Last weekend the triathlon world looked to the WCTS races in Hamburg and to the Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt! And Vorarlberg athletes were able to present themselves excellently at both locations.
“That was a really good end to the season,” said Max Hammerle after he secured tenth place at Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt in a total time of 8:13:39 hours. “When I saw the start list, I would not have expected a top 10 result – also due to the stress of the last few weeks”, confessed the 28-year-old, who ran the final marathon in 2:47:05 hours. “That was the fastest running time that I achieved this year.”
In the race for the national championship title, the Wolfurter only had to admit defeat to Michael Weiss from Lower Austria, who had been banned for two years for doping. “My plan would have been that I would have been in the same swimming group with him,” explains Hammerle. “Unfortunately that didn’t work out because I was pushed out right after the start.” Now the Omni-Biotic Powerteam athlete has to take a break. “The knowledge that I can take a deep breath spurred me on in Klagenfurt,” grins Max. The long-distance specialist wants to work intensively on swimming in winter, and a training camp is already being planned.
Bermuda canceled
Also in action yesterday: Leon Pauger. After finishing 22nd in the WCTS individual competition in Hamburg on Saturday, Bregenz came in 13th with the ÖTRV team in the relay competition yesterday.
“The result is okay and it was fun to take part in this prestigious race,” says the 22-year-old, who has to do without a start at the World Championships in Bermuda. The reason: The races were canceled due to the corona and canceled without replacement.