IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote 2023 results: Haug runs away with it

Former IRONMAN World Champion Anne Haug put on an absolute masterclass in how to run off the bike at IRONMAN 70.3 Lanzarote this weekend, as she destroyed the field with a blistering 1:16:28 clocking.

Haug, who is widely renowned as one of the best runners ever in women’s long distance triathlon, was unbeatable in Lanzarote as she took her third victory on the island at this event. Now 40 years of age, Haug still shows no signs of slowing down.

Swim – Curran controls the pace

In the water, Brits Kate Curran (recent winner on the island), and India Lee set the pace, as the pair managed to shake everyone but Haug and Italian Fabia Maramotti by the time they had completed the 1900m distance in a shade over 26 minutes.

Behind the leading four, there was a decent buffer to the rest of the field, with Spaniard Anna Guera Raja at just over a minute back, followed by Astrid Van Cauwelaert of Belgium, Frenchwoman Emilie Morier and Italian Elisabetta Curridori.

Unfortunately, British favourite Emma Pallant-Browne didn’t start the race, as she shared on Instagram “I was super ill last night and have learnt the impact that has on your heart if you push your body into a race”. Whilst disappointing on race day, this necessary precaution will hopefully ensure she is fit and ready to race soon.

Bike – Haug shows class

Whilst her run was extraordinary, the strength Haug displayed on the swim and the bike, especially up against some stiff competition over these disciplines in the likes of Great Britain’s Lee, was a true testament to her incredible ability across the board.

Out on the bike, the 2022 IRONMAN World Championship third place finisher, who also finished third at the delayed 2021 IRONMAN World Championships in St George last April, settled into a fast early pace, as the field whittled down to just Haug and Lee by the 8km mark.

India Lee Challenge Riccione 2022 bike — Photo Credit: Jose Luis Hourcade (www.joseluishourcade.com)

Lee, who finished thirdat this event in 2021, kept the pace honest up until the halfway mark, but couldn’t keep with the German beyond that. Haug, who with such a phenomenal run leg could have saved herself for the half marathon, pushed on in the back half of the bike to lead into T2 with +1:35 back to Lee.

Behind the leading two, the closest competitor was the Italian Curridori, who had ridden strong to put herself into podium contention, as she entered T2 +8:45 behind Haug but with close to two minutes over fourth and fifth place athletes, Curran and Lydia Dant of Britain.

Dant, who won the full distance event here in 2022, rode well to make it up to Curran, but the two Brits had a lot of work to do on the run if they had any hopes on securing a podium, with Haug and Lee clear and Curridori in and out of T2 quickly.

Run – Haug in a different league

The minute she stepped on to the run course, Anne Haug was on a different level. By just over halfway, the German had put an astonishing four minutes into Lee, making the world ranked #32 look like she was fading, when in actual fact she was running strongly in second.

KAILUA KONA, HAWAII - OCTOBER 06: Anne Haug of Germany competes during the run portion of the Ironman World Championships on October 06, 2022 in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for IRONMAN) — Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for IRONMAN

By the last 5km, Haug just seemed to be getting stronger and stronger, and whilst everyone else in the race seemed to be faltering from their previous exertions in the swim and on the bike, Haug just didn’t slow down.

By the finishing line, Haug was almost two miles clear of her nearest competitor Lee, as the German split a remarkable 1:16:28 to outrun all but a handful of the Pro men’s field. By the finish, Lee was almost twelve minutes back, as the Brit started 2023 off well with a second place finish.

In third, Curridori held off Curran to get on to the podium, with Raja of Spain rounding out the top five and 2022 IRONMAN Lanzarote winner Dant a little further back in sixth. Raja, who ran the second fastest split in the women’s field, still lost over nine minutes to Haug on the run course, such was the German’s dominance.