Zyemtsev and Kessler win Subaru Ironman Canada

Shawn Skene wraps up the great head-to-head racing at Ironman Canada

On a day that saw race favourite's falter at Subaru Ironman Canada and weather that included rain, hail and wind, we saw some surprises in the results here in Penticton.

The prerace men’s favourite, Kieran Doe, did what he planned to do in the race. The New Zealander took it out hard and fast right from the gun in attempt to garner as much distance between himself and his rivals by the run.

Doe led a pack of three that included Wolfgang Guembel and Tom Evans out of the swim, while the remainder of the field was left to play catch-up.
Evans looked like he was the only one that could match Does pace on the bike while the two traded the lead for the first 100 km. Evans eventually succumbed to the pace and faded completely out of contention.

Canadian, Scott Curry, was within four minutes of Doe as they started the run, followed by Germany’s Christian Brader. Ukrainian Viktor Zyemtsev was 8:29 in arrears, but still believed he had a chance to win.

Doe was overtaken by Brader, a recent fourth place finisher at Ironman Regensburg, 12 km into the run as Zyemtsev worked his way toward the front. Brader and Zyemtsev came together at 25 km and remained shoulder to shoulder for virtually the rest of marathon.

Zyemtsev, a multiple Ironman champion, refused to make any attempt to take the lead early due to a nagging leg injury. He was content to let Brader lead the way and make his move late on the run fearing he may only have one big effort on his questionable leg.

Zyemtsev finally made a surge on Brader with less than 500 meters to go and the German was unable to respond. He crossed the line in 8:32:28, 13 seconds ahead of Brader, for his seventh Ironman title.

VIKTOR ZYEMTSEV (#33) at 8:32:28
CHRISTIAN BRADER (#57) at 8:32:41
STEPHAN VUCKOVIC (#29) at 8:38:31
PETR VABROUSEK (#32) at 8:39:16
KYLE MARCOTTE (#61) at 8:40:45
SCOTT NEYEDLI (#38) at 8:41:36
WOLFGANG GUEMBEL (#37) at 8:43:21
CHRISTOPHER BAGG (#36) at 8:48:11
SCOTT CURRY (#53) at 8:48:57
ANTHONY TOTH (#49) at 8:49:44

The women’s race also saw the race favorite, Canada’s Tereza Macel take the lead early in the swim. She steadily extended her lead over American Meredith Kessler and fellow Canadian, Heather Wurtele, for the first half of the bike and it looked like it was going to be a repeat of her race strategy of a year ago where she led from start to finish.

Kessler and Wurtele eventually passed a faltering Macel in the out-an-back portion of the bike course at 100 km. Macel was to be never a factor in the race after the pass as Kessler and Wurtele proceeded duel through the remainder of the race.

The lead pair started the marathon with Kessler holding a 41-second advantage over Wurtele. That would be as close as Wurtele would get on the every-steady Kessler as she slowly inched further away from her pursuer.

Kessler crossed the finish line in 9:13:46 for her first Ironman title to complement her two runner-up finishes this year at Ironman St George and Ironman Coeur d’Alene.

MEREDITH KESSLER (#8) at 9:13:46
HEATHER WURTELE (#4) at 9:17;17
MACKENZIE MADISON (#13) at 9:34:51
GILLIAN MOODY (#20) at 9:40:10
CHRISTIE SYM (#11) at 9:41:30
JESSICA JACOBS (#19) at 9:44:04
ULI BROMME (#16) at 9:46:19
JANELLE MORRISON (#2) at 9:48:15
SHANNON DESROSIERS (#2225) at 8:48:57
RACHEL KIERS (#10) at 8:49:44

You can check out the complete coverage of today's race by clicking on the coverage tab on the main page or the Ironman Canada event page here on Ironman.com.
 
Shawn Skene can be reached at SSkene@Ironman.com