Published June 13, 2015 04:53PM
Bockel, Vesterby Win Half-Distance Races At Challenge Denmark
Dirk Bockel showed that he is coming back well from a hip injury, while Michelle Vesterby got a big on her home soil.
Michelle Vesterby. Photo: Jesper Gronnemark
Luxembourg’s Dirk Bockel showed that he is coming back well from a hip injury that has plagued him for over a year, while Denmark’s Michelle Vesterby got a big win on her home soil.
Men’s Race
Bockel put together a 24:24 swim, a 2:06:21 bike and a 1:17:36 half marathon to earn the 3:51:16 victory. He finished just ahead of Denmark’s Thomas Strange (3:52:12) and Germany’s Markus Fachbach (3:52:45).
“It’s been a couple of up and down months and it took a lot of effort to come back,” Dirk told Bob Babbit in a post-race interview.
In the full distance, Danish Chris Fischer won convincingly while earning a new personal best at the distance in 8:23:29.
RELATED VIDEO: 2015 Challenge Denmark Champion Dirk Bockel
Women’s Race
Vesterby secured the 4:19:32 home victory thanks to a 25:44 swim, a 2:22:03 bike and a 1:28:12 run. Mary Beth Ellis (USA) and Catherine Jameson (GBR) rounded out the podium.
“That was for my husband,” she said, having just crossed the finish line. Vesterby is originally from Herning, and her husband is the Challenge Denmark Race Director.
ADVERTISEMENT
Germany’s Beate Goertz won the full-distance race for the women in 9:22:28.
RELATED VIDEO: 2015 Challenge Denmark Champion Michelle Vesterby
Relay
The three legends of triathlon, Chris “Macca” McCormack, Thomas Hellriegel and Luc Van Lierde also made it to Denmark. They teamed up in a legendary relay team that finished fifth.
Challenge Denmark
Herning and Billund, Denmark – June 13, 2015
Half Distance (1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run)
Men
1. Dirk Bockel (LUX) 3:51:16
2. Thomas Strange (DEN) 3:52:12
3. Markus Fachbach (GER) 3:52:45
Women
1. Michelle Vesterby (DEN) 4:19:32
2. Mary Beth Ellis (USA) 4:22:15
3. Catherine Jameson (GBR) 4:27:04
Full Distance (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run)
Men
1. Chris Fischer (DEN) 8:23:29
2. Dirk Wijnalda (NED) 8:31:08
3. Anders Christensen (DEN) 8:37:04
Women
1. Beate Goertz (GER) 9:22:28
2. Carolin Lehrieder (GER) 9:23:29
3. Jessie Donovan (USA) 9:33:28