra world championship on Maui in October last year. Quote Yvonne van Vlerken: „I am very satisfied with my performance. The field was very strong and I could show that my curve stands upwards. It was the right decision after Frankfurt that I decided to return to my long time coach Frank Senders. He knows me for many years and could turn a lot of things straight in the last weeks again. I am looking forward to the Ironman 70.3 European Champioship Wiesbaden in 2 weeks.“ Quote Thomas J. Vonach: „If somebody would have asked me eight months ago what my biggest wish would be, I would have answered to be able to enjoy my sport without permanent pain. Not in my wildest dreams I would have to dream of this title risquély. He is to be had been operated the result of hard work and the luck of one of the best doctors worldwide in his area, Prof. Michael Mayer (http://www.schoen-kliniken.de/ptp/kkh/okm/faz/wirbelsaeule/). To him gebürt mine quite special thanks!“

Yvonne van Vlerken: Return to trainer Frank Sender (www.stapsport.com) Herewith Yvonne van Vlerken officially announces the return to her long-time trainer, successful coach Frank Senders/ NED, who had coached the Dutchwoman from the beginning of her career in 2000 until shortly before her sensational long distance debut in Roth in 2007. As the head-coach Frank Senders will be responsible for training together with Thomas J. Vonach who will supervise the training .

Marc Goos houdt de ketting strak

Cadeau Bon Stapsport.com