Time To Crack The Kona Code
220 Triathlon|December 2017

A reformed drug addict, a former Olympic rower and a couple of feisty Brits meant Kona 2017 gave hope to everyone eyeing a shot at the Ironman world title

Tim Heming
Time To Crack The Kona Code

Watching nine hours straight of the Ironman World Champs in Kona, even on its improved new home of Red Bull TV, is quite a commitment – especially when a processional masterclass looked more likely than a competitive race.

Both Daniela Ryf and Jan Frodeno had won the past two editions, and scanning the pre-race odds of 1-10 for the win abruptly curtailed any chance of a flutter on the reigning champions. But wind forward a few hours, and Cameron Wurf – a former Olympic rower who’d barely made a ripple in triathlon – had set a new bike course record, only to be overtaken by reformed drug addict Lionel Sanders, whose running style and singlet made him look like an extra from a scene in Rocky with a stone in his shoe.

This story is from the December 2017 edition of 220 Triathlon.

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This story is from the December 2017 edition of 220 Triathlon.

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