Allgäu / Immenstadt - Since 1983, age groups and top athletes have fought each year on the Great Alpsee in Immenstadt.
The longing for an event after the 2020 corona break was great among athletes and fans.
Even a heavy thunderstorm in the morning did not detract from it.
Sprint, Olympus and Classic were the distances for 2700 triathletes who had come to the Allgäu again from all over Germany and neighboring countries. After sunshine during the last preparations on Saturday, dark clouds hung over the Allgäu a little later. A storm with thunderstorms and heavy rain damaged parts of the superstructure during the night. The competition was on the brink for a short time. However, the organization was able to prepare the stage for the first start at 7.45 a.m., the rain cleared and most of the athletes defied the adverse conditions.
The race led through the municipalities of Bühl, Ettensberg, Weitnau, Seltmans, Sibratshofen, Missen, Immenstadt, Stein, Eckarts, Niedersonthofen, Rieggis, Freundpolz, Reute, Knottenried and Zaumberg and was again organized by Hannes Blaschke and Christoph Fürleger. Only a few weeks earlier, her team had brought a unique and successful world record event to the Allgäu with Jan Frodeno's Tri Battle Royale. Most of the athletes at the “big” Allgäu Triathlon focused on arriving and not on a new personal best.
Defending champion Johanna Hiemer prevailed on the sprint distance, completing the 500 meters swimming, 26 kilometers cycling and 5 kilometers running in 1:28 hours. In the men's race, Yannic Baier from Immenstadt won in 1:16 hours. In the Olympic distance (1.5 kilometers swimming, 44 kilometers cycling, 10.5 kilometers running), young hopeful Magnus men dominated, relegating his training partner Thomas Ott to second place. Both come from the management team of the federal youth training center in Nuremberg and should also be considered for the national team and World Cup starts in the near future.
Young athletes also made their mark on the women of Olympus. Katharina Krüger and Leana Bissig (both born in 1999) dueled for the entire duration of the competition with the better end for the German Krüger. Her Swiss competitor Bissig still showed the best mileage, but it was no longer enough to take away the victory from Krüger. In third place came old champion Sigrid Mutscheller, who also helped determine the race at the high triathlon age of 45. With Gerhard Müller, Germany's record triathlete reached the finish line after more than four hours in the Allgäu rain. The 75-year-old finished the Olymp on Sunday and with it his 412th triathlon.
On the prestigious Classic distance, the task was to cover 1900 meters in the water, 84 kilometers on the bike and 21 kilometers in running shoes. The three podium places were separated by just 34 seconds at the finish and that with a race duration of over four hours. Veit Hönle won somewhat surprisingly, who with the fastest swimming and cycling time worked out enough lead for the run to reach the finish just ahead of the Allgäu professional athlete Fabian Eisenlauer. Third in the run was Samuel Böttinger. The Tübingen resident had a sleepless night because his offspring were born a few hours before the start. Nevertheless, he did not want to miss his start at the Allgäu Triathlon. Coming from the second starting field, Horst Reichel pushed himself in front of the new father,the joy of a successful day was not clouded by it.
In the women’s competition it was less tight.
The classic distance became Sarah Schönfelder's one-woman show.
The athlete of the Tri Team Grassaus won with over 15 minutes ahead of Lucia Erat and Kathrin Halter.
After the fastest time for the two laps in Oberallgäu, the second time was enough to win safely.
The 23-year-old only completed her first middle distance in June.
The event could only take place with the help of 500 volunteers who worked together with the police, fire brigades, the BRK and the water rescue service.
Due to the corona pandemic, spectators were excluded from the event area and all the people involved were vaccinated, tested or recovered.
Although the concept worked, the hope is for a triathlon party next year like two years ago.
“The Allgäu Triathlon is also about getting together.
Many of them have their only competition of the year here and socializing is simply part of it! ”, Said the organizer Fürleger for the record.
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