Ironman Langkawi Malaysia 27th January 2002 - Race Report
By Clare Kleanthous
Clad with jungles in the interior and fringed by the most beautiful beaches scattered along its coast, Langkawi is the ideal location for an Ironman where the water is warm – no wetsuit burns here –and the cycling is safe - save for the local errant motor biker.
The organisers of the third Ironman Langkawi Malaysia can truly state that this is the friendliest Ironman venue in the world.
Despite being hit by the after effects of 11th September, the small field of Ironman triathletes were well represented from across the world by both pros and age groupers alike. The Japanese were there in force and although out of season the north Europeans had made the long trip with competitors from Germany, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, France and our own UK.
The one lap swim was held in the warm sea at the host town of Kuah. On leaving the jetty point, the undulating bike course circles the island twice, leaving the testing marathon run of three laps to cover the tarmac roads in and around Kuah.
The Boys
2001 Champion, Bryan Rhodes was looking to hit the new season hard after having DNF at Hawaii. The win here last year, in the most extraordinary heat, had boosted the New Zealander’s confidence and he felt quietly assured of regaining his title.
Lothar Leder, needing no introduction as the first man to go sub 8 hours at an Ironman, had arrived only three days before the race. He was hoping that his recent training in Spain would be enough to acclimatise for the heat of Langkawi and beat Rhodes who had pipped him for the title last year.
South Africa’s Glen Gore was back for the third year, having previously placed 2nd in 1999, 5th in 2000 and 4th in 2001. An exceptional swimmer and runner he was looking for a stronger bike to take him to a podium place.
Siegi Ferstl was described, by fellow German Leder, as the dark horse and with an 8.07 Ironman and three consecutive years of a top 10 placing in Roth on his CV, his quiet demeanour was not to be taken lightly.
Australian Jason Shortis was making the trip for the first of his intended five Ironman for 2002, whilst fellow Australians pros, Matt Stephens and Bevan Leach, were both looking to their bike strength to break through.
The Briefing
After Hawaii, the Ironman organization had elected that for non- wetsuit Ironman swims “speed suits” were only allowed if you wore them for the whole race! The suits were seen as being too much of an advantage. As the only non- wetsuit swims are Langkawi and Hawaii, this event was to be the first introduction of the rule, although somehow it had been omitted from the competitors’ rulebook and was not mentioned until the race briefing.
Many had opted for the swiftness of the speed- suits, Matt Stephens had just spent a few hundred dollars purchasing his and had not even worn it, he along with Rhodes shouted loudest and the rule was overturned much to the relief of the age groupers.
The Race
The quick swim was accurate, as Rhodes confirmed last year’s slower time was due to a slight crosswind. Gore kept pace with last years champion as they swam hard and fast together, leaving the chasers in their wake.
On the way in Rhodes called encouragement to Gore to keep the pace high so they could increase their advantage into transition 1. Gore responded, however, Rhodes took the lead out by one second (46.33) and left Gore in transition whilst he sped away on the bike. Leder, exiting in 6th place, had the quickest swim to bike transition of less than a minute and set out on his task of chasing down Rhodes.
The Bike
Australian Bevan Leach, 5th out of the water, was blasting the bike (4.35) but was frustrated that he was making no inroads on the New Zealander.
Meanwhile Rhodes was finding his 53-11 gears easy as he powered away from his opponents. However, on the second lap he had mechanical trouble obtaining his rear smaller sprockets, maybe this minor gearing problem would serve to become a help rather than a hindrance taking him on to an exceptional run split.
German dark horse, Siegi Ferstl, left the water in 15th and had caught up the 4 minutes on Leder and Jason Shortis by the dog- leg at Datai Road within 60km!
After passing Gore, Shortis and the two Germans, Leder and Ferstl, rode together trying to pull in Leach who was holding his form. Rhodes was long gone - 10km from the end of the bike Leder had a look of disbelief, as he heard the deficit split of over 18 minutes on Rhodes.
The Run
There is a price for the warm waters of the swim namely the blistering 35-degree heat of the day that saps every ounce of energy on the run. Yet this seemed to have no effect on the strength of Rhodes as he shot through transition 2 with a 4.27 bike split.
Having been given no splits on the bike he was unaware of his huge lead and it was not until he saw Shortis, Leder and Ferstl coming back towards transition 2 that last years champion knew by simply holding it together the first Ironman title of 2002 would be his.
Shortis and Leder left Ferstl, who knew better than to try to hold their run pace. With Rhodes away, but with Leach suffering, the race was on for second place.
Shortis and Leder were matching each other until the last 10km when Leder’s good luck gesture to Shortis, gave the popular Australian the relief to know that the second position was his.
Rhodes enjoyed the last 3km with the confidence that his preparation had been right. A 2.54 run kept the title in his hands. Racing without a watch or monitor he was truly surprised at his amazing time of 8.10.35.
Shortis couldn’t hold back his tears as he approached the finish for second place. He made an emotional tribute and dedicated his race to his former close friend and training partner Luke Harrop who had recently loss his life whilst cycle training in Australia. By posting the fastest run split of 2.47.31, his fellow pros know that Shortis will be in the hunting for more podium places during the year.
Gore took back fourth with a 2.52.40 run split but Ferstl was to take Leach for fifth. The Australian paid dearly for his effort in trying to hold Rhodes on the bike and faded big time on the run (3.32). With Matt Stephens making sixth, the top six were all finished in under 8.45.
Third place in Llanberis, after suffering from cramp, Rhodes omitted he is not one for the cold and his sterling performance in the tropical heat certainly showed that - he broke his own course record by an amazing 33 minutes 29 seconds. At the briefing, Leder had predicated the winning time to be around 8.30 - he had not envisaged being third with 8.26, and still being 15 minutes down on the winner.
Rhodes had been quietly confident and was now ready to take his planned two weeks holiday of fishing and surfing. Brazil is in his plans yet he freely admits that the stakes are much higher as he is now one of the Ironman names to beat.
The Women
The woman’s race was far less dramatic and was unfortunately considerable weaker. With an already light pro entry, by actual race day the pro field had just two competing.
Danielle Florens better known for her duathlon prowess, pulled back from a weak swim of 1.22 to win with a 5.22 bike split and 3.40 run. Japan’s Chiba Chiharu was 5 minutes back in second but as an age grouper was out of the money leaving the second place cheque of $5100 to go to 5th place German pro Beate Kleindienst – who was exactly 15 minutes down on Chiharu.
As the prize money only goes to the pros, with 3 female age groupers finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th, one has to question the fairness of this rule.
British women should definitely pencil this Ironman in their diaries for next season.
The Brits
Eight Brits completed the Ironman. Mark Kleanthous was working his way back to fitness after suffering his first major injury since competing in his first triathlon in Reading 1983. The 2001 season had been the first year that this enduring triathlete had not completed an Ironman event since 1985. Having led the British boys out of the swim with 1.04, sickness on the bike forced a reduction of pace however he refused to give up on completing his 26th Ironman and finished in 10.57.
Jon Taylor finished just in front of the first woman Danielle Florens in 10.29 with Paul Mitchell finishing 54th (10.43.). Thames Turbo member Mike Taylor, who is currently working in Australia, was one place behind Mitchell in 10.44.
The British Finishers
Jon Taylor 10.29.33
Paul Mitchell 10.43.37
Michael Taylor 10.44.45
Mark Kleanthous 10.57.53
Peter Douglas 12.50.54
Tristan Howitt 13.12.49
Simon Cross 14.46.58
Alan Eagles 16.11.30