Patrick Lange sets new course record in “real race” in Austria
Two-time Kona champion appears to call out German rival after win in Austria this weekend
While Jan Frodeno was setting a new world best for the full distance at the Zwift Tri Battle Royale, his German rival Patrick Lange was setting a new course record at the Trumer Triathlon in Austria. In celebrating his win he appeared to be taking a shot at Frodeno and the Tri Battle Royale.
“So happy to win @trumertriathlon and to set a new corse record with 3:55:04,” Lange wrote on his Instagram page. “This is what I call a real race: tough course, tough conditions, hard fighting competitors. A race organized with great attention to details – and for everybody who loves to tri. ? Thanks for all your messages and (virtual) cheering!!!!”
View this post on Instagram
Lange’s 3:55:04 included a 23:53 swim, a 2:14:44 bike over the course that featured 900 m of climbing and a 1:12:18 run. Austria’s Georg Enzenberger was second in 3:58:15, with Germany’s Marc Eggeling rounding out the podium in 4:02:26.
An all Austrian women’s podium was led by Simone Kumhofer, who took the win in 4:23:55. She was followed by Gabriele Obmann (4:35:44) and Lemuela Wutz (4:50:45).
In May Lange enjoyed an excellent performance at the Ironman North American Championship in Tulsa, taking the win thanks to an all-around performance.
Lange won the Ironman World Championship twice, in 2017 and 2018. Both times he broke the course record and in 2018 he became the first person to finish the race in Kona in under eight hours. There is a fierce rivalry between the top German full-distance athletes, Frodeno, Lange and Sebastian Kienle, who also happen to be the only men who have won in Kona since 2014.
