The sports day: Defect drama stopped Top favorite: Haug has to give up at Ironman World Championship

The Sports Day
Defect drama stopped Top favorite: Haug has to give up at Ironman World Championship

22.09.2024, 09:04

Former world champion Anne Haug gave up after only 200 meters on the bike course at the Ironman World Championships in Nice. The 41-year-olds had to stop shortly after the transition zone due to a defective rear wheel and were unable to get the technical problem under control despite several minutes of trying. After defending champion Lucy Charles-Barclay withdrew at short notice due to injury, Haug started on Sunday as the top favorite and the swim went according to plan, with only a four-minute delay.

But then the woman from Bayreuth didn't even make it out of the city towards the Maritime Alps and stopped at the side of the road on the Promenade des Anglais. According to the regulations, the triathletes must correct any defects on the long-distance race themselves; technical support is only available at locations determined before the start. Since Haug was unable to get her problem under control herself, the competition was over for her. For the first time in her career, she had to give up a long-distance race.

Despite Roth's world record year, her illness continued at the highlight of the year; the LAZ Saarbrücken athlete had already been slowed down by numerous illnesses during her preparation. Haug won a medal in all five official World Championship starts. In addition to the victory in 2019, there were three bronze medals and silver last year.