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Finally swimming, cycling, running again: Jan Frodeno (in July 2016)
Photo: Daniel Karmann / dpa
Ironman world champion Jan Frodeno proved his class right away on the comeback after almost a year and a half.
The 39-year-old triathlon star prevailed on Friday at the Challenge Miami with over two and a half minutes ahead of a strong field.
"I woke up at three o'clock because I was nervous," he said after a 17-month break from racing: "I was as happy as a little child."
According to trainer Dan Lorang, Frodeno had struck his toe days before the competition and was handicapped while running.
On a shortened middle distance, Frodeno was not in the lead after swimming or cycling, which he took over after a few meters on the last section.
The lead over Lionel Sanders from Canada was finally 2:21 minutes, the American Ben Kanute was third (+3: 38 minutes).
“Today I overdid it on the bike, I was worried that the others would get there in the end.
But it all worked out, ”said Frodeno, who had not competed since his third triumph in Hawaii in October 2019.
Last year, the failures caused by the corona crisis and then two crashes slowed him down.
Ironman world champion Anne Haug had to follow the races from her room in the quarantine hotel after a positive corona test result.
She expects that she will have to spend "first a week" in isolation in Miami, she said on "sportschau.de" during the broadcast of Challenge Miami.
The British Jodie Stimpson secured the victory in front of compatriot Lucy Charles-Barclay (+1: 22) and Jackie Hering from the USA (+2: 21).
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sak / sid / dpa
