Dubai: Rasmus Henning and Nikki Butterfield took the honours at a record-breaking 2012 Abu Dhabi International Triathlon yesterday.
Dane Henning ran down Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team captain Fares Al Sultan in the final stages of the run to take a dramatic victory in the men's race, finishing the swim, bike and run event in six hours 21 minutes 44 seconds. The home favourite finished just 27 seconds behind, while Spaniard Eneko Llanos took the final podium place after making it home a further 31 seconds adrift.
In the women's race, Australian Butterfield continued her stunning comeback to triathlon after taking time off to have a baby by claiming a comfortable victory in 7:00:22. Her nearest rival was Angela Naeth, of Canada, who was some two minutes 39 seconds behind. Swiss Caroline Steffen was third, four minutes and eight seconds behind Butterfield.
Almost 2,000 athletes representing 62 countries took part in the $250,000 (Dh918,200) race, which started and finished at the Corniche. It was organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority.
Henning preserved energy
Henning was one of the leaders out of the water at the end of the first-leg swim, albeit 51 seconds down on renowned swimmer Clayton Fettell. Henning's first transition was only average and he came out on to the bike 1:33 down on the leaders — he then settled down with the chasing pack and made sure he preserved his legs for the run.
Henning started the run with a 4:13 deficit and had to use almost the entire 20km distance to eventually run down Al Sultan.
Women's winner Butterfield had to dig deep and call on all of her professional cycling experience to make a up a big deficit after the swim. Melissa Rollison stayed with her on the bike, but that might have been to Rollison's run detriment as she finished fourth.
Butterfield had caught up with the leaders by halfway through the bike stage and by the time of the final transition, she had put 1:43 on Naeth and 2:58 on Steffen.
RESULTS
Men
- 1 Rasmus Henning DEN 6:21:44
- 2 Fares Al Sultan UAE 6:22:11 0:27
- 3 Eneko Llanos ESP 6:22:42 0:58
Women
- 1 Nikki Butterfield AUS 7:00:22
- 2 Angela Naeth CAN 7:03:00 2:39
- 3 Caroline Steffen SUI 7:04:29 4:08
