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ST. GEORGE — Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt sat on the shoulder of American Ben Kanute for the first 10 miles of the 13.1-mile run — the final phase of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
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And then he threw in a surge to distance himself from Kanute and the rest of the men’s field to earn another Ironman victory in St. George.
The men’s professional field entered the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir at around 7:30 a.m Saturday.
Reigning 70.3 World Champion Gustav Iden from Norway was expected to back up his recent full Ironman World Championship with a back-to-back victory.
Countryman Blummenfelt won the full Ironman event in St. George last May.
Race updates follow below, and a full report will be posted on the St. George News website later today.
7:50 a.m.: Ben Kanute is first out of the water and onto the bike segment, followed by other favorites, including Blummenfelt, Iden Aaron Royle and Long.
8:25 a.m.: Blummenfelt leads the pack out of Sand Hollow and out onto the course as the men begin their trek toward St. George.
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8:30 a.m.: American Sam Long, chasing the leaders, receives blue-card drafting penalty on the climb out of Sand Hollow after Canadian Jackson Laundry attempt to pass him, which causes Long to slow while passing another competitor. Long, therefore, is required to wait five minutes in the next aid station.
9:10 a.m.: Top five competitors are separated by six seconds, with Blummenfelt still leading and Kanute currently fourth.
9:25 a.m.: Denmark’s Magnus Ditlev takes over the lead as the athletes near Snow Canyon State Park and a lengthy climb.
9:48 a.m.: Current top three: Ditlev, Germany’s Fred Funk and Blummenfelt as the athletes approach the bike-to-run transition area.
9:57 a.m.: Leaders make the transition from bike to run.
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10:14 a.m.: Kanute took over the lead position in the race as the professional men jumped off their bikes and started the run to the finish line. Blummenfelt, after being the first racer out of the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir, fell into second place behind Kanute. Two Danish triathletes, Ditlev and Miki Tagholt, were in third and fifth place respectively. Funk, in fourth, rounded out the lead group as they took to the running course.
10:35 a.m.: Gustav Iden, reigning world and 70.3 champion, withdraws at halfway point of run.
The champion is expected to cross the line in St. George sometime after 11 a.m. Pictures to follow.
10:50 a.m.: Blummenfelt takes over the lead, followed by Kanute and Ditlev, as athletes approach the finish line in downtown St. George.
11:08 a.m.: Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt wins the men’s Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Kanute, Ditlev and Knoodt and Funk round out the top five.
Photo Gallery
Cyclists make their way through route along Red Hills Parkway during the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ryan Wade, St. George News Cyclists make their way through route along Red Hills Parkway during the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ryan Wade, St. George News Cyclists make their way through route along Red Hills Parkway during the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ryan Wade, St. George News Cyclists make their way through route along Red Hills Parkway during the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Ryan Wade, St. George News Early morning sunset at Sand Hollow Reservoir for the the start of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship triathlon, Oct. 29., 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News The professional men, including race favorite Gustav Iden (red cap) prepare to enter the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir for the the start of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship triathlon, Oct. 29., 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News The professional men prepare to enter the water at Sand Hollow Reservoir for the the start of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship triathlon, Oct. 29., 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News Swimmers exit Sand Hollow Reservoir and transition to te bike segment of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo from Ironman Facebook page, St. George News American Ben Knute leads the bike segment of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo from Ironman Facebook page, St. George News American Ben Knute heads out on the bike segement of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo from Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Kristian Blummenfelt leads the pack out of Sand Hollow and out onto the course as the men begin their trek toward St. George during the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo from Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Professional racers transition from the swim to the bike in the men's race, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo be E. George Goold, St. George News
Professional racers transition from the swim to the bike in the men's race, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo be E. George Goold, St. George News
One of the race favorites, Gustav Iden of Norway, pedals through the bicycle segment of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Iden was trailing race leader and country Kristian Blummenfelt as the athletes neared the transition to the running portion, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo from Ironman Facebook page, St. George News One of the race favorites, Gustav Iden of Norway, pedals through the bicycle segment of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship. Iden was trailing race leader and country Kristian Blummenfelt as the athletes neared the transition to the running portion, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo from Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Denmark's Magnus Ditlev attacks the hill in Snow Canyon as head leads the men's Ironman 70.3 World Championsips, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo from Ironman Facebook page, St. George News Start of the Men's Pro Race for the swim leg during the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 202 | Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images for Ironman, St. George News American Ben Kanute leads Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt trough downtown St. George as the athletes work through the middle section of the running phase of the men's Ironman 70.3 World Championship triathlon, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo from Ironman Facebook page, St. George News American Sam Long transitions from the bike to the run, the final segment of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News Professional men's racers transition from the bike to the run, the final segment of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News Professional men's racers transition from the bike to the run, the final segment of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News Professional men's racers transition from the bike to the run, the final segment of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News Germany's Mika Noodt transitions from the bike to the run, the final segment of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, Oct. 29, 2022 | Photo by E. George Goold, St. George News
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