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Johns wins third Marc Herremans Classic
04-07-2006
The Brit Andrew Johns has won the third edition of the Marc Herremans Classic. The triathlon, part of the Ironman 70.3 series for the first time, was a phenomenal success. The Belgians performed very well in a strong field of more than 550 competitors. Rutger Beke came in second, Bert Jammaer fourth and Jim Beuselinck as number nine. The major performance of the day however came from Marc Herremans himself. The man who lend his name to the classic managed a new event record with 4h40m50s, despite a crash in the last part. Take a look at all the pictures  The extreme temperatures turned the Antwerp Ironman into a true battlefield. Already during the swimming part a first selection happened. The Australian Pete Jacobs was first out of the water, followed by Marino Van Hoenacker, Jo De Neve, Spencer Smith, Richie Cunningham, Thierry Verbinnen and Peter Croes. Marc Herremans entered the exchange zone in about 70th position, quite a promising achievement. Johns started his cycling very well, but quickly was joined by the real specialist in the matter: Marino Van Hoenacker and Normann Stadler. However, both riders came across punctures and disappeared from the front of the competitors, as was Peter Croes, who suffered from a broken pedal. A strong performance was put by Thierry Verbinnen, the training pal of Rutger Beke rode in second position for a long time, followed by Beke, Smith, Jacobs, the German Boecherer and Cunningham. At the start of the final run, Johns had about a 2 minute lead over Rutger Beke and 3 minutes over Boecherer, Jacobs and Verbinnen. Only at the initial stages did Beke give the impression to manage a return, but then the fast Brit only increased his lead. Beke then secured his second spot. In the background local Bert Jammaer managed a remarkable return. As he started running as tenth, he picked up many of his competitors one by one. Andreas Boecherer and Richie Cunningham were tough ones, but Jammaer finally managed to finish fourth. Another fine performance by Jim Beuselinck, who in the end preceded Thomas Hellriegel finished as number nine. In the women's race no one could top the Dutch Yvonne Van Vlerken. Tine Deckers was the first Belgian, the national champion came in third at 4h19m09s. Marc Herremans was having a race within the race. After an impressive start in the swimming discipline, when he came out of the water as 70th and a strong perfomance on his handbike, a crash in the final 21k for a moment made doubt raise whether he would even be able to break his personal record of 5h07. The rider who accompanies Marc got stuck in the ribbons alongside the track and fell. Marc could not avoid him and smacked against the asphalt with his head. Luckily, things were not that serious and Herremans continued his race. He gave it all he got in the final kilometers to get his personal best. Right now, nobody is doubting Marc will break the world best of Carlos Moleda at Hawaï! In the same category, Marieke Vervoort also performed very strong as she finished the half triathlon only eleven minutes after Marc Herremans! Vervoort was hoping for a good result, but this really beat the expectations.
1. Andrew Johns (GB), after 1.9k swimming, 90k cycling and 21k running in 3u38;
2. Rutger Beke (Bel) 3.40'18;
3. Pete Jacobs (Aus) 3.42.53
4. Bert Jammaer (Bel) 3.44.37
5. Richie Cunningham (Aus) 3.45'20
6. Andreas Boecherer (Ger) 3.45'39
7. Jimmy Johnsen (Dan) 3.48'16
8. Spencer Smith (GB) 3.50'32
9. Jim Beuselinck (Bel) 3.50'34
10. Thomas Hellriegel (Ger) 3.50'39
1. Yvonne Van Vlerken (Ned) 4.07'29
2. Lisbeth Kristensen (Dan) 4.12'47
3. Tine Deckers 4.19'09 (B)
Marc Herremans 4.40'50.
| Andrew Johns: "without Stadler's bad luck I loose this one"
Andrew Johns was very excited over his win. "I was very strong today, but when I saw Stadler coming closer, I never thought of winning today. Pity for Normann he puncturd. Running is my best part and then I didn't fear anybody anymore. But what a beautiful triatlon! I'll be back next year for sure!" Rutger Beke: "My running part was awful"Rutger Beke didn't know how to behave himself. Right before the start, he would have immediately agreed for a place on the podium, but on the other hand he couldn't feel but disappointed about his running part. "I was struggling during cycling already, but my run really was awful. As well, the heat made this competition very difficult. I have been counting the last kilometers." Bert Jammaer: "Well-dosed"
Bert Jammaer impressed a lot of people. "I'm not the best swimmer, but I managed to balance my efforts nicely today. I never forced myself and the run went really well. When I noticed Cunningham and Boecherer in front of me, I couldn't believe what I saw and I knew I could leave them behind." Marc Herremans: "my arms felt bad"
Despite his personal best and top chrono of 4.40'50, Marc Herremans was not entirely satisfied. 'My arms felt bad today. Probably because of the preparations for this organisations and the things I have done in the past few weeks (Ironman Lanzarote and up the Mont Ventoux, three times!). I also got a blow on the head when my wheelchair turned, but I'm not a quitter, as you might know!'
Allocation slots Antwerp Ironman 70.3 - Marc Herremans Classic
06-05-2006
The third edition of the Marc Herremans Classic will be one of the 19 legs of the Ironman 70.3 Series and is one of the qualification rounds of he Ford Ironman World Championships 70.3 in Clearwater, Florida (USA).The Worlds take place on 11 November 2006. The Marc Herremans Classic itself has 100 qualification slots for the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3. In the table underneath you can see the allocation of slots on the basis of age. After registration the definitive allocation of slots will be made available.
|
MALE |
FEMALE |
| PRO |
3 |
3 |
| 18-24 |
5 |
1 |
| 25-29 |
12 |
2 |
| 30-34 |
14 |
2 |
| 35-39 |
20 |
1 |
| 40-44 |
16 |
1 |
| 45-49 |
5 |
1 |
| 50-54 |
2 |
1 |
| 55-59 |
2 |
1 |
| 60-64 |
1 |
1 |
| 65-69 |
1 |
1 |
| 70-74 |
1 |
1 |
| 75+ |
1 |
1 |
World Triathlon Corporation Announces an Addition to the Ironman 70.3 Series
28-04-2006
April 28, 2006 - Today, World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) announces an addition to the 2006 Ironman 70.3 Series, the Antwerp Ironman 70.3.Known locally as the Marc Herremans Classic, the event will be managed by Octagon cis and the Marc Herremans Foundation and will take place in Antwerp, Belgium on July 2, 2006. The postponement of the Scandinavian Ironman 70.3 to 2007 created an immediate need for this new European qualifier. The event, in its third year, will become one of 19 in the Ironman 70.3 Series, a global portfolio of events that is managed by WTC. The event will also serve as a qualifier for the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 held in Clearwater, Florida, USA, in November 2006. "Marc Herremans has made such an impact to Ironman and our sport, so it is with great pride that we welcome his event into the series," said Steve Meckfessel, WTC's Ironman 70.3 events director. Herremans, a well-known Ironman athlete, has competed in the Ford Ironman World Championship as both a professional athlete and as a physically challenged athlete following a cycling accident in which he broke his back. "After my accident in 2001, I thought competing in Ironman was a closed chapter in my life. I have competed in the Ford Ironman World Championship each year since my accident, however, and now, through the inclusion of the Marc Herremans Classic in the Ironman 70.3 Series, I will have the opportunity to be more involved in Ironman than ever before," said Herremans. The Antwerp Ironman 70.3 will consist of a 1.9km swim, a 90km cycle and 21.1km run. Hundred qualifying slots for the Ford Ironman World Championship 70.3 are up for grabs. Additionally, professional athletes will compete for a $25,000 prize purse. This year's event will host 800 athletes and will showcase three Ironman World Champions including Normann Stadler, Thomas Hellriegel and Luc Van Lierde as well as perennial top-ten finisher, Rutger Beke. For more information on the Ironman 70.3 Series, visit www.ironman.com or contact Steve Meckfessel at steve@ironman.com. To register for the Marc Herremans Classic click here
Third edition moves to Antwerp city centre
02-03-2006
The third edition of the Marc Herremans Classic moves to the city centre of Antwerp. With a start on the Linkeroever ('Left Bank') and finish at the main square, the 'Grote Markt', the half Ironman triathlon will be a spectacular event.
"Our experience shows that a triathlon should be held in an urban area," organizer Bob Verbeeck of Octagon cis says. "In the future, we hope to be part of the world cup circuit that the Iron Man Corporation wants to develop, in the half Ironman distance as well. These qualification competitions - like the one held in Monaco - should culminate into a world championships final in Florida (US)."
"Besides that, the main aims remain the same as three years ago: promoting triathlon by signing the elite of the triathletes, a live television broadcast (despite being during the Tour de France, the public television has already guaranteed 80 minutes) and the revenue going to 'To walk again' foundation, where Marc Herremans is the patron.
"In the past, a total of about 125,000 euro has been raised every year and with the logistic support of the city of Antwerp we hope to reach an even bigger revenue", according to Verbeeck.
The organizers were also very proud to announce some real top triathletes already. "Normann Stadler will be here to prolong his title and he also won the 2004 Iron Man in Hawai."
Other Iron Man winners will join the event. Thomas Hellriegel (1997) and Luc Van Lierde (1996 and 1999) are lined up together with the wheelchair duel between Marc Herremans - Carlos Moleda. The best Belgian triathletes will also compete: Rutger Beke, Marino Van Hoenacker and Peter Croes are already certainties.
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