As usual the Underpants Run, which raised money for local charities, was a huge hit. Canadians were in full force, including this crew: Nicolas Courville, Marc-Antoine Langlois, Julian Biboud and Teddy Jarrett.Zack is back! Cycling legend Jurgen Zack took third in the men’s 50 -54 category.Sportstats’ Marc Roy, from Ottawa, has been timing the Ironman World Championship for over a decade.Jan Frodeno hosted a media event the Monday before the Ironman World Championship, which allowed media outlets a chance for a pre-race interview. During our interview he implied that he didn’t want to be the “one who won in Frankfurt and Zell, but couldn’t get it done at the big one.” He didn’t need to worry …Legends: Michellie Jones and Lisa Bentley at a pre-race event.Jordan Rapp’s hot ride … unfortunately the seat rails broke and he found himself struggling on the bike.Andrzej Kozlowski did his first triathlon in King City 17 years ago – he’s come along way since those early days and is a two-time Kona competitor. He finished this year in 11:37.A record number of bikes were on the pier in Kailua-Kona this year – over 2,300, including the largest women’s field in race history. 28 % of the field were women.Jan Frodeno put his stamp on the race from the start of the swim, and took a commanding lead early in the bike.Out with the lead group, Brent McMahon was in a perfect position starting the bike.Controversy reigned for Lionel Sanders during the swim as he was paced by Matt Chrabot. He still ended up into T1 over 11 minutes behind the leaders.Mirinda Carfrae would eventually pull out due the effects of being hit by a car a few days before the race.Angela Naeth had a great swim and the day’s second fastest bike, but had to pull out before the run due to a foot injury.Frodeno pushed through the latter stages of the bike to come off with a lead he would never relinquish.Still in the mix, Brent McMahon was only minutes behind starting the run, but would struggle during the marathon.A flat tire derailed Andreas Raelert for part of the bike, but the German was able to regroup and post his third runner-up finish in Kona.Daniela Ryf was simply unstoppable as she stormed to a commanding lead during the bike and never looked back.Michelle Vesterby finally had the race that has eluded her so far in Kona, finishing an impressive fourth.Rachel Joyce can’t buy a break at the Ironman World Championship – on a day when Mirinda Carfrae finally falters, she has Daniela Ryf to contend with. She is nothing if not consistent, though, taking another runner-up finish this year.Brent McMahon hung tough to take ninth.Lionel Sanders biked and ran his way to an 14th-place finish.Another Swiss “Queen of Kona,” Daniela Ryf dominated the day, just like her countrywoman Natascha Badmann did on six occasions in Kona.Motor sports legend Alex Zinardi flew through the race in 9:40Tim O’Donnell had the race of his life to take third.A class act: Jeff Symonds was all smiles after the race, despite having to ride 30 km with just one leg after his crank came off. He finished 23rd.Doing Canada proud: Jeff Symonds and Brent McMahon.
