From a Malaysian newspaper

DAILY EXPRESS NEWS

Le Floch, Leder the new Langkawi Ironman champs

25 February, 2007

Langkawi: Debutants Xavier Le Floch and Nicole Leder were crowned champions of the men's and women's professional category of the 8th Ironman Langkawi here Saturday.

Frenchman Le Floch, 34, clocked an unofficial time of eight hours 43 minutes 52 seconds enroute to Saturday's victory. He however failed to erase 2001 and 2002 champion Bryan Rhodes' (New Zealand) record of 8'10:35s in 2002.

He clocked 49 minutes and 59 seconds in his swimming routine, four hours 45 minutes and 15 seconds in cycling and 3'06:01s in the marathon.

Le Floch received his medal from Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said. For his feats, Le Floch was US$8,500 (RM29,685.82) richer.

"It is my first Ironman in Malaysia and just unbelieveable to win it in hot weather," he added.

The Frenchman who came to the legendary island a week earlier to acclimatise with the hot and humid weather said Ironman Langkawi is an important event to win since it is the first of 22 Ironman Worldwide series.

Briton Andrew Johns took second placing to pocket US$5,100 (RM17,811.49) after clocking 8'51:19s and Australian Mitch Dean in third placing on 8'51:43s for US$3,200 (RM11,175.84).

In the Women's professional category, German Leder, 36, clocked a provisional results of 56 minutes and 50 seconds in swimming, cycling (5'24:49s) and marathon (3'17:36s) for a total of 9'42:33s to claim the championship.

While Australia's Alison Fitch and Yoko Hori of New Zealand followed on 9'50:59s and 10'00:43s respectively.

"After completing the cycling event, I only hope that I could finish the race in the top three position. At that time I was in fifth position and trailing the leader patiently because I knew my strength was in running.

"I did not know what happened infant of me and only knew that I have won the race when I reached the finishing line. I did not know that the leader Nina Kraft had pulled out from the race," said Elder, who became a professional triathlete in 1996.

She also noted that Ironman Langkawi was the toughest race she has ever entered, especially the cycling terrain which is hilly and the hot weather.

The day did not belong to 2002 World Ironman Champion, Nina Kraft of Germany, who wanted to make a comeback in the Ironman triathlon arena after a two-year suspension due to a doping case during the 2004 World Ironman Championship.

In Saturday's race, the exhausted Kraft withdrew after completing a-10 kilometre run.

Earlier, in the swimming and cycling disciplines, she outclassed the other professional women triathletes.- Bernama