Wurf bike-leg record not enough in Hawaii

TASMANIAN Cameron Wurf made a stunning debut in the Hawaii Ironman debut yesterday when he set a new record on the bike stage and led the iconic race into the final run leg.

The former Olympic rower and professional cyclist ran out of fuel on the 42.2km run, conducted in 30C Big Island heat, sliding down the field to finish 17th.

The race was won by German Patrick Lange, who bolted home with a sizzling run, breaking Australian Craig Alexander’s course record in the process by clocking 8h3m56s.

Canadian Lionel Sanders was 2:27min behind in second, followed by Great Britain’s David McNamee.

Wurf set a bike course record for the Kona race of 4h12m54s over 180km, a scorching time more than five minutes faster than German Normann Stadler’s 2006 mark.

Wurf hit the run transition 54sec ahead of Canadian Lionel Sanders as they headed out for the marathon with German Sebastian Kienle third, followed by two-time defending champion, Germany’s Jan Frodeno, who pulled out on the run.

Wurf could not keep pace on the run, and eventually crossed in 17th place.

It marked a successful transition to ironman racing for Wurf, who rowed in the men’s lightweight double scull at the 2004 Athens Olympics before riding professionally.

He won Ironman Wales last month with a 3:11:00 marathon, but will likely have to run a lot quicker in sapping heat and humidity in Kona to hold off the likes of noted runners Sanders and Frodeno.

Another Australian, Josh Amberger, blitzed the swim leg to lead by over a minute heading on to the bike.