Don, Carfrae Win 70.3 Brasilia

After returning to Brasilia last year, the Brazil 70.3 race attracted top triathletes from around the world and speedsters from closer to home. This year, Brazilians hoped to take back the top spots after losing the race to foreign foes the last two years. But, there was stiff competition from abroad—including from recently married couple Tim O’Donnell and Mirinda Carfrae.

As they sped through the town and around Lake Paranoa, the visiting triathletes may have been distracted by the stunning capital city. Brasilia has been declared UNESCO World Heritage site because of its architecture.

Men
Two athletes with very similar names had very similar races at the front of the men’s pack today. It wasn’t until the run that Tim Don (GBR) and Tim O’Donnell (USA) finally has some separation with Don pulling away to take the win by two-and-a-half minutes.

Almir Gustavo Sorbo Martins (BRA) was first out of the water (24:03), but only barely. Right behind him was a pack of speedy swimmers, including the two Tims. O’Donnell hit T1 in 24:10 with Don right behind him in 24:13. They were joined by Luiz Francisco Paiva Ferreira (BRA) in 24:12 and Reinaldo Colucci (BRA) in 24:10.

On the bike, it quickly became the Tim and Tim show. While neither had the fastest bike split of the day—that honor went to one of two Brazilians hot on their heels (Santiago Alves Ascenco in 2:03:41)—the American and the Brit pulled away from the fast fish who had exited the water with them. Don biked a 2:05:43 and O’Donnell a 2:05:44 to enter T2 together. Despite their best efforts, they were still about a minute behind Igor Amorelli (BRA) at the start of the run, who used a 2:03:44 bike to make up for a 25:12 swim.

The day came down to who could run through the picturesque city the fastest. Don put down a 1:14:11, the fastest run of the day, to pass Amorelli and finally pull away from O’Donnell, taking the win in 3:46:55. O’Donnell’s second fastest run (1:16:56) got him second in 3:49:39, while Amorelli ran 1:19:21 to cross the line in a spot he was all too familiar with. The Brazilian also finished right behind O’Donnell at Ironman Brazil last year.

Women
Coach Siri Lindley had a good day, with her athletes taking first, third and fourth in the women’s race. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) topped that list, pulling ahead on the run to win by a stunning five minutes over Carol de Lima Furriela.

Amanda Stevens (USA) set a dominating pace in the water with a 25:22 swim—a nearly two minute lead that she would hold onto all through the bike. Furriela entered T1 next (27:05) with Ewa Bugdol (POL). Carfrae, whose timing chip didn’t work correctly to give her a swim or bike split, came out around 28:00 with two other women—well back of the leaders.

Stevens was able to hold onto her lead on the bike, pedaling to a race best 2:20:25. Though Carfrae didn’t record an official bike split, she entered T2 in second, holding her 2:30 deficit to Stevens from the swim. Valentina Carvallo (CHL) had the third-fastest bike (2:22:15) to start the run behind Carfrae and followed closely by Furriela.

Carfrae is known for her blistering foot speed and today was no different. It was on the run that she finally took the lead with a 1:23:37 to cross the line first in 4:15:01. Stevens faded to third in the heat with a 1:34:12 run to finish in 4:23:12, while Furriela moved up through the ranks with a fast 1:25:55 to come in second (4:20:04).

Ironman 70.3 Brasilia
April 6, 2014
1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike, 13.1-mile run

Men
1. Tim Don (GBR) 3:46:55
2. Tim O’Donnell (USA) 3:49:39
3. Igor Amorelli (BRA) 3:51:05
4. Santiago Ascenco (BRA) 3:55:00
5. Guilherme Manocchio (BRA) 3:55:21

Women
1. Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) 4:15:01
2. Carol Furriela (BRA) 4:20:04
3. Amanda Stevens (USA) 4:23:12
4. Valentina Carvallo (CHI) – 4:25:08
5. Vanessa Gianinni (BRA) – 4:25:32