Triathletes are in action in the discipline of swimming. © Georg Wendt/dpa
Jan Frodeno missed out on the title at the Ironman European Championship in Hamburg, which was overshadowed by a fatal accident. The 41-year-old three-time world champion finished fourth in his last professional race in Germany on Sunday. Born in Cologne, he will end his sports career at the end of the year.
Hamburg - Frenchman Denis Chevrot defended his title ahead of Belgium's Pieter Heermeryck and Denmark's Kristian Hogenhaug. Frodeno crossed the finish line 5:18 minutes after Chevrot at the Rathausmarkt.
However, in view of the death of a rider of a support motorcycle, the sporting result on Sunday was of secondary importance. After about 2:25 hours of racing, the motorcycle rider had collided head-on with a participant on the bike course.
According to the police, the 70-year-old motorcyclist died at the scene of the accident, the athlete (26) was seriously injured. The cameraman (50) on the motorcycle suffered a shock and, like the triathlete, was taken to a hospital. Despite the accident, the race continued. Dpa
