Baldwin finishes sixth, Brierley ranks 19th |04 February 2016

Esparon takes 10th place in age group race

 In his first competition this year – the Ironman 70.3 Dubai – Seychellois triathlete Nick Baldwin has registered a sixth place finish in a cumulative time of 3 hours 49 minutes 20 seconds (3h49:20).

The event took place last Friday and the competitors competed over a shortened 1,200m swim, 56 mile bike and 13.1 mile run. 

For the first time, Seychelles had three athletes competing in the event, with professional Simon Brierley and local age-grouper Mervyn Esparon also racing.

This race was the first of the 2016 Sheikh Nasser Bin Hamed Triple Crown, an initiative where the winner of three events in 2016 will win US $1,000,000 – the biggest payday in triathlon. With Ironman 70.3 Dubai being the first of the three races for the Triple Crown, a strong professional field assembled to have their shot at the prize.

The swim was shortened to 1,200m after strong winds and currents made conditions very tough for the athletes.  Baldwin emerged from the swim in 11th place (18:36) and started the 56 mile bike leg with a group of other athletes.  The strong winds helped the athletes initially with a tailwind, but on the return leg the headwinds were challenging for everyone.  A strong 2h08:22 bike split (average 26.2mph) moved Baldwin into eighth place at the start of the run.

With the run taking place along the popular Jumeirah beach, there was plenty of crowd support for the athletes.  Baldwin quickly moved into seventh place, then making his way into sixth.  The top-five athletes had built a large lead ahead and Baldwin's 1h19:38 run split held on to sixth place at the finish in a total time of 3h49:20. Given the strength of the field, this result is one of Baldwin's best of his career.

This result now moves Baldwin into a strong position to qualify for this year's Ironman 70.3 World Championships which will take place in Australia's Sunshine Coast in September.

Simon Brierley was ranked 19th in the professional category with a total time of 4h10:00 (19:44 in the 1,200m swim, 2h16:23 in the 56 mile bike leg and 1h30:05 in the 13.1 mile run).

The men's race was won by the 2008 Olympic gold medalist and reigning Ironman 70.3 and Ironman World champion Jan Frodeno of Germany in 3h34:48.

The women's race was won by Swiss star Daniela Ryf in 4h01:09, who is also the reigning Ironman 70.3 and Ironman World champion. 

Both athletes now have a chance at achieving this year's Triple Crown at the remaining two races at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in September and the Middle East Championships at Ironman 70.3 Bahrain in December.

As for Seychellois Mervyn Esparon, he was ranked 10th in the 30-34 years age group with a cumulative time of 4h19:00 (12:35 in the 600m swim, 2h24:28 in the 56 mile bike leg and 1h36:15 in the 13.1 mile run).