News : Triathlon: Jan Frodeno wins Heat Battle of Frankfurt

Triumph for Jan Frodeno, drama about Patrick Lange: The two-time Ironman world champion has been crowned European champion for the third time after 2015 and 2018 in the heat battle in Frankfurt and impressively demonstrated his ambitions for the World Cup triumph in Hawaii in October. "That was one of my best races, but in the end a really tough fight," said Frodeno. "I'm happy, but also totally exhausted."

After 3.86 kilometers of swimming, 185.5 kilometers of cycling and 42.195 kilometers of running Frodeno relegated at temperatures of almost 40 degrees in 7:56:02 hours Sebastian Kienle clearly in second place. Franz Löschke made the triple victory of German triathletes perfect.

It was the 14th German success at the 18th edition in Frankfurt. The double world champion Lange, thrown back by a flat tire and suffering from stomach problems, missed the hoped-for first victory in his home race. On the running track on the banks of the Main he was even outclassed by his German rivals Frodeno and Kienle.

Kienle injured in transition zone

Last year's winner Frodeno, who had missed the world championship last year due to a stress fracture, put pressure on Lange during his comeback over the Ironman distance while swimming and was the first to get on the bike. Long backlog was already 1:37 minutes.

Kienle was in the 25 degrees warm water for his conditions very well and conceded only 2:10 minutes. His bad luck: In the transition zone, the 34-year-old injured his heel and had to be treated later before the marathon.

Frodeno drove in the episode front long a lonely race. The 2008 Olympic champion also survived a moment of shock unscathed when he braked in a curve and lost his water bottles.

Kienle reappeared next to Frodeno with a blaze 25 kilometers from the finish. This sat down a little later but again and reached the finish on Frankfurt Romans first.