Lange Ironman World Champion for the third time

Patrick Lange sent hand kisses to his distant homeland long before his triumphant finish at the Ironman World Championships on the famous Ali’i Drive. On the red carpet, he enjoyed the ovation from the audience, grabbed the finish tape and let out all his joy. He screamed, he jumped, he clenched his fists, beat his chest and, full of pride and satisfaction, had the legendary winner’s wreath placed on his head. Not even the painful underwater contact with a jellyfish could stop the 38-year-old from Hesse on his favorite island.

After strong performances over the 3.86 kilometers of swimming and 180.2 kilometers of cycling, Lange started his big running show in his flagship discipline over 42.2 kilometers and won the Ironman World Championship for the third time – and in the course record time of 7:35: 53 hours.

He said he absolutely couldn’t believe it. “It takes a few weeks for it to sink in: Today I had the perfect day,” emphasized Lange and dedicated the victory in the ZDF interview to his mother, who died four years ago: “When she was in the hospice and I saw her for the last time She said I should give everything for her and win again. “I did that now,” he said with tears in his eyes.

With his title triple after the successes in 2017 and 2018, he drew level with Jan Frodeno after his Hawaii triumphs. He won in 2015, 2016 and also in 2019 when Lange had to give up due to severe health problems. Overall, it was the eleventh German men’s victory in the triathlon Mecca.

Lange also crowned 15 fantastic German triathlon months – starting with a triple success last year at the World Championships over half the distance, the Olympic victory for the German mixed relay in Paris in the summer and the first Ironman world championship title for Laura Philipp about a month ago in Nice . He received $125,000 for his Hawaii victory and can hope for another windfall in the so-called Ironman Pro Series.A triumph almost with an announcement – despite setbacks

Lange said before the race that he was fitter than ever before. And nowhere does the triathlete feel as comfortable as on the Big Island. Two factors that spoke for a strong performance by the 1.78 meter tall athlete, who won the Ironman in Texas this year but suffered a setback in his home race in Frankfurt.

When a cannon traditionally started the race with a loud bang in Kailua-Kona Bay, he had to try to stay in touch with the leaders. In swimming you don’t win an Ironman, but you might lose it. Especially for Lange, who is strong on the bike but not one of the over-cyclists, it was important not to come out of the warm water too far behind – wetsuits were, as always, forbidden.Lange’s ex-coach also praises: 10 out of 10

And Lange was really strong. He quickly got into a good position and was able to take advantage of the water shadow of competitors in front of him – at times with a lot of elbow use. He came out of the water in fourth place, with Sam Laidlow in second. The Frenchman won the Ironman World Championships in Nice a year ago. Lange left the other top rivals behind. “10 out of 10 – of course he does that outstandingly,” said former coach Björn Geesmann to the Hesse native, who had only changed coach shortly before the World Cup.

Laidlow was first on the bike, but the 25-year-old lost a few seconds and was overtaken when he couldn’t close his helmet, which was filled with ice cubes and cooled. But he quickly took the lead again. A larger group had formed behind them, which included Lange. After about half the cycling distance he was around five minutes behind Laidlow. His fiercest pursuer was Magnus Ditlev. The well-known strong cyclist and world record holder had quickly worked his way forward after a rather weak swim.

Co-favorite Kristian Blummenfelt, on the other hand, had to struggle with massive problems. The champion of the catch-up World Championships in St. George 2022 had to vomit several times on the bike, but despite everything, he still stayed ahead for a long time. At the front, Laidlow increased the pressure again and extended the lead over his pursuers: 9:06 minutes on Lange after the second change.

A decent mortgage – but also one that Lange had already made up on Laidlow. In 2023 in Nice he ran onto the running course around 13 minutes after Laidlow and reached the finish line just four minutes behind.Hawaii is simply his place.”

But what Lange delivered on the Big Island was enormous. “It’s really crazy,” even ex-world champion Sebastian Kienle, who commented on ZDF as an expert and who ushered in a German era in Hawaii in 2014, was amazed. Within a very short time, Lange ran past almost everyone into second place. After three kilometers the gap to Laidlow was around eight minutes, and after another three kilometers seven minutes.

After exactly six hours of racing, the time had come: Lange took the lead for the first time. He slapped Laidlow on the bottom, said a few words and ran off. Laidlow, on the other hand, was losing more and more, his escape on the bike – he was the first to stay under four hours – had robbed him of his strength. However, it was unstoppable for a long time. To cool down, he repeatedly poured water from a canister over his body and ran towards his third triumph – and faster than anyone else before him. Frodeno’s conclusion: “Hawaii is simply his place, he can surpass himself here every time.”