Taupo triathlete Bryan Rhodes finished a disappointing 31st at Ironman UK overnight after a nagging calf muscle injury came back to haunt him on the marathon run leg, costing him over an hour in time.

Top seeded Rhodes went into the event high on confidence after a record breaking warm up in Switzerland a week ago and continued that good form with a record setting 44:39 swim leg before riding comfortably over the 180km to start the run with a lead in excess of ten minutes.

But the injury flared quickly on the run, clearly hampering the Kiwi and he steadily dropped back through the field, eventually taking a painful four hours to finish the marathon.

The 2005 winner had hoped to return triumphant to Dorset after being forced to withdraw on the eve of last years event after a mishap with a white van while on a training ride but it was not to be.

JOHNSON THIRD IN MALAYSIA – RICHMOND SEVENTH IN CANADA

Elsewhere over the weekend, Taranaki athlete Hamish Johnson finished a creditable third in tough conditions at the Desaru Half Ironman in Malaysia. Nathan Richmond finished seventh at the Pan American ITU Cup race in British Columbia, raced over the Olympic distance. 

Ironman UK, Elite Men

Forename
Surname
Swim
Bike Total
Run Total
Total
Rank

Scott
Neyedli
00:47:07
4:56:55
2:48:32
08:35:53
1

Stephen
Bayliss
00:47:04
4:57:01
2:51:10
08:38:06
2

Jimmy
Johnsen
00:47:52
4:56:15
2:52:01
08:40:47
3

Martin
Matula
00:47:57


08:46:08
4

Federico
Girasole
00:49:44
5:04:58
2:51:48
08:50:24
5

Bryan
Rhodes
00:44:39
4:47:41
4:00:55
09:36:04
31