Triathlon Event Underway - In the Ironman event held in Frankfurt, victorium at home evaded Patrick Lange.
**"Double victor in Hawaii, Patrick Lange, failed to clinch victory at the Ironman European Championship in Frankfurt yet again. The 37-year-old triathlon ace from Bad Wildungen endured a rough time, particularly at the onset of the run along the Main. In his annoyance, Lange engaged in a spat with a spectator who reportedly belittled him. After staging a recovery, he still concluded at the eighth spot on the red carpet at the Römerberg."
Lange expressed his displeasure on Hessian Radio, mainly targeting the swimming: "It was just genuinely, incredibly poor."
Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt bagged the long-distance race in 7 hours, 27 minutes and 21 seconds, despite vomiting during the final marathon. British athlete Kieran Lindars came second, closely trailing behind the Tokyo 2021 Olympic champion, with Italian Gregory Barnaby finishing third. Jonas Hoffmann from Münster secured the best German position, finishing sixth.**
Back woes afflict Lange
Lange's preferred choice had to forego participation in the Roth classic in July following a kick to his ribs during the swim commencement. Despite missing out on a hometown triumph in Frankfurt, he retains promising prospects for a slot at the World Championships in October on Hawaii.**
Following the 3.86-kilometer swim in the Langener Waldsee, Lange was over four minutes behind the leaders. The lead margin slightly expanded during the 180.2-kilometer bike ride through Frankfurt and the Wetterau region.
During the 42.195-kilometer run, Lange grappled with back pain and encountered occasional difficulties: "The first lap was like a living hell," he shared. He ultimately picked up the pace in the final 15 kilometers and managed to keep pace with a few competitors. The women's EM had already taken place in Hamburg in June, thus only amateur female athletes participated in Frankfurt."
Lange mentioned his back pain during the run, adding to his struggles, stating, "My back was causing me issues throughout the run."
Despite EM's challenging course, Lange expressed hopes for the World Championships, affirming, "Despite the setbacks in Frankfurt, I'm still optimistic about competing well at the World Championships in Hawaii."
