Challenge Copenhagen Results

On a beautiful Danish summer day in the Danish capital Copenhagen, 2.000 triathletes raced the 3rd edition of KMD Challenge Copenhagen. Swimming 3,8 km in the lagoon of Amager Beach Park, riding the 180 km in Copenhagen and the northern countryside while finishing off with a marathon of 42,2 km along the Danish harbor front. Over 150.000 spectators once again made this triathlon event a big summer party in the Copenhagen streets.

Australian Aaron Farlow took the honors and the men’s title leading from start to finish at today’s Challenge Copenhagen, iron distance racing in the heart of the Danish capital Copenhagen. Home country favorite Camilla Pedersen had an impressive iron distance debut to win her third Challenge title of the year after a dramatic fall that almost cost her the win.

Aaron Farlow was out of the water just behind Dane Andreas Borch but quickly took the race under his command on the bike. Farlow pushed hard and bridged open a solid gap to the closest followers, last year’s winner Tim Berkel and 2011 runner up, Jimmy Johnsen. The fast running Mads Vittrup-Pedersen trailed the leaders on the entire bike leg and even had to take a 4 minute time penalty before exiting T2. Farlow kept a strong pace on the run and Berkel soon faded leaving Jimmy Johnsen as a lone follower. From behind the light footed Vittrup started to reel in the leaders but Farlow proved to be too strong. Vittrup and Jimmy Johnsen battled it out for the Danish LD Championships in the last few kilometers and Vittrup proved too fast for Johnsen who like last year had to see a faster runner take the honors. Farlow took a beautiful win, Vittrup the Danish title and Johnsen an honorable 3rd place and podium finish.

Top 3 Men

1) Aaron Farlow, Australia – 8:20:09

2) Mads Vittrup-Pedersen, Denmark – 8:24:57

3) Jimmy Johnsen, Denmark – 8:25:15

Fastest male splits of the day:

3.8 km swim: Andreas Borch, 46:56

180 km bike: Aaron Farlow, 4:26:43

42.2 km run: Mads Vittrup-Pedersen, 2:45:02

In the women’s pro field 2012 LD World Championships silver medalist, Camilla Pedersen, took charge from the gun and stormed out in front on the swim. Exiting the water just in front of last year’s male winner Tim Berkel. Camilla soon found a solid pace on the bike and started to build up a commanding lead. Charging hard from behind, in her return to long distance racing, former LD World Champion Lisbeth Kristensen kept the lead within striking distance. Out onto the run, Camilla continued her solid form. Extending her lead over Kristensen and the chasers Katja Konschak and Weneke Kujala. Pedersen looked in complete control with the lead at the 23km mark being over 10 minutes. In a dramatic turn of events Pedersen took a tumble at around 25km, by the 27km mark the lead was down to 3 minutes. Camilla crashed hard on her left hip spending several minutes on the ground. Lisbeth Kristensen had caught and past Pedersen by the 31km mark only for this lead to be short lived as Pedersen regained control at the 35km. Pedersen recovered and entered the finish shoot with a comfortable 3 minute advantage to take her first iron-distance win. Kristensen secured second place whilst a fast running Katja Konschak rounded out the podium.

Top 3 Women

1) Camilla Pedersen, Denmark – 9:12:27

2) Lisbeth Kristensen, Denmark – 9:15:24

3) Katja Konschak, Germany – 9:19.54

Fastest female splits of the day:

3.8 km swim: Camilla Pedersen, 48:57

180 km bike: Camilla Pedersen, 4:59:05

42.2 km run: Katja Konschak, 3:07:49