Godart wins Ironman 70.3 in ideal conditions
LUXEMBOURG’S Olivier Godart won the third Standard Bank Ironman 70.3 in near-perfect conditions in Durban yesterday.
Godart, 43, finished the race in four hours, eight minutes and 40 seconds to claim first place well ahead of South Africans Jeren Seegers (4:20:31) and Scott Bayvel (4:21:04).
He was the first male athlete out of the water in a time of 26:29 and then kept his lead and was also the first male to finish the bike course.
Just more than 2 000 age group athletes lined up at the start on uShaka Beach with the Durban warm-winter temperature ensuring for a large crowd as they rushed into the surf.
The rough sea conditions from last year, which saw the swim being cancelled for the amateur athletes, was long forgotten when athletes were greeted with beautiful flat sea conditions on race morning.
The calm sea saw athletes racing through the new swim venue at uShaka Beach.
“Racing in Durban, with these great weather conditions and fans, just makes this an amazing experience and race,” Godart said yesterday.
“In fact, I feel so good here, I cannot wait to go out and train again.”
“The swim with the flat conditions was good, almost too easy.
“The full road closures on the M4 for the bike course also contributed to making this an amazing race, a real race.
“Because there were no cars, I was able to put my head down and just give it my all and still feel safe, and for this sport you have to be able to give it your all.”
Jade Nicole, 27, from Johannesburg, was the first female athlete to cross the finish line. She managed to complete the three-part course in 4:50:34.
“With the pro athletes not racing this year, it obviously opened the race in Durban up for me and other competitors and gave us a good chance, which is phenomenal.
“But the best part of the race was the swim. It was beautiful and fantastic, almost like a pool. Probably the best swim yet,” Nicole said.