Bracht makes a solid start to the season in Utah

16th place was Timo Bracht’s final standing in the Ironman 70.3 US Championships, a particularly dynamic race, with many changes of pace and position. Bracht was most impressive in the swimming, where he was able to leave the water in contact with the leading group including the eventual winner Jan Frodeno. Only later in the race did the frenetic pace prove too demanding.

“Not a fantastic placement. ” That was the first message and reaction from Timo Bracht having just crossed the finish line. But he could soon find some positives to take away from the race: “I performed consistently in all three disciplines. After swimming in the leading group with Jan Frodeno I kept up in the cycling until 60 kilometres, but then a little gap opened up.” In a race like this, surely the toughest Ironman 70.3 of this year, this proved fatal. “I couldn’t keep up at the very front any more,” Bracht explains, “and in a race like this you can be out of the top 10 in a flash.”

Everything going to plan, but plenty of work to do

Now there are two recovery days in Las Vegas on the agenda before the next major training period begins in Carlsbad. “Ironman 70.3 St. George is a really beautiful, very hard race and my legs still felt solid when I crossed the line. For this stage of the season everything’s going to plan, but I still have plenty of work to do.” The next test in the race calendar will be Ironman 70.3 Raleigh in North Carolina on 1 June, with a 1.9 kilometre swim, a 90 kilometre bike ride and a 21.1 kilometre run. This race will point the way to Challenge Roth, Timo Bracht’s season highlight for this year.