Annabel Luxford of Australia in action on the bike. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
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Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Michael Raelert on the bike. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Michael Raelert. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Annabel Luxford of Australia in action on the bike. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Helle Frederiksen of Denmark on the bike. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Helle Frederiksen on the run course. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Andi Boecherer of Germany on the run. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Nils Frommhold on the run. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Michael Raelert of Germany takes the win in Denmark. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Michael Raelert of Germany takes the win in Denmark. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Annabel Luxford of Australia takes the win in Denmark. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
Annabel Luxford of Australia takes the win in Denmark. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
The men’s podium: Andi Boecherer (2nd), Michael Raelert (1st) and Nils Frommhold (3rd). Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
The podium: Helle Frederiksen (2nd), Annabel Luxford (1st) and Kaisa Sali (3rd). Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
The finish line seen in Helsingor, Denmark. Photo: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images for Ironman
With the race run alongside the Castle of Kronborg, where Shakespeare set Hamlet, a day of high drama would have seemed appropriate for the KMD Ironman 70.3 European Championship, Elsinore.
Instead, two champions, Michael Raelert and Annabel Luxford, grabbed wire-to-wire wins and despite stellar fields of quality and depth, no serious challengers emerged.