Nilsson runs down Hogenhaug to take Ironman European title in Frankfurt

It was an exciting run to the finish line in Frankfurt yesterday as Sweden’s Patrik Nilsson used a 2:39 marathon split to catch Denmark’s Kristian Hogenhaug and overcome an eight-minute deficit off the bike to take the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt.

After leading out of the water, Nilsson found himself among a group of eight who were well behind Hogenhaug into T2, but managed to find enough speed on the run along Frankfurt’s River Main to earn the win.

“It’s so wonderful to finally be back on the start line,” Nilsson said after the race. “Although there weren’t big crowds at the run course in the previous years, the atmosphere was wonderful and really carried you to the Römerberg.”

Great Britain’s David McNamee, a two-time third-place finisher in Kona, wasn’t able to keep up with Nilsson and catch Hogenhaug, but still ran a 2:42 marathon to take third.

OVERALL          SWIM               BIKE                 RUN
1.) Patrik Nilsson (SWE)              7:59:21               00:49:35           04:25:09            02:39:40
2.) Kristian Hogenhaug (DNK)     8:00:18               00:50:01           04:16:10            02:48:47
3.) David McNamee (GBR)          8:02:29               00:49:51           04:25:04            02:42:59