The 2018 edition of Ironman Wales featured the event’s biggest ever starting field on a day that saw Great Britain’s Lucy Gossage win her third Ironman Wales title in what could be her final Ironman race in Wales; while South Africa’s Matt Trautman won his second Ironman title, his first since his win in Wales in 2014, barely a year and eight months after breaking his back in a serious accident.

WOMEN’S RACE

Coming into the race, Lucy Gossage was the one to watch as defending champion, unbeaten at Ironman races in 2018 and possibly racing in her last Ironman Wales, but it was Denmark’s Camilla Pedersen to exit the water first after leading on the first lap. She was followed three minutes later by Canadians, Heather Wurtele and Melanie McQuaid while Gossage would finish the swim over eight minutes down on Pedersen.

Pedersen made good work of the challenging course, stretching her lead over Wurtele to 04:30 midway into the bike. By the same point, Gossage cut her own deficit to 06:34 with Nikki Bartlett only 16 seconds further back.

After 110km Gossage moved into second place with Pedersen still leading by over five minutes but from then onwards, Gossage upped the ante to take the lead by 157km. She entered transition first with a lead of 02:54 over Pedersen with Bartlett in third a further 01:14 back.

Once in a position of strength on a course she knows well, hauling in the defending champion would be a mammoth task for the chasing Pedersen and Bartlett. True to form, Gossage proceeded to stretch her lead throughout the marathon to win by over thirteen minutes in a time of 09:52:37. In an unchanged top three from the start of the marathon, Pedersen and Bartlett rounded out the podium in second and third respectively.

“It was probably one of the most fun races I’ve done. I love that bike course, tough, fair, super hilly and on the run the support was unbelievable,” said Gossage.

“I’ve had lots of support before but (today) was very humbling and I think I just appreciated it a bit more. It’s an incredible race.”

MEN’S RACE

Great Britain’s Matthew Leeman led after the first lap to exit the water first with compatriot, Phil Graves on his heels. Canada’s Trevor Wurtele and 2014 champion, Matt Trautman emerged from the surf little over two minutes back ahead of the 1km run back to transition.

Leeman took a slight lead onto the bike gaining some time on Graves in transition while Trautman did the same with Wurtele with only three and a half minutes separating the top three. Trautman quickly made up the deficit and after 40km he and Graves would work together, alternating the lead for the rest of the bike until the last 30km when Trautman pulled ahead.

He finished with a bike split of 04:56:38, breaking the previous bike course record. Spain’s Gustavo Iglesias entered transition in third place trailing the leading pair by over 10 minutes.

Despite the slight margin between Trautman and Graves, the start of the run set the tone for the marathon. Trautman appeared comfortable and in control, while Graves looked to be straining early on. Trautman pressed his advantage and continued to build on his lead, running to victory by nearly seven minutes in a new Ironman Wales overall course record of 08:42:11.

In a repeat of his 2017 position, Graves finished in second followed by Iglesias in third.

Top 3 professional women - 1. Lucy Gossage (GBR) 09:52:37; 2. Camilla Pedersen (DEN) 10:05:41; 3. Nikki Bartlett (GBR) 10:14:43.

Top 3 professional men - 1. Matt Trautman (RSA) 08:53:21; 2. Phil Graves (GBR) 09:00:13; 3. Gustavo Iglesias (ESP) 09:09:50.

Pics. Gareth Davies Photography