Daniela Ryf Impressive In Second 140.6 In Seven Days

The Swiss athlete dominates in Zurich just one week after winning the iconic Challenge Roth triathlon.

Defending Ironman world champion Daniela Ryf simply needed to get across the finish line—in any position—at Sunday’s Ironman Switzerland to validate her spot on Kona’s start line, but she did much more than that. She was strong all day in front of the women’s race to take the victory in an impressive time of 8:53:49, putting together a 55:16 swim, a 4:46:31 bike and a 3:07:31 marathon. She did all of that one week after earning her first Challenge Roth crown in 8:22:04.

“My strategy was to go easy, but Celine (Céline Schärer) was going so good, I just had to follow her (in the water),” Ryf told Iromanlive after the race. “On the bike, I then decided to go hard, and on the run you can’t go easy when there are so many people at the course. My body was working very good today. I said to myself: When I’m surviving this, I’m ready for Hawaii.”

Switzerland’s Emma Bilham (9:21:48) and Austria’s Michaela Herlbauer (9:28:12) earned the other two podium spots.

In the men’s race, it was Ronnie Schildknecht (SUI) who earned the victory in 8:17:04. Germany’s Timo Bracht was second (8:24:13), with Switzerland’s Jan Van Berkel rounding out the top three.

2016 Ironman Switzerland
Zurich, Switzerland – July 24, 2016
2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run

Men
1. Ronnie Schildknecht (SUI) 8:17:04
2. Timo Bracht (GER) 8:24:13
3. Jan Van Berkel (SUI) 8:29:12
4. Roman Deisenhofer (GER) 8:32:58
5. David Plese (SLO) 8:36:50

Women
1. Daniela Ryf (SUI) 8:51:50
2. Emma Bilham (SUI) 9:21:48
3. Michaela Herlbauer (AUT) 9:28:12
4. Celine Schärer (SUI) 9:35:26
5. Ariane Minticeli (BRA) 9:40:07