4 in a row in IM France
As usual blue skies greeted the 2,500 athletes and 80,000 spectators in Nice for 16 hours of a non-stop entertainment.
The 3.8 km swim was completed in a calm and blue sea by Clemente Mc Kernan-Alonso (ESP) in a time of 00:51:04 leading Olivier Marceau (FRA/SWI) by 7 seconds. Behind, Marcel Zamora and Herve Faure exit from the water head to head in 00:53:10 and 00:53:16 respectively. The stage is set, the fight will be tough. In the women’s race Tine Deckers exited in a time of 00:58:04 in 3rd position, behind Konschak Katja (GER) and Yvette Grice (GBR) had a time of 00:56:22. Martina Dogana, came out of the water in 6th position in 00:58:53 alongside Alexandra Louison, just ahead of Christel Robin whose time was 01:00:18.
Olivier Marceau cycled strongly with a 04:45:00; 34 seconds behind Mike Aigroz’s record of 2008. The race will always change all along the bike section through the 180 km of Nice's hinterland. Herve Faure, Francois Chabaud, Oscar Galindez (ARG), Simon Billeau and Marcel Zamora entertained on the bike course for the crowd who came out to cheer them on in both the villages and on the arriva into T2 on the Promenade des Anglais.
5 minutes after Olivier Marceau, Simon Billeau the great French outsider rolled in with bike split of 04:45:40, followed by Francois Chabaud (FRA), 5'35 left. Marcel Zamora was warmly welcomed by his supporters had a bike split of 04:48:59, just behind 04:48:35 Herve Faure, and was determined not to let him go. In the women's race, Christel Robin created a sensation with a tremendous 05:05:22 bike. After a late Swim exit, she passed Tine Deckers (05:14:36) at km 56 and would not let her go.
For both male and female Pros, the marathon starts, under a tough sun.
6 minutes ahead, Olivier Marceau, one of the main favorites of the race, kept Zamora at bay. The Spanish champion (Zamora) gained precious minutes since the first loop and passed him in the middle of the 2nd. He then beat his own record, with a run time of 02:43:17. Herve Faure also passes Marceau and crosses the finish line completing the 42 km in 02:54:26.
Meanwhile the women also lead their last kilometers of this long day. Christel Robin the last minute pro entrant, ran ahead Tine Deckers (03:11:58) on the first and second loop but couldn't hold on to first place in the 3rd lap with a final run time of 3:22:23. The 2008’s winner Martina Dogana grabbed 3rd place with a 3:01:20 marathon.
Pro Women
- Tine DECKERS 9:30:29
- Christel ROBIN at 9:34:19
- Martina DOGANA at 9:37:35
- Abigail BAYLEY at 9:47:22
- Alexandra LOUISON at 9:52:28
Pro Men
- Marcel ZAMORA PEREZ 8:30:06
- Hervé FAURE at 8:40:55
- Simon BILLEAU at 8:46:30
- Clemente ALONSO-MC KERNAN at 8:48:59
- Olivier MARCEAU at 8:52:53
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